The book is written as a compilation of short stories, chapter by chapter. While reading, you feel as if you’ve been on a journey of self discovery and determination. I’m in awe of her ability to overcome, self educate and persevere. I highly recommend this book. It is one of the best memoirs I’ve read.

I read this in one sitting!I grew up in a dysfunctional, abusive family of gas lighters so I’m not at all surprised by her family’s response. If you want to see the family’s distorted and vindictive responses check out all the one star reviews.Also telling...they claim she got an excellent education at home. If you search for her brother Richard you will find this interesting tidbit in his school bio (written years before the book came out) “Westover said he is probably the only ISU masters-level chemist who had to start with a beginning math course at ISU.“ Why would that be?! Hmmm, could it be that the Westivers didn’t actually homeschool their kids and never taught them met at all, requiring their son to take an entry level class st college...? Ding ding ding!Bravo Tara for telling the truth.

An absolutely amazing story of triumph over a horrifying childhood. I am appalled by the author's brother, Shawn, who should be in a mental hospital or prison. From her account, it should come as no surprise if he one day kills someone. Her father's callous disregard for his children's safety and well being is unparalleled. Then there is the treachery of her mother.I applaud Tara for escaping the physical and psychological abuse she endured and for having the courage to become educated.

For me, this is a story about a family tragically undervaluing its daughters and overvaluing its sons. This is a sadly common story in American families, although the physical trauma makes this story so much worse, and gripping. This has been an extremely thought-provoking read for me, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys memoir.

I was enthralled and moved by this powerful memoir. The author grew up in a survivalist family in Idaho, the youngest child. She was not homeschooled---instead, she simply didn't go to school at all, due to her father's mistrust of public schools. Her family didn't believe in modern medicine. Instead, her mother was an herbalist and midwife. Her father owned a junkyard. Her childhood is affected over and over by serious injuries of family members, injuries which are not treated.As Tara gets into her preteen and teen years, one older brother in particular starts tormenting her, and the tormenting rises to the level of hugely severe abuse. In part in response to this, she decides to go to college, and by pretty much sheer force of will, does well enough on the ACT to get into Brigham Young University. From there, she starts a storied college career and eventually gets a doctorate from Cambridge. However, each time she is drawn back to the her family, her brother's abuse continues, and the family denial turns more and more severe. The memoir becomes a story of her internal struggle---to believe her own version of her life and to have the strength to break away from her past.I've struggled with some issues of my own in remembering the past differently than others, and I well know the feeling that the author has over and over. One line, "reality becomes fluid", hit me very hard. When you know something happened a certain way, but others can't accept that reality and attempt to change the past by denying it---Tara Westover is able to write about this so powerfully I was crying at points.I hope this book gets wide readership. It's an amazing glimpse into a way of life that most of us will never know, and an inspiring story of one woman's ability to change her future.