Tara Westover's journey from off-the-grid childhood to Cambridge

[@jay_thestorygirl]

I just finished this amazing book. It brought back a lot of memories from my own childhood. My childhood was nowhere near as dramatic or excruciating as hers, but I too grew up in a huge fundamentalist homeschool family. It was deeply dysfunctional and my mother was severely depressed. My parents had me “do school,” but my education was almost entirely up to me, and I had to fight for it. As the oldest daughter, my mom didn’t think I should spend so much time on my studies. One day when I was about 13, she said that from now on, I would only be allowed 2 hours per day to study and practice violin in my room. For the rest of the day, I was expected to be downstairs “with the family” helping take care of the younger kids. I told her that 2 hours was a ridiculously short amount of time, and I wasn’t going to do it. She got angry and went to my father, who echoed her command. I was usually a very obedient girl, but I flatly told him no as well. Finally, after repeating the command over and over, they seemed to realize how unreasonable it was.

[@rlhat7600]

She’s extraordinary. Her father was mentally ill as was her brother. She’s fortunate she’s so bright.

[@aaronpannell6401]

I hate her brother

[@thelaurels13]

@Aaron Pannell Her brother is damn dangerous and should be locked up.

[@danijelaiv3011]

This is one of the most dangerous childhood to live and the most challenging path to get out. I am glad Tara managed.

[@jennyxelinor]

Her book was amazing but honestly watching her interviews and seeing her emotional strength and what a great outlook she has on her whole experience is even more amazing.

[@elianaperetz9143]

This was one of the best books I’ve ever read. It was truly amazing

[@donaldcoder8851]

I found it a big bore and disgusting.

[@lexalina132]

@@donaldcoder8851 why was it disgusting? What parts specifically did you dislike? I get it, not every book is going to appeal to every person, if they did we wouldn't have so many wonderful genres to choose from! But I'm curious regardless--what, in your mind, made the book so extremely unappealing as to call it disgusting?

[@pnsolo]

@@lexalina132 The first intelligent reply to a comment I've ever seen on the internet. Congratulations.

[@brianbobyoung3266]

@@pnsolo yea I read it and was like, oh wow the internet malfunctioned for a sec there with kindness and a sincere question

[@lisac8509]

Read the book "Them" by Ben Sassy

[@amymccarthy4962]

I finished reading this book today. I admire Tara and I'm grateful I got to read her inspiring story. Her ability to grow to trust her own voice after many years of being emotionally/psychologically manipulated, was a powerful read for me. I cried after I put this book down. I feel like her story will stay with me for my lifetime. Thank you Dr. Westover!

[@plumbawl5977]

"Educated" is the best memoir I have read in years! I did not see nor hear any YT videos until after I read this book, firstly. I am inspired by Tara's fortitude during her self confrontations to grapple her physical sufferings while enduring family social tumults to eventually find long awaited support by some family conflicted similarly as she persued her PhD! Her singing voice echoes the very essance of her journey with pure dignity from where she began in the Idaho mountains to the accomplshed woman she is presently!

[@donaldcoder8851]

Sad she never asked if all this Morman stuff was true or just a dark cult.

[@lexalina132]

@@donaldcoder8851 Eh, bit of column A, bit of column B. Mormonism has its good, bad, and ugly, just like all religions.

[@katehache]

This was one of the most amazing, most disturbing books I’ve ever read.

[@Qiq-og6ms]

I agree. Another book makes me feel the same way is “the land of invisible women “

[@1catmac]

What poise and intelligence. Very inspirational. Getting book today

[@JamesSmith-cs7bd]

1catmac I wouldn't recommend it.

[@ncascio8458]

Its amazing!

[@dosadoodle]

I just finished listening to the audio book version today and loved it.

[@jeanneevans9299]

Pretty cool book, I felt bad for her that she had to have a crazy family like that. I'm glad she still talks to a few of her brothers though. :)

[@tlk2348]

1catmac it's amazing. I just read it. I couldn't put it down.

[@thesnoopydance645]

Reading her book I became unaware of the passing of time; it is so well written and intriquing.

[@THardy.]

This was our book for book club . . . we had a VERY spirited discussion. This book elicits strong emotions.

[@akistepinska]

Such a great book and unique experience. So sad that Tara had to be estranged from her family in order to be her own person. We are lucky when our own families let us stay real to who we are.

