--- product_id: 248961149 title: "Educated" price: "£23.42" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/248961149-educated store_origin: GB region: United Kingdom --- # #4 Women's Biographies 4.6⭐ avg rating 229K+ reviews Educated **Price:** £23.42 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 📖 Educated: The memoir that everyone’s talking about — don’t miss the story that’s changing lives. ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Educated - **How much does it cost?** £23.42 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/248961149-educated) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Inspires Deep Reflection:** Challenges societal norms and sparks conversations on education, loyalty, and personal growth. - • **Unforgettable True Story:** A gripping memoir of survival and self-discovery that redefines education. - • **Powerful Themes of Resilience:** Explores family trauma, radical beliefs, and the transformative power of knowledge. - • **Critically Acclaimed Bestseller:** Ranked top 5 in Women's Biographies with over 229,000 glowing reviews. - • **Award-Winning Cultural Phenomenon:** Celebrated by The Times, New York Times, Vogue & more — a must-read for thought leaders. ## Overview Educated by Tara Westover is a critically acclaimed memoir chronicling her extraordinary journey from an isolated, survivalist upbringing without formal education or medical care, to earning a PhD and redefining what education means. With over 229,000 reviews and top rankings in Women's Biographies, this powerful narrative explores themes of family dysfunction, resilience, and the transformative power of knowledge, making it a cultural touchstone for millennials seeking inspiration and intellectual depth. ## Description With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, from her singular experience Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education is and what it offers: the perspective to see one's life through new Review: A Harrowing Journey of Triumph and Resentment - Tara Westover's "Educated: A Memoir" is a compelling and at times infuriating account of one woman's remarkable journey from a life of isolation and ignorance to one of education, enlightenment, and self-discovery. This memoir delves deep into the complexities of family, faith, and the pursuit of knowledge, leaving readers with a mix of emotions that range from anger and frustration to admiration. Westover (the author) grew up in rural Idaho with a family that adhered to extreme religious and survivalist beliefs. Her parents' decision to forgo formal education and conventional medical care had profound consequences on Tara's upbringing, and that tends to be a focal point of the story. The book recounts the neglect, abuse, and outright danger she faced growing up, often (or always) at the hands of her own family members. I frequently found myself deeply appalled by the myriad ways in which Tara's family failed her, both emotionally and physically- so it was a bit difficult to read. As Tara strives for self-improvement through education, the book also exposes the challenges she faces when confronting her family's beliefs and her own internalized guilt and doubt. The memoir highlights the inherent tension between Tara's desire for knowledge and her loyalty to her family and upbringing. This internal struggle is a central theme throughout the narrative and adds depth to her story. Again, I found this to be really frustrating because, as the reader, her family's cruelty is blatant and unforgiveable, and I had a hard time sympathizing because they just were the worst. Westover's writing is evocative and brutally honest, which makes it difficult not to feel a deep sense of resentment toward her family, but it's essential to note that "Educated" is not merely a condemnation of her family's choices; it's also a testament to the power of education and the capacity for personal growth and transformation. Review: Extraordinary memoir of a family that gives new meaning to the word dysfunctional. - This amazing book, destined to be a classic, kept me up at night and then well into the following day. It should be required reading for courses in psychology , counseling and family therapy. The memoir is of a young girl in a family of 7 children in a survivalist Mormon family. The patriarch was mentally ill, possibly bipolar. He used his extreme interpretation of Mormonism to emotionally abuse, bully and intimidate each member of the family including his long suffering and submissive wife. He was "better" than the rest whom he called gentiles and Illiterati. By claiming a direct line to God, the father achieved a power over his family that defies the imagination. He .had bouts of mania when he took chances with their safety and well being. But God would protect them.. Repeatedly he refused common sense protection of his family. God would protect them. His depressive bouts left him bedridden while requiring the family to take him to see his parents in Arizona to recover. He was catered to and idolized. Defying him was defying God. Women, especially, came