Educated memoir- Tara Westover

[Anonymous]

I am just finishing this on audiobook. I realize that it's several years old now, but it's quite a memoir. When I searched on here all I found were mentions in the Popular Book you Didn't Like thread.

Anyway, I felt like some of the childhood part was a bit tedious, and despite her naming it "Educated," part of that seemed a little light. I'm not sure I bought that she self-taught herself higher math, but some of the hurdles were astonishing. I honestly think her being Mormon was actually incredible helpful for her - and in the version I listened to she makes a note at the beginning that nothing in the book was meant to construe the Mormon church in a negative light. I don't know that she would have found the same acceptance at a large public university instead of BYU.

But the descriptions of the abuse and trauma and then how it affected her were so good. I fortunately don't have that in my background and while I empathize with anyone that does I don't really have the experience to truly understand it. And even though her brother Shawn was a psychopath, he probably also has a traumatic brain injury or two. She did a great job of dealing with her confusion and pain around loving her brother while also being abused by him. And frankly the same for the whole family.

All in all, I think it's pretty sad that she grew up as she did, and that her siblings are raising more kids into the same dysfunction. I was struck at the end where she finally says/realizes that her siblings that stayed in the area are financially dependent on her father, which is obviously a part of him continuing to exert his control.

I also read this recent article, which was fascinating. Her parents are so incredibly defensive about the book, which rings even more true after you read this. It's a little insane.

https://www.deseret.com/indepth/2023/1/29/23575258...hink-about-reconciliation-book

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just finished the book. Per her report, she tried many many times to return to her family, but they always tried to make her chose between being true to herself or accepting their cult-like loyalty to the patriarchal, unbending and abusive father. It was painful to read, knowing it was a memoir rather than fiction. The herbal medicine sounds like it has been helpful to many and sells a lot, making them a lot of money. The father seems to feel the injuries from the abuse, neglect, and fire were sent from God for the mother to create healing salves. Interesting message.

The herbal medicines are all snake oil bs. I can't believe people aren't aware of that. It does make them a lot of money. There are too many uneducated people who swear by oils and even all those Mormon based mlm oil concoctions.

[Anonymous]

Link doesn't work for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished the book. Per her report, she tried many many times to return to her family, but they always tried to make her chose between being true to herself or accepting their cult-like loyalty to the patriarchal, unbending and abusive father. It was painful to read, knowing it was a memoir rather than fiction. The herbal medicine sounds like it has been helpful to many and sells a lot, making them a lot of money. The father seems to feel the injuries from the abuse, neglect, and fire were sent from God for the mother to create healing salves. Interesting message.

The herbal medicines are all snake oil bs. I can't believe people aren't aware of that. It does make them a lot of money. There are too many uneducated people who swear by oils and even all those Mormon based mlm oil concoctions.

I know nothing about this family's particular oils beyond what was said in the book, but there is scientific evidence for the efficacy of some plant oils for healing certain ailments.

I, too, finishing the book worrying about the innocent children in the family and wondering about their current situation.

[Anonymous]

Her estranged sister left a negative review of the book on GoodReads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Link doesn't work for me.

+1 read the book and was curious to read the family rebuttal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Link doesn't work for me.

https://www.deseret.com/indepth/2023/1/29/23575258/what-does-educated-tara-westover-family-think-about-reconciliation-book

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Link doesn't work for me.

https://www.deseret.com/indepth/2023/1/29/23575258/what-does-educated-tara-westover-family-think-about-reconciliation-book

This was so sad to read. Just confirmed everything that Tara accused her family of - of failing to protect her from her sibling and from themselves. And then telling her she is wrong to be upset about it. They're lying about everything in order to protect themselves from acknowledging what they did and what they failed to do in the past.

Lousy parents.

[Anonymous]

Why do you think the dad is leaving his papers to her? Is there a letter to her?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do you think the dad is leaving his papers to her? Is there a letter to her?

Probably thinks she'll turn them into a book. Why would he leave his papers to his other kids? What would they even do with them or why would they want them? It's just self-serving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do you think the dad is leaving his papers to her? Is there a letter to her?

To have the last word. He still thinks he's right and she's wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Link doesn't work for me.

https://www.deseret.com/indepth/2023/1/29/23575258/what-does-educated-tara-westover-family-think-about-reconciliation-book

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished the book. Per her report, she tried many many times to return to her family, but they always tried to make her chose between being true to herself or accepting their cult-like loyalty to the patriarchal, unbending and abusive father. It was painful to read, knowing it was a memoir rather than fiction. The herbal medicine sounds like it has been helpful to many and sells a lot, making them a lot of money. The father seems to feel the injuries from the abuse, neglect, and fire were sent from God for the mother to create healing salves. Interesting message.

The herbal medicines are all snake oil bs. I can't believe people aren't aware of that. It does make them a lot of money. There are too many uneducated people who swear by oils and even all those Mormon based mlm oil concoctions.

I know nothing about this family's particular oils beyond what was said in the book, but there is scientific evidence for the efficacy of some plant oils for healing certain ailments.



I, too, finishing the book worrying about the innocent children in the family and wondering about their current situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished the book. Per her report, she tried many many times to return to her family, but they always tried to make her chose between being true to herself or accepting their cult-like loyalty to the patriarchal, unbending and abusive father. It was painful to read, knowing it was a memoir rather than fiction. The herbal medicine sounds like it has been helpful to many and sells a lot, making them a lot of money. The father seems to feel the injuries from the abuse, neglect, and fire were sent from God for the mother to create healing salves. Interesting message.

The herbal medicines are all snake oil bs. I can't believe people aren't aware of that. It does make them a lot of money. There are too many uneducated people who swear by oils and even all those Mormon based mlm oil concoctions.

I know nothing about this family's particular oils beyond what was said in the book, but there is scientific evidence for the efficacy of some plant oils for healing certain ailments.



I, too, finishing the book worrying about the innocent children in the family and wondering about their current situation.

Their plant oils are a joke. Your comment re them being useful for healing certain ailments is a load of poo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished the book. Per her report, she tried many many times to return to her family, but they always tried to make her chose between being true to herself or accepting their cult-like loyalty to the patriarchal, unbending and abusive father. It was painful to read, knowing it was a memoir rather than fiction. The herbal medicine sounds like it has been helpful to many and sells a lot, making them a lot of money. The father seems to feel the injuries from the abuse, neglect, and fire were sent from God for the mother to create healing salves. Interesting message.

The herbal medicines are all snake oil bs. I can't believe people aren't aware of that. It does make them a lot of money. There are too many uneducated people who swear by oils and even all those Mormon based mlm oil concoctions.

I know nothing about this family's particular oils beyond what was said in the book, but there is scientific evidence for the efficacy of some plant oils for healing certain ailments.



I, too, finishing the book worrying about the innocent children in the family and wondering about their current situation.

Their plant oils are a joke. Your comment re them being useful for healing certain ailments is a load of poo.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6155610/