[@flavio4923]

I recommend this book . I'm inspired by her story and hearing her speak in video for the first time didn't get disappointed

[@donaldcoder8851]

Forget this book. A big waste of time.

[@lexalina132]

@@donaldcoder8851 what makes you say that? Anything in particular?

[@josevillarreal6294]

Amazing! REAL Hope for individuals. Proud of this woman.

[@openyoureyes3969]

Real hope? What was she escaping? She had parents who educated her, she never had to take a pharmaceutical for the first 17 years of her life. Waste of time

[@tlk2348]

It was a wonderful book. She's a blessing! A real survivor.

[@openyoureyes3969]

survivor of what?

[@lexalina132]

@@openyoureyes3969 survivor of crazy people who refused to get her a birth certificate until she was 9 years old, made her work in a junkyard hauling scrap at age 10 (and ALMOST CRUSHED HER with machinery and didn't give a damn), shamed her for wanting an ACTUAL education, didn't treat her or her siblings with ACTUAL medicine thanks to psycho dad's paranoia, AND try to call her a liar when she won't shut up and get in the kitchen. The only good thing those people did for her was be proud when she got the lead role in Annie and to let her actually leave instead of holding her hostage in complete ignorance.

[@rebeccawhite8459]

Best book I've read in a long, long time....her dad created a crazy existence

[@oliviadas4764]

She's one of the most inspiring people I've ever read about

[@videosisee]

Great story, well told. I read this in a day because it was so compelling! The odds of Tara Westover earning a PhD at Cambridge were overwhelmingly against her. The odds of two of her brothers also earning PhDs -- off the charts! One thing this book makes crystal clear -- her father isn't a stupid person; deranged and stupid are two very different things.

[@jaimemedina6895]

One of the most brilliant minds! A true philosopher! I loved the book, I loved the strength, intelligence, and persistence she utilized to achieve her success! 🙏

[@janeadcock9304]

this is the best book I have ever read

[@kairos106]

She is truly so normal, down to Earth and intelligent. More normal than most of the people who has "standard" childhood and upbringings.

[@Kristy_not_Kristine]

Exactly!!

[@urbanbeardman6840]

What a journey. What an inspiration. Read the book or listen to it - above all make it your own. Learn from it. Such a bright and intelligent woman. To call her story highly commendable is to say nothing. It is so much more than that.

[@rosariasiragusa8469]

What an amazing and courageous woman! Loved the book.

[@christopher6082]

Glad she mentions Gaslighting. So many parents manipulate their children’s memories and experiences to suit their own needs. It’s now wonder so many people raised by narcissists have trust issues.

[@RoseStream83]

What an incredible story!

[@FlugHerr]

This woman has character.

[@terryanthony7758]

Very interesting book. Father Westover has a narcissistic personality disorder. Also, raging misogyny. Amazing the hold our families have over us.

[@093350]

Best book I read in a while

[@madelynef1]

It was riveting!

[@ness7362]

Gayle King starting with commentary on her relief that Tara looked normal [given her off-grid/junkyard upbringing] is highly offensive and in very bad taste. Prejudice at its finest.

[@aliciadavis2176]

I like what she said at the end.

[@johannakline2899]

She’s amazing! The story is wild. But if her parents don’t believe in all these things why do they have a lawyer?

[@Crozierfamily]

Johanna Kline they also run a super successful essential oil company, with lots of employees. I believe she lived an unconventional and even abusive childhood. But like most of our own personal history there is always a mix of fact and perception.

[@avery3424]

i wish i could have a conversation with her! so inspiring

[@hayleydoesthings]

“You walked in here looking so normal.” Geez lady, how can you talk with your foot shoved so far in your mouth?

[@priusa8113]

RealityBytes some people have zero filters!

[@nkwari]

I thought that was so cruel and in bad taste and rude!

[@hayleydoesthings]

Centennial there was really no excuse for it. They could have googled and found Tara’s picture and known what she looks like, but apparently this woman felt it was necessary to make that awkward comment.

