A powerful story of a child’s journey through an abusive childhood and her redemption through her education.

This a beautifully written memior of what could have been a beautiful childhood and subsequent awaking except for willful blindness.s.

Do people give their ratings because on the emotional hardships of the author’s life or because the novel/poem/memoir is well-written?I have no doubt that Tara had a terrible childhood and terrible parents and siblings; her ability to leave such environment is admirable

Encouraging read for those considering leaving childhood ideologies or faiths.

This fascinating look at Tara Westover's unusual childhood is a real glimpse into a dysfunctional fundamentalist Mormon family and the scars their children still bear, as well as the strengths they gained in overcoming their upbringing.

The author has an incredible childhood and growing up story to tell in light of a mentally (and physically) ill family

It showed the lengths the author would go to survive and triumph over an exceptionally difficult childhood

the horrific childhood she claims to have suffered and the abuse she keeps returning to as an adult.

On the surface, the story is about a child overcoming a horrific childhood but it is so much more

She overcame this primitive childhood to eventually earn a Cambridge Ph.D.

It’s a memory of a bad childhood, that’s so unbelievably messed up.

The first being about a girl who overcomes her childhood to succeed in the educational world.

This contradiction seems impossible but in a hard childhood with a brawling, pious family, Tara grew up as a survivalist

It is about childhood abuse, resentment, and loyalty that’s been ingrained as a ‘victimized cult

Makes you realize you can overcome any situation and get an education no matter what your childhood was like

I also felt uneasy that her isolated childhood was exploited to deliver the messaging that education is the true panacea — an extrapolation that if only we could read and analyze the works of “insert great philosopher here” we would all have clear thought and secure futures and equal status, a dangerous and closed thought process in itself.

Behind that description is a “beautiful childhood, in some ways,” on a mountain in Idaho called Buck’s Peak, with horses and goats, a self-contained, self-sufficient world, but in which Tara’s paranoid survivalist father devotes his life to preparing for the End of Days

I'm sure there are many who, although, they don't have such violent childhood

The background of the cruel childhood was much too drawn out and seemed to be, for her, a therapeutic working through of that trauma.

Beautifully written of a terribly difficult childhood that tells how hard it is to overcome hardships and still try to reconcile insurmountable barriers and o become your own person.

Tara found happiness after such a difficult childhood.

This was an amazing memoir from a young woman who is finding success in life after a harrowing and unusual childhood, where she was raised in a most nontraditional manner and environment.

Her childhood, I am amazed she was able to hold it all together to finish her goals..

Westover had a remarkable childhood and she is an excellent storyteller

Well written book explaining the life of a person that led a very sheltered childhood with a father that had mental illness.

Depressing childhood, made me angry

I am always humbled by stories about individuals who overcame a difficult, even daunting, childhood to become accomplished and well adjusted adults.

I had a rough childhood and now look" writer

Book club choice, not sure I will ever finish it, just how many major accident can a whole family have without anyone getting killed, losing a limb or dying from complications, I will be giving it a D for Delusional.

Book club choice, not sure I will ever finish it, just how many major accident can a whole family have without anyone getting killed, losing a limb or dying from complications, I will be giving it a D for Delusional.