Educated Summary

"Educated" is a memoir written by Tara Westover, a remarkable woman who overcame a challenging upbringing to achieve academic success. The book tells the story of Westover's life, from her childhood in a strict and isolated Mormon family in Idaho to her journey of self-discovery and education. Through her experiences, she explores themes of family, identity, and the power of knowledge.In her family, Westover's father was a devout Mormon with extreme beliefs. He believed in the end-times and prepared the family for a doomsday scenario. The family lived off the grid, and the children were not sent to school. Instead, they worked in the family junkyard, where they were exposed to dangerous machinery and often got injured. Her mother was a midwife and herbalist, but she was also under the influence of her husband's strict views.Despite the difficult circumstances, Westover had a thirst for knowledge. She began to educate herself, first by reading books and then by taking the ACT exam. This was the first step in her journey out of the isolated world she grew up in.

Westover's childhood was marked by isolation and strict religious beliefs. Her father, Gene, was a firm believer in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had his own interpretation of the religion. He thought the government was corrupt and that public schools were a tool of the devil. As a result, Westover and her siblings were not allowed to attend school.The family lived in a rural area of Idaho, and their days were filled with work in the junkyard. Westover and her brothers and sisters had to help with various tasks, such as salvaging metal and fixing cars. These jobs were often dangerous, and many of them suffered serious injuries. For example, Westover's brother Shawn had a head injury that changed his personality, making him more violent and unpredictable.The family also had a limited view of the outside world. They did not have access to modern technology, and their social interactions were mainly within the family and a small group of like-minded people. This isolation made it difficult for Westover to develop a sense of normalcy and to understand the broader world.However, even in this isolated environment, Westover showed signs of intellectual curiosity. She would read books whenever she could find them, and she was fascinated by the stories and knowledge they contained. This early love of learning would later become the driving force behind her pursuit of education.

As Westover grew older, she began to question the life she was living. She was tired of the constant work in the junkyard and the strict rules of her family. One day, her brother Tyler, who had left the family to attend college, encouraged her to study for the ACT. This was a turning point in her life.Westover decided to take on the challenge. She studied on her own, using old textbooks and materials she found. It was a difficult process, as she had no formal education and was not used to the academic environment. But she was determined.When she finally took the ACT, she scored well enough to be accepted into Brigham Young University. This was a huge achievement for her, as it meant she was leaving the isolated world of her family and entering a new and unfamiliar one. She was both excited and scared.At BYU, Westover faced many challenges. She was not used to the academic rigor, and she struggled to fit in with her classmates. She also had to deal with the cultural shock of being in a more diverse and open environment. But she persevered, and her hard work began to pay off.

When Westover arrived at Brigham Young University, she was immediately confronted with a culture that was very different from the one she grew up in. At home, she was used to a strict religious and family-centered life. At college, there was a wide range of people with different beliefs and lifestyles.She had a hard time adjusting to the academic requirements. The courses were much more challenging than what she had prepared for on her own. She had to learn how to write academic papers, conduct research, and participate in class discussions. Her lack of formal education made these tasks even more difficult.Culturally, Westover was also out of place. Her classmates were more worldly and had different values. They were interested in things like parties, dating, and career planning, while Westover was still trying to understand basic concepts of modern society.She also had to deal with the conflict between her family's beliefs and the new ideas she was exposed to at college. Her father was against her going to college in the first place, and he saw it as a betrayal of the family's values. This put a strain on her relationship with her family.Despite these challenges, Westover was determined to make the most of her college experience. She joined study groups, sought help from professors, and gradually began to adapt to the new environment.

As Westover continued her education, her relationship with her family became increasingly strained. Her father could not understand why she was so interested in the outside world and was constantly trying to pull her back into the family's way of life.Her brother Shawn, who had become more violent after his head injury, was also a source of conflict. Shawn would often bully and abuse Westover, both physically and emotionally. Her mother, who was usually submissive to her father, did not do much to stop Shawn's behavior.Westover found herself in a difficult position. She loved her family, but she also knew that she needed to pursue her own path. She tried to maintain a relationship with them, but it was becoming more and more difficult.When she started to question the family's beliefs, her father became even more angry. He saw her as a threat to the family's unity and the religious values they held dear. This led to many heated arguments and emotional breakdowns for Westover.Despite the pain, Westover realized that she could not sacrifice her own growth and happiness for the sake of the family. She decided to focus on her education and her own development, even if it meant distancing herself from her family.