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Book Review: Educated by Tara Westover (2018)
Tara Westover’s powerful memoir, Educated, is a testament to the strength of the human spirit. It challenges what many of us think we know not just about Mormon beliefs, but also religion in general. Above all, it makes you think about the way we see our lives, as well as others, and how becoming aware of other perspectives can literally change your life.
Overview
Tara Westover’s powerful memoir, Educated, is a testament to the strength of the human spirit. It challenges what many of us think we know not just about Mormon beliefs, but also religion in general. Above all, it makes you think about the way we see our lives, as well as others, and how becoming aware of other perspectives can literally change your life.
Content & Message
Unlike many of the book reviews I’ve done recently, this book is not a self-help guide. It’s a memoir with 3 parts, which signal major shifts in Westover’s life.
The first part brings readers through the young years and the ideology Westover grew up believing as the ultimate truth. It details her tumultuous and dangerous relationship with her father and brothers, as well as a strained relationship with her mother. At the end of the section, Westover is preparing to leave for Brigham Young University as a 17-year-old who has never been in a classroom.
During the second part, readers learn about Westover’s college years. She has extreme struggles due to her lack of prior education. For example, in her first History class, she asked what the Holocaust was and everyone thought she was making an inappropriate joke even though she’d never heard of it. She also struggled because her parents always upheld strictly anti-medical establishment beliefs.
Until she went away to college, she never considered that her father’s beliefs were anything but normal, and in this section we see her mind opening up to the possibility that there are other valid ways to live. At the end of the section, Westover is graduating as an outstanding undergraduate and preparing to go to grad school at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom (UK).
The haunting image of Westover’s father’s fear stays with us as we head into the final section:
“If you’re in America,’ he’d whispered, ‘we can come for you. Wherever you are. I’ve got a thousand gallons of fuel buried in the field. I can fetch you when the end comes, bring you home, make you safe. But if you cross the ocean…’”
“If you’re in America,’ he’d whispered, ‘we can come for you. Wherever you are. I’ve got a thousand gallons of fuel buried in the field. I can fetch you when the end comes, bring you home, make you safe. But if you cross the ocean…’”
In the third part of the memoir, Westover tells of her time during grad school, the terrible accident that almost killed her father, and what would seem to be the ultimate family feud. Through lies and betrayal, Westover’s pain is palpable on the page and the only thing you can do is to keep reading to find out what ultimately happens.
I won’t tell you the outcome, so as not to give a huge spoiler (I hate that), but I’ll say this: there was never a “winning” solution, as it often happens with messy family divides. Westover made the best decisions she could to become her own person and forged her own path to safety and success.
Biggest Takeaway
There are so many lessons we can learn from this incredible story, but I think the biggest of them all is that anything is possible.
Sometimes we have to make decisions that others don’t approve of or like to get to the places we want to go - even sacrifices - but there are possibilities around every corner.
“Sometimes we have to make decisions that others don’t approve of or like to get to the places we want to go”
Overall Impressions
Ever since this book came out in 2018 it has been on my “To Read” list for the sheer intrigue of the thing. Reading non-fiction has become a new interest of mine, but as an educator and someone who highly values and advocates for education, I was immediately drawn to it, even before I read the jacket cover blurb.
When I started it, I couldn’t put it down.
I read all 334 pages probably within the span of about a week that involved many late nights where I had to force myself to close the book and go to sleep. Part of the draw was, undoubtedly, the marked difference between Westover’s experience and mine.
It was wild envisioning the world her words created, and then to know that they’re all true! Seeing the tenuous family bonds and the raw look into the end days prepper ideology was truly fascinating in a way that made me really consider what I believe and why.
I think my favorite part is the prose itself. I find Westover’s voice magnetic. It’s not overly fancy or academic, which I thoroughly appreciated. It’s open, honest, and incredibly vulnerable, which are all things I look for in non-fiction because how can you write an honest memoir without them?
My long-time anticipation for reading this book was heartily fulfilled and it way exceeded what I could have hoped for. Westover will definitely be near the top on the list of authors I eagerly hope for more writing from sometime soon.
Why Writers Need this Book
As a writer myself, this book is an amazing example of how powerful words can be.
“It’s important to read from all genres when you’re a writer because it strengthens the way in which you can use your own words.”
It’s important to read from all genres when you’re a writer because it strengthens the way in which you can use your own words. It shows you what others have done, and allows your creativity to wander and consider what else could be done - what you could do.
The memoir also does an excellent job of showing that you don’t necessarily need to use “fancy” language to write a great book. Seriously. There are times when “$5 words” work really well, but not if you don’t normally use them in that way.
There is no point during the entire memoir where it feels like Westover is uneducated or less intelligent because she uses clear and simple language. It’s much better to write clearly and expressively than to clog up the ideas with words that make everything feel disjointed.
Next Steps
There are a few steps to take next:
Get the book here. (Or here or here). Better yet, check your local library! Easy peasy.
Read the book & take it in.
Start telling your own story. If you read the book and are fired up to tell your story (go you!), go for it! Memoir isn’t the only way to tell your story, so don’t be afraid to get creative.
