Some books I read and while I enjoy them, I don’t remember them for very long. Then there are books that I continue to think about long after I finish reading them. Educated is a memoir by Tara Westover that I will remember for a long time.

Tara Westover was raised in Idaho by separatist parents. Tara’s father dominated their family with his anti-government beliefs. He was convinced that the Feds were coming to get them and that the end of the world was coming soon. He had the family store away food, gasoline and other supplies in preparation for the end times. They were not allowed to go to doctors even when they suffered life threatening injuries.

While some of her older siblings received some public education, Tara never attended school. They told people they were home schooled, but there was very little schooling that occurred in her home. She watched as other kids went to school and eventually one of her older brothers left their home and went to college.

As an attempt to get away from an older brother who abused her, Tara realized she needed to go to college. With the encouragement of the brother who went to college, Tara decided she would take the college admission test to get into Brigham Young University. Over time Tara taught herself enough math and science to pass the ACT. She was admitted to BYU and at seventeen years old she walked into a classroom for the first time in her life.

Can you imagine your first education experience taking place in college? When she gets to college Tara begins to understand how little she knows about world events. In a startling scene in one of her college classes Tara was introduced to the Holocaust for the first time. Tara went on receive a high level education while dealing with many family conflicts.

This book will amaze you as you read about her attempts to separate herself from her family and follow her dreams while trying to remain connected to them. This book brings to light the importance of family, but the challenges that family can sometimes present.

If you enjoy reading memoirs I think you will enjoy Educated by Tara Westover.

I would love to hear what you think if you get a chance to read this book.