Educated: A Memoir - Tara Westover (Book)

Title: Educated: A Memoir

Author: Tara Westover

Date Published: February 20, 2018

Publisher: Random House

Category: Memoir / Non-fiction / Biography

Educated is Tara Westover’s powerful memoir chronicling her journey from an isolated, survivalist upbringing in rural Idaho to earning a PhD from Cambridge University. Raised by fundamentalist Mormon parents who distrusted formal education and modern medicine, Westover received no birth certificate and had minimal schooling. Despite these challenges, she taught herself enough to gain admission to Brigham Young University at 17, eventually pursuing advanced studies at Harvard and Cambridge.

The memoir delves into Westover’s struggle to reconcile her pursuit of knowledge with her loyalty to a family that often resisted her transformation. It explores themes of identity, resilience, and the profound impact of education on personal growth. Educated has received widespread acclaim for its candid portrayal of overcoming adversity and the complexities of familial bonds.