in for his scorn. They were little more than indentured servants. As with so many of these male dominated groups, the women were perceived as temptresses and whores. Freud would have had a field day with that perception. The mother appeared to have pseudo insight but was incapable of supporting her children in the face of incomprehensible emotional and physical abuse.; The existence of this family within a Mormon community yet so outside the boundaries of reasonable Mormon tenants begs the question: what responsibility does the broader community have to protect vulnerable children? This is not about Mormonism but a small community and extended family in Idaho that turned away and ignored neglect and abuse when children did not have birth certificates, were not schooled even at home, were not immunized, not taken to doctors, were repeatedly seriously injured, were dressed in filthy rags, and were told the Government and Medical Establishment was the enemy... The enemy was actually within that home. The enemy was this very mentally ill and destructive father. I think of the Turpin family, abusing their children but hidden. This family was neglectful in plain sight. The litany of serious injuries sustained by the children was chilling as was the father's cavalier dismissal of their safety. But willful neglect was one thing, sustained and brutal sibling abuse is quite another. All dysfunctional families have lies they tell themselves, their teachers, authority figures, extended family etc. e;g;, yes, we are home - schooled (not). They have secrets. . But the worst secret and lie that persisted like a rotting cancer was the denial of severe physical abuse inflicted on several of the siblings over the years by one extraordinarily disturbed son. The son would have murderous rages and then the apologies would start...the injured sibling was forced to forgive. Classic spousal abuse but in this case it was a sibling causing the abuse who should have been removed from the family, placed in a treatment program. Instead no one talked about it, the siblings didn't tell each other what had happened until they compared notes as adults and most horrific of all, the parents denied it happened, demanded "proof" and allowed this monster of a son to continue abusing girlfriends, his wife, his dog Diego.(I would have had him locked up for life for just this part of the story). .. In the end, the parents and this sibling bullied the family into staying silent. Only the daughter, with great effort, recognized what was going on. She made many attempts to connect with her parents but they pulled closer into their delusions. This daughter, extraordinarily intelligent and determined escapes, becomes well educated but pays a price, doubting herself up until almost the end, The writing was clear and perceptive. The author has survived but the story is still chilling. Sometimes children from an abusive background only survive with a "parentectomy". I do wonder if the story is finished. The sadistic bully of a son now has a family of his own (wife and two children) that he has shown himself willing to abuse. ## Features - Tara Westover and her family grew up preparing for the End of Days but, according to the government, she didn't exist. She hadn't been registered for a birth certificate. She had no school records because she'd never set foot in a classroom, and no medical records because her father didn't believe in hospitals. - As she grew older, her father became more radical and her brother more violent. At sixteen, Tara knew she had to leave home. In doing so she discovered both the transformative power of education, and the price she had to pay for it. - `An amazing story, and truly inspiring. The kind of book everyone will enjoy. IT'S EVEN BETTER THAN YOU'VE HEARD.' - Bill Gates - Selected as a book of the year in THE TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES, GUARDIAN, NEW YORK TIMES, ECONOMIST, NEW STATESMAN, VOGUE, IRISH TIMES, IRISH EXAMINER and RED MAGAZINE desertcart.COM's BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #1,951,384 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #4 in Women's Biographies #221 in Parenting & Family Reference | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 229,445 Reviews | ## Images ![Educated - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71N2HZwRo3L.