[@carolafricangirl6836]

She's so beautiful!🌹🥰

[@sgt7]

I had a similar journey. When I eventually matured and overcame fundamentalism I thought there was a reasonable world waiting for me. I found out that fundamentalism comes in forms other than religious and is quite common. Religious fundamentalism was just one form. For example, the popular strand of feminism that was preached at my University was the same as the religious fundamentalism I had extricated myself from (in all but content): it demonised all those who disagreed, it demonoised science/reason, it offered oversimplified explanations of complex problems, it used conspiracies to explain almost all social problems, and it sought to bully people into conformity rather than offer clear cogent arguments. As a former fundamentalist, I was inoculated against fundamentalist forms of thinking and so could avoid the brainwashing process that many of my liberal peers succumbed too. The problem is not with ideas such as religion, atheism, communism, capitalism etc. It is with fundamentalist ways of thinking that refuses to learn and instead seeks only evidence to verify one's point of view. To overcome this, intelligence is not enough. It can take a bit of courage and work too.

[@jmcast3195]

There has to be a happy medium between these two worlds. There is nothing wrong with independence and raising your kids to work hard, but it is unfortunate they had to isolate themselves so much

[@jeanneevans9299]

My family did home school and what she explained in her book was not home school. Basically it seemed like the parents just wanted them all at home to help run the junk yard. I knew about Hitler when I got to college. Yeah I hate it when people do home school and do it horribly, ends up making home school look bad. But I think her and her two brothers have been awesome proving that it didn't matter what the parents did by getting PhD's. That's pretty cool she got into BYU, that is one thing no one in my family did. But I don't think any of us applied since there are plenty of other universities around. I feel bad for her that she had to split from her family. Pretty sad the abusive brother got away with his crap. Sigh!

[@DD-d6d3]

Home school is a great way to make sure your kids are never smarter than you

[@jeanneevans9299]

D D Really? In some ways maybe true. But look at her and her two brothers, they have PhD's while most of the population does not. We were told in graduate school that only 7 % of the world has a PhD. Also I have a Masters after doing home school and my mom has a Bachelor's while my dad didn't do college. Now talk to me about home school making you stupid. I know to many who have upper degrees who did home school, while their parents didn't do college. Please continue to shame home school and all it'll do is make you show your ignorance on the topic.

[@jeanneevans9299]

Oh and remember she went to some pretty impressive universities as well. Who goes to Cambridge and Harvard for a PhD? Sounds like you didn't even read the book! If you actually read the book and then talked then you wouldn't show off your ignorance on this topic.

[@lisasegelbaum5543]

Jeanne Evans /

[@nparksntx]

I was a public school teacher for 6 years & I’m homeschooling my kiddos because government schools are pretty terrible. We are homesteading but we certainly aren’t isolated. Until our recent move 2 of our neighbors were homeschooled & have been successful adults & became good friends. Cases like this are extremely rare which makes the stories fascinating!

[@CathyYTaylor]

I agree with Gayle... an amazing story!

[@yokie52]

I read the book because I wanted to try to understand the mother. You are a nut, but to find a woman who will go along with not educating your children or treating them when they are ill...I read it and I still cannot understand her mother.

[@rebeccawhite8459]

Yokie Miller I think the mother just went along with the dad's ideas to avoid conflict and she was a follower, not a leader like him

[@Kristy_not_Kristine]

Read Educating by her mother.

[@curioMuseum]

What none of the interviews seem to touch on is that her father is extremely mentally ill and his family is all raised having to live in his deluded version of reality. There is an extraordinarily strong connection between mental illness (paranoia, religious delusions) and the beliefs these people grew up with...

[@channingryanjohnson]

Bravo Gale for insulting the guest and making her feeling uncomfortable before she has a chance to talk.

[@JamesSmith-cs7bd]

Channing Johnson Maybe he knows something we don't...

[@tlk2348]

Tara is amazing!

[@irislaureano5280]

What a remarkable woman.Beautiful and fine.

[@TheMrDanPalmer]

The movie will be wonderful

[@ClayBlasdel44]

Who plays the lead role in the movie?

[@cierahowell8653]

They trust a lawyer though? Guess their not that way still.

[@McCallCruse]

This book was AMAZING!

[@mujeebarahmanmujeeb5230]

U xxy publik.com her .and frand me 👐👐👐👐

[@carmenlove7839]

Gayle..did u read the book? ur asking questions literally in the book

[@qdav5]

I read Educated by Tara Westover shortly after reading Infidel by Ayaan Hersi Ali. The parallels are shocking. Religion enables, and even encourages the very worst in people.

