Editors’ Pick
Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feelby Peter Burchardt — on emotions, evolution & the science of feeling
View on Amazon →
Cover of Educated
Biography & Memoir· United States

Educated

by Tara Westover
Aggregate Editorial Score47/100
Goodreads Choice Award
Published 2018388 pagesEnglish
Buy on Amazon →

About This Book

When Tara Westover published Educated in 2018, it quickly found its place in the broader tradition of biography & memoir. Westover grew up in a survivalist Mormon family in the mountains of Idaho with no formal education, and made her way to Cambridge and Harvard through sheer intellectual determination. Her memoir is an account of the redemptive power of education and the cost of leaving the world you were born into. Themes of education, family, religion run through the work. The book has received recognition from Goodreads Choice Award 2018.

Book Details

AuthorTara Westover
Published2018
Country of Origin🇺🇸 United States
LanguageEnglish
Pages388
Category✍️ Biography & Memoir
ISBN9780399590504
Editorial Score47/100
About the Category

✍️ Biography & Memoir

True accounts of real lives, told by the subject or a biographer.

Explore all Biography & Memoir books →
Country of Origin

🇺🇸 United States

This book is part of United States's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from United States →

Editorial Assessment

Tara Westover's Educated is a poignant memoir that chronicles her journey from a secluded, survivalist upbringing in rural Idaho to earning a PhD from Cambridge University. The book masterfully explores themes of self-discovery, the transformative power of education, and the tension between familial loyalty and personal ambition. Westover's lyrical prose and vivid storytelling illuminate the struggle to reconcile one's past with the pursuit of knowledge, making it a significant narrative on resilience and identity.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Goodreads Choice Award
notable · global
201819
✍️
About the Author
Tara Westover
United States
View Author →

Tara Westover is a celebrated author from United States known for influential works of biography memoir.

Happy Children
The Parenting Companion
Happy Children
What Evolution Actually Built Your Child’s Emotions For
Your child’s emotions are not the problem. They are the operating system.
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

What to Read Next

Cover of On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
literary-fiction

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

Ocean Vuong· 2019
★Nobel Prize in Literature
Editorial Score93/100
Cover of The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land in Between
biography-memoir

The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land in Between

Hisham Matar· 2016
★Pulitzer Prize
Editorial Score91/100
Cover of Orange Is the New Black
biography-memoir

Orange Is the New Black

Piper Kerman· 2010
★Women's Prize for Fiction
Editorial Score90/100
Cover of Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster
biography-memoir

Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster

Svetlana Alexievich· 1997
★Nobel Prize in Literature
Editorial Score89/100
Cover of Unbowed: A Memoir
biography-memoir

Unbowed: A Memoir

Wangari Maathai· 2006
★Nobel Prize in Literature
Editorial Score78/100
Cover of Schindler's Ark
biography-memoir

Schindler's Ark

Thomas Keneally· 1982
★Booker Prize
Editorial Score76/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Educated about?

Westover grew up in a survivalist Mormon family in the mountains of Idaho with no formal education, and made her way to Cambridge and Harvard through sheer intellectual determination. Her memoir is an account of the redemptive power of education and the cost of leaving the world you were born into.

Who wrote Educated?

Educated was written by Tara Westover, from United States. First published in 2018.

What awards has Educated won?

Educated has received the following awards and honours: Goodreads Choice Award 2018.

Is Educated worth reading?

Educated is a book that has earned critical recognition, with an aggregate editorial score of 19/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in education, family, religion.

Where can I buy Educated?

You can buy Educated on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is Educated?

Educated is classified as Biography & Memoir. True accounts of real lives, told by the subject or a biographer.

What country is Educated from?

Educated originates from United States's literary tradition. Explore more books from United States on our country page.

Popular on 50 Best Books

Best Science Fiction Books of All TimeScience FictionBooker Prize Winners — Complete List & GuideLiterary PrizesNobel Prize in Literature — Every Winner Since 1901Literary PrizesClassic Literature Reading List — 50 Essential BooksReading GuidesBest Books for Beginners — 20 Easy Reads for New BookloversReading Guides

Explore More

✍️More Biography & MemoirBrowse all Biography & Memoir books🇺🇸Books from United States🇺🇸 United States literature📅2010s BooksPublished in the 2010s🏆Top 50 RankingsThe greatest books of all time