Books and Bakes: Educated by Tara Westover

Our November book:

Educated by Tara Westover is a powerful memoir recounting her journey from an isolated and unconventional childhood in rural Idaho to earning a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge. Westover’s story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and the transformative power of education, as well as the intense personal costs that her pursuit of learning incurred.

Born to strict Mormon survivalists, Westover’s family was deeply skeptical of government institutions and mainstream education. Her father, Gene, held extreme beliefs about the impending apocalypse, distrusting hospitals, public schools, and the federal government. As a result, Westover and her siblings grew up without formal schooling or regular medical care. Instead, they learned survival skills and worked in their father’s dangerous junkyard. Their lives revolved around self-sufficiency and isolation from society, with her father often expressing extreme views that intensified their separation from the outside world.

Westover’s mother, Faye, was an herbalist and unlicensed midwife. Despite her initial reluctance, she increasingly supported Gene’s worldview and distanced herself from mainstream society, aiding her husband’s preparations for the end times. Westover, the youngest of seven children, was left to navigate a challenging and often perilous environment. Her older brother, Shawn, struggled with abusive tendencies, and his violent behavior toward Westover and others in the family became a traumatic element in her upbringing. The family, however, largely ignored or dismissed the abuse, leaving her without a support system.

At seventeen, Westover took her first steps toward education, driven by a desire to understand the world beyond her family’s limited perspective. She began studying independently to pass the ACT, a college entrance exam, despite never having attended school. Her self-motivated learning was an immense struggle, as she faced a severe knowledge gap compared to other students. Nevertheless, her dedication and innate intelligence allowed her to enroll at Brigham Young University (BYU), where she encountered an entirely new way of thinking.

At BYU, Westover faced intense cultural and academic challenges. Simple concepts like the Holocaust, which she had never learned about, became humbling reminders of her limited education. Her professors and classmates, although often shocked by her gaps in knowledge, encouraged her to pursue her studies. Over time, she excelled in her courses and began to explore subjects like history and philosophy. Her curiosity about the world outside her family’s ideology grew, leading her to question the beliefs she had been raised with. This journey of self-discovery was painful, forcing her to confront long-held loyalties and values instilled by her family.

As Westover progressed academically, she received prestigious scholarships and opportunities to study abroad, including a transformative experience at the University of Cambridge in England. Her mentor, Professor Jonathan Steinberg, recognized her potential and encouraged her to push beyond her limitations. Under his guidance, Westover blossomed intellectually, ultimately earning a Ph.D. in history from Cambridge. Education provided her with the tools to critically analyze her past, gaining a sense of agency and identity beyond her family’s control.

However, her pursuit of education came with significant personal sacrifices. Her family viewed her educational aspirations as a betrayal, accusing her of abandoning her roots and embracing values that conflicted with their beliefs. The closer she got to achieving her academic goals, the more strained her relationship with her family became. Her father, in particular, could not accept her decision to live outside his worldview, and her brother’s abusive behavior continued to haunt her. Ultimately, Westover was forced to make a difficult choice between maintaining ties with her family and preserving her mental health and sense of self-worth. She chose to distance herself from them, a decision that left her isolated but liberated.

In Educated, Westover explores themes of identity, loyalty, and the difficult journey of self-empowerment. Her story resonates on many levels, addressing the psychological complexities of family bonds and the way these relationships shape, and sometimes confine, us. Education serves as a metaphor for freedom in her life—a path out of a world defined by control, fear, and violence. Yet the memoir also delves into the emotional cost of that freedom, illustrating the painful, often irrevocable toll that breaking away from familial expectations can take.

The book also highlights the transformative power of education as a force for change. Through Westover’s story, readers witness how knowledge can dismantle ignorance and prejudice, allowing individuals to reclaim their lives and identities. Her journey underscores the courage it takes to break free from one’s past, challenge ingrained beliefs, and step into a world of greater understanding and possibility. In her struggle to reconcile the person her family wanted her to be with the person she yearned to become, Westover ultimately demonstrates that education, both formal and personal, can be a profound and empowering journey of self-discovery.

In Educated, Tara Westover crafts a deeply moving narrative about the strength it takes to break free from an oppressive environment and forge an independent path. Her story is both a compelling personal tale and a broader commentary on the power of education to transform lives, liberating individuals from cycles of abuse, ignorance, and oppression. Through her bravery and resilience, Westover inspires readers to consider the ways in which their own backgrounds and beliefs shape their lives, and the possibilities that open up when one dares to seek knowledge and question the world.

In December, we will be discussing The Long Call by Ann Cleeves. We always have space for new book club members. If you would like to join our monthly social, we generally meet on the second Monday of every month 1pm – 2:30pm at The Institute, Grays Road, Grangefield, TS18 4LN. The price is £5 per person, which includes hot drinks and sweet treats. Books are provided by Stockton Borough Council Reading Resource Library Service and we consult on the shortlist of books every time the Library provide a new list of books available via the Resource Library.