[@samanzibar]

Does anyone else find the interviewer (Gale) to be condescending to Tara? Like "I was relieved you look normal"-- her picture is on the book jacket? Why is she trying to treat her like an exhibit in the zoo?

[@jscranton2]

she came in looking so normal but you on the other hand not so much...........

[@AnhNguyen-te8ek]

She sounds awesome

[@profithen9903]

Amen

[@MT-tx7bu]

Our stories are not always ones we can understand or relate to. Relationships don't work in the black and white. Gosh, history tells us that. We may never know why a story is what it is or how someone could of lived that life, but the real truth is, we do live those lives and they're aren't easy to understand. Love is not about surface level, public eye, completely relatable information. We often have relationships that are difficult to look and live in, but they are our stories and we can choose to learn from them or not. It's how we receive it, not how it's received.

[@williamwong8239]

if it‘s a similar story to Anzia Yezierska's bread giver, is it worthy reading?

[@aaronpannell6401]

Yes, its worth leading

[@rachelnorton9394]

I do wonder how living off the grid helped shape her critical thinking skills. A lot of people in education might say it was helpful...

[@Jonathonson]

Strangely reminds me of Morty Jr.

[@joandana8813]

After seeing a photo of her father, supposedly badly burned on his face, I have reason to doubt what is true in this book.,

[@DesertMouse298]

I heard the mother is writing her side of the story now. It's called Educator or something like that. I just finished this book. It was an interesting read, but history is complicated. You can never know the truth until you have heard all sides. Sadly, even then you can't know the full truth of a story due to your own perspectives. What I have found is the truth is usually something in the middle of both sides. In truth, only God knows what really happened. I am just amazed at how she did in college, but I have seen lots of stories of homeschooled children really excel in college.

[@AM-br4ix]

Her father was right to be Leary of the government….

[@Noah4evaa]

Her dad is a smart guy!

[@swollfirehouse]

Good Lord, Gayle... condescending much? 🙄

[@jessicalewis2508]

She's like an even more rude version of Oprah. How do people watch her? Hard pass.

[@ag3127]

5 bucks says her dad loves Alex Jones aka gay frog

[@lizkingbradley]

I’ve been to where she grew up and I’ve met her parents and her father is not what she describes and neither is her mother. The beginning of her book says that her memories aren’t really memories at all. She’s enjoying fame by throwing her family under the bus.

[@alg11297]

Her two brothers got PhD's? And she doesn't mention it?

[@qwertyvexed8316]

its on the book.

[@betulsokmen6511]

My name is Cağın berat sökmen (CBS)

[@craigsawicky1643]

Reading between the lines, Is being self-sufficient,and maybe a little paranoid ALWAYS a BAD thing? Obviously SHE doesn't appear to have actually suffered educationally. Could ANYONE guarantee,SHE would have done as well if subjected to what is considered,a NORMAL life? Bet She is a person ANYONE would desire as a Neighbor in an Emergency.

[@ericrausch4840]

Does extreme resilience come at a cost?

[@jeanneevans9299]

It's called she taught herself and that's why she even got into BYU. (Also had the good influence of her brother) If she hadn't of bothered teaching herself then she would have ended up like the four siblings who were at a 4th grade level.

[@ramywiles]

She suffered physically and emotionally. That's the point.

[@jmcast3195]

I thought the same thing. I dont think she yet appreciates the aspects of her childhood that served her very well.

[@cowtownsteen]

@@jmcast3195 If you think that, then I don't believe you read the book. She talks quite a bit about wonderful memories that she had that are quite vividly drawn.

[@Kristy_not_Kristine]

Some day she'll find out her parents knew more than she thought. I enjoyed both books and have come to believe her mother's book over hers.

[@miyakoishii7537]

M

[@lisac8509]

Something doesn't seem quite right.

[@koriribarsosio4174]

Yup. Felt too

[@aaronpannell6401]

Have u read the book?

[@alg11297]

You really wonder how much of this story is at all true. She repeats details over and over in the same words. Maybe it was written for her.

[@yankee2666]

You're not making a point at all; you're simply seeking to denigrate....A total waste of energy.

