Tara Westover On Leaving Her Survivalist, Conspiracy-Fueled Childhood Behind

Tara Westover was raised by Mormon survivalist parents, who taught her that doctors were heathens and that school would brainwash her mind. So instead, she worked in her father's junkyard in the mountains of Idaho, and was homeschooled by her mother, along with her six sisters and brothers. She was often on the wrong end of physical and emotional abuse along the way, and never allowed to seek medical help for any of it. When she decided to leave, she taught herself from an ACT prep-book, and scored so high she not only got into college, she got a scholarship... eventually getting her PhD in history from Cambridge University.
She writes about it all in her new book, ‘Educated: A Memoir.’ Jim Braude was joined by Tara Westover.

[@Hmcet]

What a great book though I have to say I was almost glad it was over - probably more accurate is that I’m glad she grew up and had the wherewithal to grow and thrive as she has. God bless her.

[@aquariangypsy8892]

Even with context, any time where people were, and continue to be, judged for the color of their skin is, and will always be, incomprehensible.

[@phyllishamilton165]

Braude is indeed pushy, an attorney turned "radio personality" on Boston's NPR radio station.

[@Tayloratjuc]

I'm thankful for westover, and her book should be read by many, but this interviewer.... so pushy, does he have empathy or...?

[@busylivingnotdying]

You might be reading a little much into his demeanor…. good intentions is revealed in how people ACT and their moral choices over time … maybe he is a sports commentator (they tend to talk a little "abrupt"), it doesn't have to mean anything :)

[@86sineadw]

@@busylivingnotdying interviewers are professionally trained to ask specific questions, to get certain answers or emotive reactions. It's their job. He knows what he's doing, by sitting the way he's sitting, cutting across her, being abrupt, using very cold direct questions on a traumatic experience. He's completely leading her, instead of asking questions like. Would you like to discuss your experience with your family, he says tell me about what your brother did - when he knows she was abused by him. He did that a few times, completely leading questioning. And he doesn't wait for her to finish her sentences, it's an interviewing tactic.

[@busylivingnotdying]

@@86sineadw Well, that MIGHT be true, but I have a different take on it... That professional journalistic world (you mentioned) is extremely STRATIFIED, like all other professions. And that fellow came across as someone who was "specialized" to interview in a more sports/entertainment style setting, but being in a local news job, getting "all kinds of situations" ... If he was mean and cruel on purpose, I would be very upset also, but I'm simply not SO SURE of his motivations (I know people get ME wrong all the time - despite being wicked smart - ..... well, anyway... ) relax, that last point was a joke :)

[@busylivingnotdying]

@@86sineadw I wonder if there could be a "gender expression conflict" also going on here... As a man, our hmmm ... forward leaning nature... is often mistakenly taken to be agressive (sigh) On behalf of all men: we're trying :( Of course, the type of men SHE was used to... now that is a different matter. But I think that is the mix of gender and unhealthy religion, don't you think? Its interesting: For men, the combination of typical male gender expression and fragile authority, brings out the worst in us... For ladies, the combination of typical female gender expression and fear of the outside, brings out the worst in "you guys" ...

[@busylivingnotdying]

@@86sineadw At either rate: He should PRACTICE getting better at dealing with this type of interviews, I can agree with that - he CAN definitely get better :) And your recommendations on how you do an interview with a victim of abuse ARE SUPERB! ... I'm just not sure it is a matter of bad attitude

[@ClayBlasdel44]

He opens too bluntly with "Why'd you write this thing?". What a cold fish he is.

[@Jsal17]

Is there a right end to emotional and physical abuse?? I MADE OUT OF THE HOLE!! And I'm estranged from my whole family.

[@FlyinBrianMeyers]

Where did they dig up this guy? Yikes!

[@rachelleanna3]

I personally identify with the pain Tara has experienced because of the estrangement with her family.

[@RebekahRockhound]

Tara is attractive, with an independnat streak and some of the more dominant, abusive men in her family couldn’t handle it.

[@busylivingnotdying]

Fundamentalist religion often puts some horrible expectation on men also… to be some sort of "representative of God" and "discipline" people under you… it draws out the worst in you

[@grannygoes7882]

@@busylivingnotdying I know that is true. I am surrounded by Mormons. I don't know anyone who tries harder than a responsible Mormon man. The expectations are exhausting. The ones I know are really fantastic people and they would change the negative aspects of their lives if they were free to do so. Many would be anything but Mormon if they could but it would just cause too much strife in their families so they just keep going with the flow, even when they disagree with it.

[@busylivingnotdying]

@@grannygoes7882 Thanks for your insight (and your gracious view of the people surrounding you) I don't know much how it is for mormons (beyond the book of course). I'm from "evangelical stock" myself and it is often"a knives edge balancing act" to decide between strife (and honesty) and peace with family who, no matter how wrong I might think they may be, probably do life as best they can. Of course, you don't want to be a pushover... :)

[@rebeccawhite8459]

Very sad story.

[@TenderloinsToughest]

It's actually not sad. She came out of it better and triumphed over all the adversity she faced.

[@grannygoes7882]

I don't think she had any sisters. It would have been helpful to her growing had she had one or two. I didn't mind his questions and I don't think she did either. I'm sure he (the interviewer) was nothing compared to what she was use to in men. Great story. I listened to the book free on my state audio library. I totally get the conflict with her parents. My dad is a fundamentalist minister. Not mormon but very similar (Church of Christ). He thinks he speaks for God. He always had his own interest at heart. Us kids were there to serve him. I had to distance myself from him to have any kind of life at all. But I still love him and am able to spend time with him now. I couldn't when I was first establishing myself and trying to figure out who and what I wanted to be. I couldn't trust him to give me good advice as he was always looking out for himself. My mom on the other hand was a better mom than Tara's. She finally apologized for how they raised me and acknowledged the limitations they put on me. She walked a fine line her entire married life. She didn't go against my Dad but she protected us as best she could and she was honest later in life and that helped. When she died, we had a good relationship and I'm grateful for that. You can love your parents but not like them nor want to be like them.

[@i2pjd6hRw5P]

She's so pretty wow

[@CharlotteFairchild]

Two out of the children got an education?

[@TenderloinsToughest]

I believe three of them did at least (speaking of college).

[@marlowebeckley7111]

Three have PhDs. The other 4 didn't graduate high school and work for their parent's essential oil company or drive trucks and stuff.

[@thumpermater5550]

@@marlowebeckley7111 They are very well off thanks to the company the family has built. One was a truck driver and had a fleet of trucks but they asked him if they wanted to come join there business. He was very successful in the trucking business. Really hard working family. I went to school with him.

[@margiecarter4975]

On one hand she says I love my family and then she turns around and says and I love them very much she needs to go to a psychiatrist

[@TenderloinsToughest]

Your post made literally no sense at all. Might be you who needs a shrink. You can love your family but not like them, or have issues with them.

[@knowledgewillincrease7508]

looks to me like her parents raised their little boy to be a girl..

[@knowledgewillincrease7508]

looks to me like you are sexual confused@Jason Butche

[@cainoble]

Uhhm. What are you two going on about? I mean seriously lol what are you talking about?