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Book Review
People have difficulty studying for many reasons, including financial challenges, accessibility, health, and learning problems. Unfortunately, few of these impediments are out of young people’s control; moreover, some barriers, such as family members and their religious beliefs, can be even more oppressive.
American essayist and historian Tara Westover’s memoir Educated recounts her childhood and youth living with her parents and six siblings in Buck’s Peak, a socially isolated mountain community in Idaho, United States. Her father, who worked in a junkyard on their own home, was a radical, fundamentalist Mormon who believed in multiple conspiracy theories and sexism, as well as a great distrust of the government and educational systems. His convictions permeated the entire family.
The book consists of three parts. The first presents Tara’s family context, recounting her childhood memories, understanding of her surroundings, and events that marked her life. Here, the protagonist provides an overview of her family’s ideals and beliefs, as well as her experiences with significant events marking her childhood, such as unsafe working conditions, car accidents, and domestic abuse.
Although the family resided on a mountain outside of town, they were not completely isolated from society; thus, Tara began to get glimpses of an alternate reality that was very different from her situation. Thanks to temporary jobs she took in town, dancing and acting classes, and her brother Tyler’s influence, she began to question the way she had been taught to see the world.
In the book’s second part, Tara, after struggling with parental disapproval and the values imposed by her family, finally attends college, where her beliefs and customs starkly contrast with her new environment. During this stage, Tara experiences marked culture shock as she begins to socialize with people who do not share her convictions, and, above all, she realizes that the education her parents provided her differed immensely from the real academic world.
Tension with her family intensifies, and she struggles to detach herself from the lifestyle instilled in her at home. Nevertheless, Tara continues with her academic career, but not without continuously questioning the education she receives.
Finally, the third part of the book reveals a more mature Tara who has traveled and studied in different countries worldwide, where she must make difficult decisions to follow her principles, which have been transformed by education.
Tara Westover’s story is a testament to strength and perseverance, proving that human curiosity and an enthusiasm for learning are not easily suppressed. It is well established that family can be the most significant influence in people’s lives, so reading about Tara’s internal struggle with her new knowledge and ideals and how she deals with these yields a distinct and inspiring perspective on education.
This book surprises not just because of the poor (and even non-existent) methods with which Tara manages to attend college and has to learn to learn at basic levels, but also for the personal havoc she endures, and how these experiences fundamentally transform her as a person.
Written as a diary, this book is a page-turner. It easily transports the reader to Tara’s perspective, experiences, and thoughts, making the reader empathize with what she sees and feels. The book also provokes reflection on different topics such as religion, education, job insecurity, family relationships, perseverance, and believing in oneself.
Educated is not, nor will it be, the first or last testimony of a person who must overcome numerous obstacles to become successful through education. However, it is a memoir that raises readers’ awareness about the sad reality that many people endure. The book leaves you pondering the millions of situations similar to Tara’s and even considering more constrictive and violent scenarios in which receiving an education is impossible.
Notably, Tara’s memoir interestingly lets us take a close look at the various situations of her life and how, little by little, Tara’s perspective evolves thanks to education. While some things in life favor her, she is also frequently at crossroads where she must choose between loyalty to herself or her family and their ideals.
This book is for anyone interested in different perspectives and life experiences, the search for identity, and the true power of knowledge. It undoubtedly does not disappoint and can be a source of inspiration for many.
Translated by: Daniel Wetta
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This article from Observatory of the Institute for the Future of Education may be shared under the terms of the license CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 