[@thelmafisher4551]

Noone wonders that except people who abuse or have been so sheltered from it they can't picture that others do

[@supermormon8647]

It should be noted that her book is not Church approved reading.

[@tlotus3032]

Are you being ironic? Cults never approve of honesty and self empowerment.

[@fairfreckled6209]

I'm a devout Mormon and I'm recommending it everyone I know including many Mormons. I actually live extremely close to where this all takes place. I think she did a great job differentiating between what the LDS faith actually believes vs what her parents believed, considering her complicated relationship with it all. It was a great read!

[@tlotus3032]

Fair & Freckled It's very easy for Mormons to compartmentalize the dysfunctions and, in fact, it's a requirement. I'm sure all of your LDS friends will just chalk it up to her family being crazy and not see the parallels of coercion, denial and narcissism required in All LDS homes and to be a "devout" mormon. Mormons avoid reality and live in a fairy tale world they will come to blows to defend. That's why I know more about Church history and my own family history and ancestors than all of my family and I'm the only ex-mormon. You self brain wash. It's a tidy crazy little system.

[@fairfreckled6209]

Tlotus meh, I'm pretty chill. Devout for me means that I believe the core foundations of the church and follow the prophet. My family dynamic is maybe not what most "non" members would picture though. I consider myself a feminist for one thing. I don't make my kids go to church. My husband is not the ruler of the house (probably I wear the pants if anything haha). I just tell me kids this is what I believe and let them go. I tell them to figure out what they think on their own. There's no harm in that. If we were trying to brainwash them or have a dictator home life i would probably feel differently to that idea. There are things in the church that kind of drive me batty and I'm not afraid to speak up on them. I see a lot of room for improvement that's for sure!! I'm happy, but I understand how that is honestly probably not the majority. And I get that it can be seen as "Mormons are THIS and if you don't think so then you're brainwashed" for a lot of people. That's kind of how people tend to see Muslim people. We're just not the most popular folk haha. Thanks for your comment, I like hearing from ex Mormons and non members. I think it keeps me humble, you are always willing to tell us where we are falling short and I don't mind evaluating and seeing how I can improve. I hate that we come off so judgy, yet I know WHY we do... because most of us are. (One of those things that drives me batty). Anyways, yeah, I saw this family as the "crazy" kind, because I literally think it's completely insane. Does not surprise me to think that they're are a whooooole lot more like them though. Uuughhhghhh.

[@jeannefisher1833]

i didnt know the church had an approved reading list. is it on a disapproved list, that i dont know about also.

[@chicagospots]

Her Vocal Fry is off putting.

[@beachsunshineapril]

Gail will never be Oprah. She has no screen 'presence'.

[@11JohnBooker22]

Obviously she's the product of great parenting..... BTW could Gail King be more prejudice?

[@JS_SN_UQAU]

You need to read the book!

[@lexalina132]

I would argue that while she wasn't the product of good parenting, she isn't the product of horrible parenting either. I wouldn't say her parents are evil horrible monsters for living as they did, but there are MANY things that set of major red flags--not taking your son to the hospital after he's damn near burnt his leg down to the bone and is in severe pain, for example. They didn't do it because they're abusive parents or that they hate their children, they were just... paranoid beyond any reasonable comprehension...

[@silvasilvasilva]

@@lexalina132 I don't think abusive behaviour has to be intentional, though. She turned out fine in spite of her parents, not because of them.

[@lexalina132]

Mônica you’re absolutely right, and i 100% agree that this was a case of inspite of rather than because of her parents. i should probably clarify that “because they’re abusive parents” in my prior comment is because i view it as more of a neglect situation as opposed to cut and dry abuse since the father didn’t intentionally cause the explosion/fire to his son’s leg (using a specific example from the book here), he just didn’t take him to a hospital-thus neglecting medical care, though the injury was not the direct result of a physical attack on the son by his father. I really hope that made sense! Please let me know if i can clarify anything! 😊

[@sarahfrates6734]

No way. They were abusive and neglectful. Today the children would have been taken away and they would be in jail. Failure to get medical care is neglectful. Putting them in dangerous situations is abuse. Failure to protect against "Shawm" is abuse and grounds for taking the children away.

[@MK-ok6xr]

This is such a lame story.

[@FlugHerr]

This woman has character.