Educated by Tara Westover

Title: Educated

Author: Tara Westover

“Books fall open, you fall in” remains among the most notable quotes from the works of David McCord. The phrase can be directly translated to depict the image of a book falling own and opening its pages such that its content can be seen. At the same time, when books fall and open, people collect them and put them together such that the materials of the book are not exposed. Although this could fit the meaning of the phrase, the central concept of the statement indicates that books contain critical information that can only be accessed by those that take the time to investigate the content of the book. Besides, people require to understand the knowledge of the books and apply the same in real-life situations to improve decision making. The essence of reading books to find out new information and using the same to impact one’s life is the embodiment of Tara Westover’s memoir, Educated. 

Books remain the richest sources of information in current and old society. True books carry secrets and other sources of information that have the power to transform a person and community as a whole. Substantially, Tara grew up in a dark world that was devoid of contemporary information whereby primitive ways dictated the way of life. Through reading other books, an older brother of Tara manages university entrance which motivates Tara to pursue the same. The books open another realm of reality about the history of humanity, revealing prominent people such as Martin Luther King among others who significantly influenced human life. When books opened for Tara, she fell in and came out with information and knowledge that enabled her to escape the primitive world and travel the entire globe. 

Books bring new information that impacts life in a different and better way than the old knowledge. However, people are often tied to old information as an essential aspect of life that cannot be ignored and disregarded easily. For instance, when Tara joins University, she seems ignorant and remarkably transforms herself as she continued her education. In the end, however, she appears conflicted with the family claims of shame, love, loyalty, and guilt.  

I find the author's craft and structure quite enlightening. For instance, Tara uses irony and dialogue to explain her story. Such elements increase relativity and the interest of the reader to persist with the material. The structure shows strong themes such as the value of books and education and how the same can liberate the world from primitive and backward methods of poverty and stupidity.

Concluding, Tara tells such a compelling story using simple language to express fundamental subjects in society, such as the importance of books and how they can life-changing knowledge. Tara grew up in quite an impoverished family that promotes primitive ways of life. The children are ignored and are forced to unwanted and unsafe activities such as scrapping metal and other odd jobs. It is only by falling into books that Tara and her brother manage to gain new information that changes their perspective on the reality of life. It, therefore, becomes essential to encourage all children to get an education as it guarantees to improve their lives. Nevertheless, familial ties and old knowledge also remain with a person regardless of their education level as is seen in Tara, who is conflicted by old ways despite her academic credentials.