What did Tara Westover teach herself?

Westover taught herself algebra, aced the entrance exams and went from Brigham Young University to the University of Cambridge in England, and then to Harvard University as a visiting fellow.

What did Tara teach herself?

Then, lacking any formal education, Tara began to educate herself. She taught herself enough mathematics and grammar to be admitted to Brigham Young University, where she studied history, learning for the first time about important world events like the Holocaust and the civil rights movement.

How did Tara Westover learn to write?

There were no tests or exams at Faye's rudimentary school, and Tara mostly learned to read and write by studying the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon.

Why did Tara start studying algebra and trigonometry?

Because Tara and her six siblings worked at their father's junkyard from a young age, none of them received any kind of proper homeschooling. She had to teach herself algebra and trigonometry and self-studied for the ACT, which she did well enough on to gain admission to Brigham Young University.

What are some interesting facts about Tara Westover?

Westover was born off the grid in rural Idaho on the edge of a mountain sometime in September of 1986—no birth certificate was issued. She is the seventh child of Mormon parents who were doomsday preppers. Her father constantly railed against the government, the medical establishment, and the Illuminati.

Educated Summary (Animated) | Tara Westover's Against-All-Odds Story Shows Education Is the Key 🔑

How did Tara Westover learn to read?

She had, according to her, learned to read from her mother and read the Book of Mormon twice, wrote short essays for herself, and tried to read compilations that her Dad had kept of journals, speeches, etc. from early Mormons.

What inspired Tara Westover?

Once estranged from her family, Westover began to reflect on her experiences and process the trauma she endured. Mentors and friends encouraged her to tell her story, because they knew it was astonishing.

What things does Tara really learn from these experiences?

As Tara gains knowledge, she also gains self-confidence and a sense of self-worth. Through her education, Tara is able to find new communities and is not solely dependent on her family for wellbeing.

Why don t Tara and her siblings have birth certificates?

Four of my parents' seven children don't have birth certificates. We have no medical records because we were born at home and have never seen a doctor or nurse. We have no school records because we've never set foot in a classroom.

How much of Educated is true?

Although “there's a little germ of truth,” in “Educated,” the book falsely portrays the Westover family, Atkin said. “They are conservative, patriotic people. Tara says her father is a (Mormon) fundamentalist, which infers that he believes in polygamy. That's certainly not the truth.

Is Tara Westover still married to Drew?

In her widely acclaimed memoir “Educated,” Tara briefly references Drew as a clandestine romantic relationship. Contrary to public perception and expectations of Tara and Drew still being together and married, it appears they have parted ways, as Drew's comment on Amazon indicates.

What does Tara Westover do now?

Westover was Fall 2019 A.M. Rosenthal Writer in Residence at the Shorenstein Center at Harvard Kennedy School. She was selected as a Senior Research Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University for Spring 2020. Westover has written for The New York Times and BBC News.

Does Tara Westover still talk to her parents?

It also deeply divided her family; she's still estranged from her parents and some siblings. Her mother, meanwhile, has since self-published her own version of the family story, titling the book Educating. But Educated, Westover said, is fundamentally about divergence.

Which brother abused Tara?

He is 12 years older than Tara. Shawn Westover (pseudonym): Westover's older brother, the second brother of the siblings, 10 years older than Tara. Shawn was physically, mentally and emotionally abusive toward Westover, and later to his wife.

Who is Shawn Westover in real life?

Shawn Westover is the fictional name of Tara Westover's estranged older brother in Educated. She did not really grow up with him as he had left the household as a teenager to become a trucker. He had a nasty reputation and Tara witnessed it first hand in how he overreacted violently to her.

What mental disorder did Tara believe her father had?

Tara takes an introductory psychology course, and, one day, as the professor lists some of the symptoms of bipolar disorder—"depression, mania, paranoia, euphoria, delusions of grandeur and persecution”—Tara is shocked to realize the symptoms perfectly describe Dad.

What happened to Tara Westover's brother Shawn?

Tara speculates that Shawn's two severe head injuries — the first from a fall while working with his father and the second from a motorcycle accident — intensified what she claims was his volatile personality. LaRee prefers to think that the brain damage softened and mellowed her son.

What does Tara Westover's family say about her book?

As you might imagine, from a parental and sibling perspective, Tara's family is upset with the book being printed, with the story being told. In fact, they dispute much of what's been written about them.

What chapter does Shawn abuse Tara?

Summary: Chapter 12: Fish Eyes

One day, when Shawn shows Tara the same bossy attitude he uses with Sadie, she rebels and dumps a glass of water on his head. Shawn becomes infuriated and physically hurts Tara, forcing her to apologize.

What is the problem in Educated by Tara Westover?

Themes of Mental Health and Abuse: "Educated" also delves into issues of mental health, abuse, and the lasting trauma that can result from a challenging upbringing. Tara's experiences with family dynamics and her struggles with her own mental and emotional well-being are central to the narrative.

What happens to Shawn in Educated?

After Shawn suffers several falls and sustains brain damage that doctors say could alter his personality, Tara and her family begin excusing Shawn's violence as a consequence of forces beyond his control. However, as the years go on and Shawn's abuses extend to his wife, Emily, Tara decides she has to take a stand.

What is the main argument in Educated?

A big theme I noticed in "Educated" is how education transforms us. Based on her own experiences, Westover shows how education can open doors to new opportunities and help people break free from their pasts by allowing them to take on challenges head-on.

What challenges did Tara Westover face?

As Tara's education progressed, she grappled with the tension between her desire to forge her path and her loyalty to her family. Her increasing awareness of her family's emotional and physical abuse led her to confront painful truths about her past.

Why did Tara name her book Educated?

Another byproduct of Westover's idiosyncratic childhood was the perspective she gained on what it means to be “educated” — something she wanted to convey through the ambiguity of her book's title. “[Educated] can mean informed, fearless, intelligent, arrogant, brainwashed,” she said.

What life events inspired a change in Tara?

However, two main things push Tara to begin to think for herself: the harm she sees herself and her family suffering, and the education she receives as she reads, thinks, and studies. Over time, Tara sees that her family's lifestyle exposes them to physical danger and unnecessary pain.