An Incredible Story

Tara Westover

I just read an astounding book entitled Educated, a memoir by Tara Westover The author is a 29-year-old woman who never went to school until she was 17. She grew up in a survivalist family in an isolated area of Idaho in the 1990's. Her father did not believe in public education, government, or medicine. Her mother grew herbal remedies and also served as a midwife in her community.

All the children worked in their father's salvage yard until they left home. They were haphazardly home-schooled by their mother who had no credentials. Somehow Westover was able to find some books to study and passed her ACT test and got a scholarship to college. After graduating from Brigham Young University magna cum laude in 2008, she went on to Cambridge and Harvard, earning a PhD at the age of 27.

All during her education she tried to maintain ties with her parents who believed she had sold her soul to the devil. One of her brothers was bi-polar and was physically cruel to her although her parents denied it. Her extremist father was irrational and most of the family was subservient to him.

It was heartbreaking to read of her attempts to reconnect with her brothers and sister after uncovering a whole new world of ideas and books and history. She really loved her family, and wanted to be a part of their lives. But she had to be true to herself also and not be sucked into their disfunctionality.

Westover had kept journals throughout most of her life, so she had sources to help her remember episodes of her past. She also had professors and friends who encouraged her and recognized her superior intellect. It was wonderful to see her develop self-esteem and to believe in her abilities and talents. She not only survived, she thrived.