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Harrowing Journey of Triumph and Resentment *by D***O on September 29, 2023* Tara Westover's "Educated: A Memoir" is a compelling and at times infuriating account of one woman's remarkable journey from a life of isolation and ignorance to one of education, enlightenment, and self-discovery. This memoir delves deep into the complexities of family, faith, and the pursuit of knowledge, leaving readers with a mix of emotions that range from anger and frustration to admiration. Westover (the author) grew up in rural Idaho with a family that adhered to extreme religious and survivalist beliefs. Her parents' decision to forgo formal education and conventional medical care had profound consequences on Tara's upbringing, and that tends to be a focal point of the story. The book recounts the neglect, abuse, and outright danger she faced growing up, often (or always) at the hands of her own family members. I frequently found myself deeply appalled by the myriad ways in which Tara's family failed her, both emotionally and physically- so it was a bit difficult to read. As Tara strives for self-improvement through education, the book also exposes the challenges she faces when confronting her family's beliefs and her own internalized guilt and doubt. The memoir highlights the inherent tension between Tara's desire for knowledge and her loyalty to her family and upbringing. This internal struggle is a central theme throughout the narrative and adds depth to her story. Again, I found this to be really frustrating because, as the reader, her family's cruelty is blatant and unforgiveable, and I had a hard time sympathizing because they just were the worst. Westover's writing is evocative and brutally honest, which makes it difficult not to feel a deep sense of resentment toward her family, but it's essential to note that "Educated" is not merely a condemnation of her family's choices; it's also a testament to the power of education and the capacity for personal growth and transformation. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Extraordinary memoir of a family that gives new meaning to the word dysfunctional. *by M***E on June 21, 2018* This amazing book, destined to be a classic, kept me up at night and then well into the following day. It should be required reading for courses in psychology , counseling and family therapy. The memoir is of a young girl in a family of 7 children in a survivalist Mormon family. The patriarch was mentally ill, possibly bipolar. He used his extreme interpretation of Mormonism to emotionally abuse, bully and intimidate each member of the family including his long suffering and submissive wife. He was "better" than the rest whom he called gentiles and Illiterati. By claiming a direct line to God, the father achieved a power over his family that defies the imagination. He .had bouts of mania when he took chances with their safety and well being. But God would protect them.. Repeatedly he refused common sense protection of his family. God would protect them. His depressive bouts left him bedridden while requiring the family to take him to see his parents in Arizona to recover. He was catered to and idolized. Defying him was defying God. Women, especially, came in for his scorn. They were little more than indentured servants. As with so many of these male dominated groups, the women were perceived as temptresses and whores. Freud would have had a field day with that perception. The mother appeared to have pseudo insight but was incapable of supporting her children in the face of incomprehensible emotional and physical abuse.; The existence of this family within a Mormon community yet so outside the boundaries of reasonable Mormon tenants begs the question: what responsibility does the broader community have to protect vulnerable children? This is not about Mormonism but a small community and extended family in Idaho that turned away and ignored neglect and abuse when children did not have birth certificates, were not schooled even at home, were not immunized, not taken to doctors, were repeatedly seriously injured, were dressed in filthy rags, and were told the Government and Medical Establishment was the enemy... The enemy was actually within that home. The enemy was this very mentally ill and destructive father. I think of the Turpin family, abusing their children but hidden. This family was neglectful in plain sight. The litany of serious injuries sustained by the children was chilling as was the father's cavalier dismissal of their safety. But willful neglect was one thing, sustained and brutal sibling abuse is quite another. All dysfunctional families have lies they tell themselves, their teachers, authority figures, extended family etc. e;g;, yes, we are home - schooled (not). They have secrets. . But the worst secret and lie that persisted like a rotting cancer was the denial of severe physical abuse inflicted on several of the siblings over the years by one extraordinarily disturbed son. The son would have murderous rages and then the apologies would start...the injured sibling was forced to forgive. Classic spousal abuse but in this case it was a sibling causing the abuse who should have been removed from the family, placed in a treatment program. Instead no one talked about it, the siblings didn't tell each other what had happened until they compared notes as adults and most horrific of all, the parents denied it happened, demanded "proof" and allowed this monster of a son to continue abusing girlfriends, his wife, his dog Diego.