This book stems from a profoundly foundational family squabble. Westover’s parents practice a strictly conservative form of Mormonism in Idaho. They follow the virtue of self-reliance to the point that they did not put their children into school or get them birth certificates. However, some of their children, like the author, ended up making their ways into college and eventually graduate school. This memoir tells one daughter’s life from rural Idaho into BYU and eventually into Cambridge University. Like many who journey from religious fundamentalism towards higher education, her and her siblings’ experiences have sadly severed their family.
The author’s decade-long journey towards self-mastery is nothing but impressive. Her father likely had bipolar disorder, and this probably untreated mental illness fed into a deep paranoia about the world. This was further fueled by a cultural isolation in rural Idaho. Their family latched onto a fundamentalism form of Mormonism with apocalyptic and authoritarian tendencies. In addition, alleged physical abuse, not to mention neglect, intruded into their family dynamics. The author’s spiritual and intellectual journey consists of coming to terms with her upbringing. She lands on a reality-based understanding amidst rigorous academic studies about Mormonism’s place in wider modern history.
This story will attempt to trigger many family insecurities in readers, and understandably so. There are a lot of dynamics going on in this family. Be forewarned: There is no “happy ending” where everything comes together. It’s a story about a young woman coming to terms with her world and making informed choices amidst erudition and higher education. She asks herself important questions like, Is this worth it? She almost fails but eventually succeeds in graduating with a PhD in history.
This books speaks of the sacrifices that academic careers can require. It also speaks of deeply oppressive circumstances. It can encourage readers who wonder whether a professional career via education is worth it. To Westover, the answer seems to be yes, but the price of freedom is high and lonely. Interestingly, her mother, a naturopathic entrepreneur, wrote her own memoir of these experiences. I have not read it, but the contrast between these two camps seems stark. This author’s story is eloquent and expressive and leaves much to ponder in thought.
Educated: A Memoir
By Tara Westover
Narrated by Julie Whelan
Copyright (c) 2018
Random House Audio
ASIN B075F68BFV
Length: 12:10
Genre: Memoir, Autobiography
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