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Matthew's Reviews > Educated
Educated
by
by
Matthew's review
bookshelves: gr_awards_2018, 2019, biography, audio, library, non-fiction, favorites
May 01, 2019
bookshelves: gr_awards_2018, 2019, biography, audio, library, non-fiction, favorites
Every second of this book is enthralling!
EVERY.
SINGLE.
SECOND.
The tales in here are true. The stories are mind-blowing. The events are not from a time long ago - they happened in the past 20 years! You will have to keep reminding yourself of that because the mindset and ideas discussed sound antiquated, but they are alive and kicking . . . and that is just crazy!
One thing that brought this story close to home is that at the time a lot of the events in this book we're taking place, I was living in Yellowstone National Park and frequently travelled to or through Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Salt Lake City and all points in between. This means I could have been mere miles away from the events in this book while they were taking place! Again, this seems impossible to me and I had to keep reminding myself that this was happening in my neck of the woods! And, because of this, my mind was repeatedly blown.
I suppose I should mention what might be a trigger warning for some. Most of the men and some of the women in this book are described doing crazy and abusive things. I swear that every few minutes I had to stop, collect my thoughts, and say, "Wow!" While none of us were there to witness this and the author even says there are many who will deny the events and say that her version of the events are driven by the devil himself, they are shocking and will get your mind churning! I feel her frustration and so many times I wanted to reach into the pages and tell her, "It doesn't have to be like this!"
Also, another trigger warning, if you work for OSHA or help maintain OSHA workplace safety standards, you are going to probably throw this book across the room or at least slam it in disgust a few times.
This book is amazing and I highly recommend it - I am driven to follow this up by hunting down interviews with the author.
EVERY.
SINGLE.
SECOND.
The tales in here are true. The stories are mind-blowing. The events are not from a time long ago - they happened in the past 20 years! You will have to keep reminding yourself of that because the mindset and ideas discussed sound antiquated, but they are alive and kicking . . . and that is just crazy!
One thing that brought this story close to home is that at the time a lot of the events in this book we're taking place, I was living in Yellowstone National Park and frequently travelled to or through Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Salt Lake City and all points in between. This means I could have been mere miles away from the events in this book while they were taking place! Again, this seems impossible to me and I had to keep reminding myself that this was happening in my neck of the woods! And, because of this, my mind was repeatedly blown.
I suppose I should mention what might be a trigger warning for some. Most of the men and some of the women in this book are described doing crazy and abusive things. I swear that every few minutes I had to stop, collect my thoughts, and say, "Wow!" While none of us were there to witness this and the author even says there are many who will deny the events and say that her version of the events are driven by the devil himself, they are shocking and will get your mind churning! I feel her frustration and so many times I wanted to reach into the pages and tell her, "It doesn't have to be like this!"
Also, another trigger warning, if you work for OSHA or help maintain OSHA workplace safety standards, you are going to probably throw this book across the room or at least slam it in disgust a few times.
This book is amazing and I highly recommend it - I am driven to follow this up by hunting down interviews with the author.
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Reading Progress
November 15, 2018
– Shelved
November 15, 2018
– Shelved as:
to-read
December 24, 2018
– Shelved as:
gr_awards_2018
April 28, 2019
–
Started Reading
April 28, 2019
– Shelved as:
2019
April 28, 2019
– Shelved as:
biography
April 28, 2019
– Shelved as:
audio
April 28, 2019
– Shelved as:
library
April 28, 2019
– Shelved as:
non-fiction
May 1, 2019
– Shelved as:
favorites
May 1, 2019
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 51-86 of 86 (86 new)
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message 51:
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Mandysan
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rated it 3 stars
May 19, 2019 06:39AM
Thanks Matthew!
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Mandysan wrote: "Thanks Matthew!"Mandysan wrote: "Great! I will definitely read after your glowing recommendation!"
You're welcome, Mandysan! I hope you enjoy!
Thanks for the recommendation!
Andrei wrote: "Thanks for the recommendation!"No problem!
Wow, thanks for recommending this one to me. I couldn't put it down. What an amazing book and what an amazing person!
Khristina wrote: "Wow, thanks for recommending this one to me. I couldn't put it down. What an amazing book and what an amazing person!"You're very welcome! So glad you enjoyed it so much!
I love your comment about OSHA. As a safety geek, I more than winced several times!
Dave wrote: "I love your comment about OSHA. As a safety geek, I more than winced several times!"HA!
My wife used to be a safety coordinator so I thought about this a lot!
I just finished this book for my in-person book club. I found it fascinating but I was surprised that it wasn't more about the survivalist life style. I cannot fathom how she could get a PhD from Cambridge when she didn't go to school and wasn't even homeschooled. OSHA comment is so true and so funny!
