BKMT READING GUIDES

No.
26


 
Interesting,
Inspiring,
Dramatic

32 reviews

Educated: A Memoir
by Tara Westover

Published: 2018-02-20
Hardcover : 352 pages
425 members reading this now
1519 clubs reading this now
79 members have read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 28 of 32 members
#1 NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND BOSTON GLOBE BESTSELLER • One of the most acclaimed books of our time: an unforgettable memoir about a young woman who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University

“Extraordinary ...

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Introduction

#1 NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND BOSTON GLOBE BESTSELLER • One of the most acclaimed books of our time: an unforgettable memoir about a young woman who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University

“Extraordinary . . . an act of courage and self-invention.”—The New York Times

NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW • ONE OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’S FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEAR • BILL GATES’S HOLIDAY READING LIST • FINALIST: National Book Critics Circle’s Award In Autobiography and John Leonard Prize For Best First Book • PEN/Jean Stein Book Award • Los Angeles Times Book Prize

Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.

“Beautiful and propulsive . . . Despite the singularity of [Westover’s] childhood, the questions her book poses are universal: How much of ourselves should we give to those we love? And how much must we betray them to grow up?”—Vogue

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, O: The Oprah Magazine, Time, NPR, Good Morning America, San Francisco Chronicle, The Guardian, The Economist, Financial Times, Newsday, New York Post, theSkimm, Refinery29, Bloomberg, Self, Real Simple, Town & Country, Bustle, Paste, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, LibraryReads, Book Riot, Pamela Paul, KQED, New York Public Library

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

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Discussion Questions

1. Many of Tara’s father’s choices have an obvious impact on Tara’s life, but how did her mother’s choices influence her? How did that change over time?

2. Tara’s brother Tyler tells her to take the ACT. What motivates Tara to follow his advice?

3. Charles was Tara’s first window into the outside world. Under his influence, Tara begins to dress differently and takes medicine for the first time. Discuss Tara’s conflicting admiration for both Charles and her father.

4. Tara has titled her book Educated and much of her education takes place in classrooms, lectures, or other university environments. But not all. What other important moments of “education” were there? What friends, acquaintances, or experiences had the most impact on Tara? What does that imply about what an education is?

5. Eventually, Tara confronts her family about her brother’s abuse. How do different the members of her family respond?

6. What keeps Tara coming back to her family as an adult?

7. Ultimately, what type of freedom did education give Tara?

8. Tara wrote this at the age of thirty, while in the midst of her healing process. Why do you think she chose to write it so young, and how does this distinguish the book from similar memoirs?

9. Tara paid a high price for her education: she lost her family. Do you think she would make the same choice again?

Suggested by Members

Value of Education
Alternative life styles on children
Life style differences vs abuse
by [email protected] (see profile) 06/01/20

have you ever had a WOW aha moment? What did you learn?
by lizblair (see profile) 03/10/19

What role did public education play in your family? Was homeschooling even thought of or a possibility for anyone in your vicinity?
What events lead the author to decide to leave her family and begin her public education?
What strengths were required to break away from the father in this story? Would you have been able to break away?
by pkoscinski (see profile) 02/19/19

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

No notes at this time.

Book Club Recommendations

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
by Elaine R. (see profile) 09/26/24

 
by Sandy F. (see profile) 09/17/24

 
by Angela C. (see profile) 09/07/24

 
by Denise B. (see profile) 08/31/24

 
by Erin C. (see profile) 08/31/24

 
by Lizzie B. (see profile) 08/31/24

 
by Roisin L. (see profile) 08/28/24

 
by Ange M. (see profile) 08/01/24

I learned a lot from this book. I think it deeply conveys how much childhood can impact a person. My heart hurt reading this book, but it was so good.

 
by Donna A. (see profile) 07/12/24

 
by Melia T. (see profile) 07/08/24

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