“Educated: A Memoir” is a poignant narrative by Tara Westover, chronicling her life growing up in a strict, survivalist family in rural Idaho, a family that was isolated from mainstream society due to their fundamentalist Mormon beliefs and their distrust of government institutions including schools and hospitals.
Tara, along with her six siblings, was kept away from the outside world. Education, as we commonly know it, was absent. She received a rudimentary homeschooling that heavily focused on her parents’ distorted interpretation of history, religion, and medicine. Without formal education, Tara spent her early years working in her father’s junkyard or stewing herbs for her mother, a self-taught herbalist, and midwife.
Her life was characterized by stark dichotomies, suspended between beautiful mountain vistas and the harsh realities of physical labor, between her desire for knowledge and her family’s disdain for formal education, and most hauntingly, between familial love and recurrent episodes of brutal violence, particularly from an abusive older brother, Shawn.
A turning point came when Tara’s older brother, Tyler, who had self-educated himself well enough to attend college, encouraged her to do the same. Inspired by Tyler, Tara began to teach herself enough mathematics and grammar to pass the ACT. Her determined self-education led her to Brigham Young University when she was seventeen, where her worldview started to fundamentally shift.
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The culture shock at university was intense. She was confronted with her profound knowledge gaps, from historical events like the Holocaust to social norms and hygiene. However, Tara’s fierce intelligence, curiosity, and determination drove her to excel acadically. This journey took her to prestigious academic institutions including Harvard and later to Cambridge University in England, where she earned a PhD in History.
Yet, despite her academic successes, Tara’s transformation created a chasm between her and her family. Her pursuit of an “education” wasn’t just about academics, but also about self-realization, understanding the world, and coming to terms with her traumatic past. As Tara evolved, she found it increasingly hard to reconcile her growing self with her origins, which led to painful familial estrangements.
“Educated: A Memoir” is a deeply moving narrative about a relentless pursuit for knowledge amidst chaos, and a testament to the transformative power of education. It’s a story about the struggle between loyalty to one’s family and the desire for self-realization, and the often heartbreaking choices one has to make along that journey.
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Educated A Memoir Book Club Questions
Here are some thought provoking book club questions for Educated: A Memoir
Family Dynamics and Upbringing:
- Discuss the impact of Tara’s family’s beliefs and lifestyle on her early life. How did her family’s survivalist and fundamentalist Mormon views shape her understanding of the world?
- Tara’s relationship with her brother Shawn is complex and troubling. How does this relationship affect Tara’s perception of herself and her place in her family?
The Role of Education:
- Tara’s journey from a self-taught background to achieving a PhD is central to the memoir. Discuss how education transformed Tara’s life and worldview. Do you think education always has the potential to be transformative?
- Reflect on the differences between the education Tara received at home versus what she experienced in formal academic settings. How did these experiences contribute to her identity crisis?
Identity and Self-Discovery:
- Tara’s pursuit of education is also a journey of self-discovery. Discuss the moments in the memoir where Tara seems to learn the most about herself. Which experiences do you think were most pivotal in shaping her identity?
- How does Tara’s identity evolve as she moves further away from her family and closer to academic success? Discuss the internal and external conflicts she faces in this transformation.
Cultural and Social Awareness:
- Tara’s culture shock at Brigham Young University highlights her isolation from mainstream society. Discuss your reactions to her experiences of learning about significant historical events and social norms for the first time. How does this reflect on the importance of cultural and social education alongside academic learning?
- The memoir discusses several instances of abuse and neglect. How does the memoir contribute to our understanding of these issues within isolated communities? What does it say about the responsibility of society to intervene?
Family Loyalty vs. Self-realization:
- Tara’s education leads to a growing rift between her and her family. Discuss the tension between family loyalty and the pursuit of personal growth and self-realization. Have you ever faced a situation where you had to choose between family expectations and personal ambitions? How did you navigate it?
- How does Tara handle the estrangement from her family? Discuss the emotional and psychological impacts of her choices. Do you think she made the right decisions for her well-being?
The Meaning of Education:
- Tara’s story challenges traditional notions of education. Discuss what the memoir suggests about the nature of education. Is it merely academic achievement, or does it encompass broader personal and social understanding?
- How does Tara’s definition of being “educated” change throughout the memoir? Consider her early life, her time at university, and her reflections after completing her PhD.
Reflections and Personal Connections:
- Were there any moments in the memoir that resonated with you personally? Share any experiences you’ve had that relate to the themes of the book.
- “Educated” has sparked discussions about the value of education in personal development. Based on Tara’s experiences, how do you view the role of education in your life?
FAQ
What happened at the end of Educated by Tara Westover?
At the end of the memoir, Tara has become estranged from her parents and some of her siblings, who still hold extreme beliefs and deny Tara’s claims of abuse. Despite the difficulties she’s endured, Tara earns a PhD from Cambridge. She reflects on her journey and asserts that despite her complicated relationship with her family, she has gained a sense of self and understanding of the world through her education.
Is Educated a memoir based on a true story?
Yes, “Educated” is a memoir based on Tara Westover’s own life. She grew up in a strict and abusive household in rural Idaho, without any formal schooling. She eventually leaves her family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University.
What does the book Educated teach us?
The book teaches us about the transformative power of education and the courage it takes to break away from a harmful environment. It demonstrates the challenges of questioning deeply held beliefs, particularly when they are tied to family and identity. It also illuminates the complexities of mental illness, abuse, and the struggle for self-definition.
What type of memoir is Educated?
“Educated” is a coming-of-age memoir. It chronicles Tara’s journey from a young girl living in an extreme survivalist family to a woman navigating the realms of higher education. The memoir is also a testament to the power of education and its capacity to open up new ways of seeing and understanding the world.
Who abuses Tara in Educated?
Tara suffers abuse from multiple members of her family. Her father’s psychological control and neglect—particularly his refusal to allow her to attend school or get medical treatment—constitute one form of abuse. Her brother Shawn is physically and emotionally abusive, controlling, and violent towards her.
What is the main conflict in Educated by Tara Westover?
The main conflict in “Educated” is internal and relational. Tara struggles to reconcile her desire for education and a broader understanding of the world with her loyalty to her family and their belief system. This conflict becomes more pronounced as Tara becomes more educated, leading to a growing divide between her and her family.
Final thoughts
“Educated: A Memoir,” let’s not mince words—this is a gut-wrenching read. It’s one of those books that leave you pondering long after the last page is turned. Tara Westover’s journey is not just a story of academic triumph, but a tale of personal liberation, one that underscores the intricate complexities of family ties, mental health, and, fundamentally, what it means to be “educated.”
In a way, Tara’s story embodies the potential of self-directed learning, pushing us to think beyond the walls of a traditional classroom. It’s interesting, you know?
But as awe-inspiring as her achievements are, they don’t come without a cost. Tara’s scholastic journey isn’t just a matter of racking up degrees; it’s a collision course with her past, leading her to question the very foundational beliefs and relationships she grew up with. She’s caught in this gut-wrenching struggle of identity, pulled between the world she was born into and the world she grew into.
Ultimately, “Educated: A Memoir” serves as a critical reminder that the pursuit of knowledge isn’t just about accumulating facts or skills, but about fundamentally transforming how we see the world and ourselves in it. It forces us to grapple with uncomfortable questions about the nature of family, the limitations of formal schooling, and how one carves out their own identity amidst an interplay of conflicting loyalties and beliefs.
I hope you found this Educated a Memoir summary helpful!