Marla wrote: "I just finished this book for my in-person book club. I found it fascinating but I was surprised that it wasn't more about the survivalist life style. I cannot fathom how she could get a PhD from C..."Glad you enjoyed it, Marla! Yes, indeed, most of it is quite unfathomable.
And, glad my OSHA comment hit home, too! 😁
TMR wrote: "Glad you liked it."Sorry to see you didn't! 🙂
Fantastic review Matthew! Did you find more interviews with the author?
Maricarmen wrote: "Fantastic review Matthew! Did you find more interviews with the author?"Thanks, Maricarmen! I did do some follow-up research and it was fascinating. I don't remember a lot of the specifics now since a lot of time has passed, but the whole experience was well worth it: both while reading and learning more afterwards.
Matthew wrote: "Maricarmen wrote: "Fantastic review Matthew! Did you find more interviews with the author?"Thanks, Maricarmen! I did do some follow-up research and it was fascinating. I don't remember a lot of t..."
Thank you, Matthew!
Maricarmen wrote: "Thank you, Matthew!"You are very welcome! 😁
totally loved this book and totally believed her.
Jodell wrote: "totally loved this book and totally believed her."Glad you enjoyed this crazy non-fiction tale, too, Jodell!
Thanks Matthew, for mentioning occupational safety. I worked in occupational health and safety for several decades before I retired and one of the hardest parts of the book for me to stomach were Tara's father's total disregard of safety of his underage workers, i.e. his kids. While OSHA doesn't regulate small businesses as closely as it does larger industry, I kept hoping an OSHA inspector would show up at the junkyard. All the many ways he put them in danger and did injure them (and eventually himself) would have gotten him thousands of dollars of fines had there been that kind of oversight.
Jill wrote: "Thanks Matthew, for mentioning occupational safety. I worked in occupational health and safety for several decades before I retired and one of the hardest parts of the book for me to stomach were T..."Yes! I cringed so much! My wife worked in occupational safety for a while and, while I was reading this, I kept thinking about all the things she dealt with.
Agreed! A 5-star read! Have you read The Glass Castle? I would give that 6-stars...even better.
Missy wrote: "Agreed! A 5-star read! Have you read The Glass Castle? I would give that 6-stars...even better."Yes I have! Very similar feel between that and this one. I liked them both.
I definitely agree with this one
Did we read the same book? I thought this was deadly boring and slow paced.
Brittany wrote: "I definitely agree with this one"Glad you enjoyed, too! :D
Dawna wrote: "Did we read the same book? I thought this was deadly boring and slow paced."Sorry it did not work for you, Dawna. I am sure the same book, just not the same experience.
Thanks for recommending this book to me, Matthew! I absolutely loved it! :) I thanked you in my review, but wanted to thank you personally too! :)
Adi Rocks Socks wrote: "Thanks for recommending this book to me, Matthew! I absolutely loved it! :) I thanked you in my review, but wanted to thank you personally too! :)"That is awesome, Adi! I am glad you enjoyed it. I will go and check out your review now! :)
Matthew wrote: "Adi Rocks Socks wrote: "Thanks for recommending this book to me, Matthew! I absolutely loved it! :) I thanked you in my review, but wanted to thank you personally too! :)"That is awesome, Adi! I ..."
Westover's narration and perspective of things was refreshing; I hope we get to read more from her in the future. :)
Adi Rocks Socks wrote: "Matthew wrote: "Adi Rocks Socks wrote: "Thanks for recommending this book to me, Matthew! I absolutely loved it! :) I thanked you in my review, but wanted to thank you personally too! :)"That is ..."
Yes! I would think that she has more stories to tell.
Agree with all you say - an excellent read albeit disturbing. I found Jacqui Burnett's memoir titled Life's Not Yoga very relatable and inspiring - not as disturbing as Educated.
Gail wrote: "Agree with all you say - an excellent read albeit disturbing. I found Jacqui Burnett's memoir titled Life's Not Yoga very relatable and inspiring - not as disturbing as Educated."Interesting . . . thank you for the recommendation, Gail!
Matthew wrote: "Gail wrote: "Agree with all you say - an excellent read albeit disturbing. I found Jacqui Burnett's memoir titled Life's Not Yoga very relatable and inspiring - not as disturbing as Educated."Int..."
My pleasure!
Agreed! Educated by Tara Westover is great! Makes me think of the recent memoir I’ve just read called Life’s Not Yoga by Jacqui Burnett! It’s so amazing and inspirational!
I just finished it last night. Harrowing tale!
Every. Single. Second. IS SO RIGHT! Utahn here.. and yes, my mind is trying to grapple with the idea that this happened basically on our front porch. This story feels light years away in time and space... and yet it wasn't.
