Educated

Educated is a memoir that tells the extraordinary and emotional story of Tara Westover’s journey from isolation to self-discovery through the power of learning. Tara was born in 1986 in rural Idaho, into a survivalist Mormon family that rejected formal education, government systems, and mainstream medicine. Her father Gene believed that schools brainwashed children and that the world outside their mountain home was corrupt and dangerous. As a result, Tara and her siblings grew up without attending school, receiving no official birth certificates, no medical care, and no structured learning environment. Their childhood revolved around preparing for the end of the world, working in their father’s junkyard, and obeying strict religious doctrine.

Despite the lack of schooling, Tara developed a deep hunger for knowledge. Her mother Faye, though loyal to her husband, offered informal lessons at times, but it was never consistent. Most of Tara’s education during childhood came from observing her surroundings, listening carefully, borrowing fragmented bits of knowledge, and later studying by herself. One of the most painful parts of her upbringing was the abuse from her older brother Shawn, who was violent, controlling, and manipulative. He would physically attack her, dictate how she should behave, isolate her further, and psychologically dominate her. His aggression tormented the household, but his father often defended him, dismissing Tara’s suffering. These experiences planted the first seeds of doubt in her—the realization that her family narrative might not be absolute truth.

At age 16, Tara made a life-changing decision—she began studying on her own to prepare for the ACT, a college entrance exam. Without any traditional classroom exposure, she taught herself mathematics, grammar, science, and reading skills from basic textbooks. She was eventually admitted to Brigham Young University (BYU). This was her first exposure to structured society, friendships, diversity, classrooms, grades, exams, and even simple concepts like homework. University was more than academic growth—it opened her mind socially, psychologically, culturally, and intellectually. She learned to ask questions, form independent opinions, interpret history, analyze human behavior, and gradually carve her identity.

Her academic excellence earned her scholarships to study at Cambridge University, where she faced culture shock, new standards, intellectual pressure, and self-doubt. Yet she survived it all through grit, observation, and sheer determination. Later, she attended Harvard University and then pursued doctoral studies, eventually earning a PhD in History from Cambridge. Education for Tara was not just a degree—it became a tool to escape mental and emotional imprisonment. She realized that the greatest chains were not physical barriers or poverty, but the inability to think beyond a preset script. Through learning, she found her voice, confidence, and the courage to question everything she was raised to believe.

However, her transformation came at a great personal cost. The more she changed, the greater the emotional tension grew between Tara and her family. Her achievements were often viewed as a betrayal. When she tried to share her pain about Shawn, she was gaslighted or dismissed. Eventually, she had to distance herself from her home environment to protect her psychological freedom and personal growth. This heartbreaking but empowering decision reflects one of the core messages of the book: you can love your family, but you are not required to live their limitations.

Trevor's story shows that identity is not inherited—it is constructed. Freedom is not simply being left alone—it is having the ability to choose your life based on knowledge rather than fear. The book blends trauma, courage, curiosity, conflict, intellectual awakening, heartbreak, empowerment, and finally healing. It is not just the story of an isolated girl becoming a scholar—it is the story of a mind learning to breathe.