(I would have had him locked up for life for just this part of the story). .. In the end, the parents and this sibling bullied the family into staying silent. Only the daughter, with great effort, recognized what was going on. She made many attempts to connect with her parents but they pulled closer into their delusions. This daughter, extraordinarily intelligent and determined escapes, becomes well educated but pays a price, doubting herself up until almost the end, The writing was clear and perceptive. The author has survived but the story is still chilling. Sometimes children from an abusive background only survive with a "parentectomy". I do wonder if the story is finished. The sadistic bully of a son now has a family of his own (wife and two children) that he has shown himself willing to abuse. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ INSPIRATIONAL, HEARTBREAKING; EMOTIONALLY DISTURBINGLY *by L***A on February 14, 2019* “In families like mine there is no crime worse than telling the truth.” —Tara Westover What does it mean to be educated? This book will make you think about what it really means to have an education—to be free to form your own opinions—and if the risks and sacrifices one might have to make in pursuit of knowledge, are worth it in the end. It’s message will both inspire and disturb you, and haunt you in your dreams. Educated is the true story about the author, Tara Westover, growing up in an isolated, dysfunctional, survivalist family with radical views, who, in contrast, live on a beautiful mountain in Idaho. As the youngest child in a family of seven—5 boys and 2 girls—Tara’s story is both heartbreaking and inspirational. Due to their father’s extreme political, religious, and moral beliefs, Tara and her siblings were not given access to medical attention or public education, nor did her parents believe in anything government related, believing it to be a system of brainwashing. The book is fairly well written and deeply poignant. It is definitely hard to put down, but it is also extremely disturbing on so many levels. There are plot holes and some timeline inconsistencies, and some horrific parts that are so emotional that they are difficult to imagine, let alone read. Tara’s experiences with her older brother, Shawn—whom she understandably both loved and hated—were not only shocking, they were heartbreaking. Equally appalling is the fact that ultimately most of the family chose to ignore or hide Shawn’s violent, unstable, abusive behavior and death threats, also choosing not to confront their father about it, even though both parents, admittedly the mother, knew what had been going on. They choose to protect it with a blind eye, possibly out of some kind of misguided family loyalty, shame, and more than likely, fear. But like Tara’s brother, Tyler, wrote in a letter to her: “This is a perverted idea of family loyalty. They claim faith, but this is not what the gospel teaches.” Once committed, Tyler never wavered in telling their truth, though it changed his relationship with his father. However, the only true hero of the story is Tara herself. Personally, I feel badly for Tara’s mother who appears to have been trapped and manipulated by her choices in a clouded vision of love, trying to keep peace. I also feel badly for Tara’s father, who was obviously in need of psychological and medical intervention. And I feel badly for each of Tara’s siblings and feel they probably coped in different ways with the only life and family they had known. None of us can really judge Tara or understand her family without having walked in their shoes. However, it is a sad fact that abusers and their enablers distort reality for their victims in order to cover up their crimes, so what Tara was able to accomplish—coming from her unhealthy broken environment—is truly remarkable!! Whether or not we become like our parents, is a choice we can all make. We can love and forgive those who have harmed us, without following in their footsteps. May this book help others in the same situation, to recognize psychological and physical abuse wrapped up in the arms of love, and find their own healing voice to break free! “You are not fool’s gold, shining only under a particular light. Whomever you become, whatever you make yourself into, that is who you always were. It was always in you. … You are gold.” —Tara Westover, Educated: A Memoir NOTE: It should be noted that the so called “Mormon” doctrine Tara was exposed to in her home, is not reflective in any way to the Christ-like loving teachings of the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tara’s view of religion was experienced through the eyes of her manipulative, controlling father, who was suffering from a bipolar type mental illness, although she didn’t know it at the time. Her father’s skewed view of religion unknowingly created numerous misconceptions in the home in which Tara was raised. All good things, when taken to an extreme, then mixed with the paranoia and darkness of mental illness, can turn good into evil. ## Frequently Bought Together - Educated - The Nightingale: A Novel - The Women: A Novel --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/248961149-educated](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/248961149-educated) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-06-23*