The Book Nook

Real Riches   Most parents want to do everything they can to ensure their child gets a good education.  But what if they stood in the way of getting one?  Tara Westover experienced such monumental problems in pursuing her academic dreams that you may think you’re reading a horror story instead of a remarkable non-fiction. Fortunately, Tara’s desire to learn and willingness to teach herself toppled all obstacles and resulted in a wrenching coming-of-age memoir that is a testament to her determination.  This book is called “Educated” and provides some very emotional moments for readers. Born to survivalist parents in an isolated part of Idaho, Tara’s life was far outside the mainstream.  Her parents distrusted all forms of government, especially public schools.  What little education Faye Westover provided to her seven children was often interrupted by her husband’s call for their help in his scrap metal yard.  His attention to safety was minimal and injuries were sometimes serious.  Because distrust of authority extended to the healthcare community, all medical conditions including concussions and serious burns were treated at home with herbs and faith healing. The Westover home was in a remote area and intentionally off the grid.  This meant officials weren’t aware the children existed or had educational and other needs because most had been born at home and lacked birth certificates.   Tara and most of her siblings couldn’t qualify for high school and some tested at an elementary school level, even as adults. But there were exceptions.  Tyler was one of two older brothers who attended college.  When he described his life and the wider world, Tara was intrigued and wondered if she could do the same.  She loved reading and dreamed of going to high school and possibly Brigham Young University.  But there were so many impediments. The first was obtaining a birth certificate.  Conflicting memories regarding the date of her birth slowed the process, but one was finally obtained. The next hurdle was getting up to speed in all of the subjects needed to be accepted at a high school.  She studied English, mathematics, science and other areas, finding books to teach herself as much as she could and asking for help with tougher fields such as trigonometry.  When her father caught her studying, he found more chores for her to do, even if they were pointless. Few in her family understood her dream and Tara could find little support to find.  She was expected to learn her mother’s growing herbal business and was assured God would soon punish her for “whoring after man’s knowledge”.  Tara’s mother told her privately not to let anything stop her from getting an education but publicly shared her husband’s opinion. One supporter was Tyler, who convinced her to skip high school and take the ACT to qualify at BYU.  Although it was a long haul, she was elated when she finally passed the test and, at seventeen, entered her first classroom.  It didn’t take long to discover a huge gap between her and the other students, both socially and educationally.  Feeling intimidated by everything and receiving failing grades, she almost gave up.  Instead, she determined why she was failing and found ways to turn her grades around on her own. At first, returning home during holidays and the summers to help her father was a welcome return to the familiar.  But support continued to dwindle and she almost gave up many times.  She was subjected to mental and physical abuse from those determined to break her spirit.  Eventually school would replace home as her place of refuge. Back at BYU her progress was recognized and she was urged to accept opportunities that opened new doors for her.  Tara’s professors recognized her qualities and provided invaluable guidance and support.  This provided the confidence she needed to obtain a degree from BYU and pursue even higher education.  When her success was noted in the newspaper, her parents admonished her for not crediting them for her homeschooling. As her academic star rose, Tara continued her journey of self-discovery, questioning her role in life and in her own family.  Visiting home became more painful as she was subjected to pressure, lies and changing loyalties.  When her relatives split into two camps, Tara faced an agonizing decision. This was a heart-breaking but inspiring book.  I’ve glossed over the most appalling details and will warn readers who are easily upset to keep their eye on the prize.  The seemingly insurmountable hurdles would have forced less determined people to give up, but Tara refused to give up her goals.  Doing so would have erased any sense of self-worth but her resolve was so strong there was little doubt she could succeed. In her author’s note she’s careful to say the book is not about religion or draw any conclusions about believers versus non-believers.   She acknowledged that her memories were not always clear and took pains to question others and present their version of details for some events. I can’t imagine how much courage it took to face many unpleasant facts and relive some horrific moments.  She deserves credit for overcoming unbelievable situations and pushing through a painful metamorphosis to achieve her dreams.   In the end her parents became millionaires because of her mother’s business, which Tara noted was based on fraudulent means.  To me, Tara is the one with the real riches.