If you need some help getting started, or figuring out how to organize your ideas, I can help, too! I work with writers just like you on planning, strategy, and accountability. Because I’m also a confidence coach, I will empower you and encourage you every step of the way. If you’re intrigued or READY TO GO, you can click here to read more about working with me. Let’s get your story out into the world!
My challenge to you is to consider your own beliefs and story as you read this book.
Have you read the book? What did you think? What was your favorite part? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com!
Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.
4 Reasons Online Writing Courses are Totally Worth the Money
For many of us, this month marks 5 months since we’ve been at home due to the pandemic. Whether it’s because we were furloughed or laid off from our jobs, or simply working at home - it’s been a minute since things have been “normal” or the version of normal we had before COVID-19. During this time, there has been such a surge in online learning, not just for kiddos who had to switch to eLearning to finish out the year, but for adults, too!
For many of us, this month marks 5 months since we’ve been at home due to the pandemic. Whether it’s because we were furloughed or laid off from our jobs, or simply working at home - it’s been a minute since things have been “normal” or the version of normal we had before COVID-19.
During this time, there has been such a surge in online learning, not just for kiddos who had to switch to eLearning to finish out the year, but for adults, too!
Although it’s been a tumultuous time, there has been an exceptional opportunity for learning.
Although it’s been a tumultuous time, there has been an exceptional opportunity for learning. I’ve seen a pretty awesome variety of online courses throughout the last few months, many of which are teaching skills people can use to get jobs or find freelance work online.
But what I’ve been most interested in lately are online writing courses. I have a little bit of a bias because writing is my favorite thing, but writing is an incredibly marketable skill people can use during these abnormal times!
What Do You Mean by Online Writing Course?
There are lots of different types of writing courses. The ones we typically think of might happen in colleges or at the local community centers, which are both valuable options.
But when I’m talking about an online writing course, I mean a writing course that is:
Completely Remote
There aren’t any face-to-face components, meaning you don’t have to go somewhere specific to learn the material. There might be videos to watch, or even live teaching, but you can stay at home (or travel wherever you want) to complete the course.
Self-Paced or Specific Program
Some online writing courses give you full access to all the modules and information up front when you buy it. These are self-paced, meaning you can complete them all at your leisure.
There are also online writing course programs that are a predetermined number of weeks, where you complete tasks and learn information incrementally more like a classroom experience. Common lengths for these are usually between 8-12 weeks.
A Course that Teaches You an Aspect of Writing
We couldn’t talk about an online writing course without stipulating that it’s actually about writing. There are so many options for you to learn online - things like marketing, sales, wellness, etc. - but when I say online writing course, I mean skills for writing like the writing process, editing, proofreading, copy editing, and the like. Things that you do writing for during the course.
Why Take Online Writing Courses?
If you’ve read my other posts or talked to me in person, you probably know that I always talk about how writing is a skill, not a talent.
Do some people naturally like it better? Yes.
Do some people seem to excel at it more easily than others? Also yes.
That being said, almost everyone has the ability to learn a new skill, which means that almost everyone can learn to write.
Not only is it a good personal skill in terms of communication, but it’s also a powerful professional skill that is highly sought after. Employers want good writers, at least the ones I’ve seen do.
But knowing that writing is a super valuable skill, why would someone choose to take an online writing course to learn it?
Quick to Gain New Skills
An online writing course can be a quick way to gain a brand new skill, especially if you find yourself with free time. You likely won’t have to spend 3-6 months learning from an online course, unless it’s a more specialized program. If it’s a self-paced course, you could potentially cram it all into a small block of time and start practicing right away.
Grow & Hone Skills You Already Have
If you already know the basics of writing, you can take an online writing course to learn different types of writing and hone those skills you already know how to do. An example might be copy writing or editing. There are also creative writing courses available online.
Self-paced
Probably one of the top reasons people opt for online writing courses is the ability to be self-paced. Because everyone learns differently, some people need more time in certain areas than others. Sometimes people just want to take their time and not rush through. Whatever the case, many online writing courses have the great benefit of being self-paced.
Flexible with Location
A lot of people like online writing courses because they don’t have to be in a specific place to learn. Sometimes you’ll hear this flexibility called “location independent” and right now there’s a huge number of people who would love to travel the world and be able to make money from anywhere. Learning writing skills online makes a whole lot of sense for this lifestyle.
Cheaper Than a Degree
Last, but certainly not least, online writing courses are chapter than getting a degree in writing. That’s not to say that all writing courses online are cheap, because that’s definitely not the case! The fact is, you can learn a specific skill online and potentially make money from it faster and cheaper than getting a degree in writing.
This isn’t to say I’m in any way against college or going to college for writing - I’m definitely not! I was an English major myself, and it was an incredibly valuable experience. I’m an English major advocate. That being said, if you just want to hone a specific skill, especially an online skill, online writing courses can be a great way to do so.
4 Reasons Online Writing Courses are Worth the Money
Online writing courses clearly have some pretty awesome benefits!
There’s definitely no shortage of people making excellent money from writing online, and the number of people who do freelance writing is and has been on the rise for years.
But is it really worth it to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars to take online writing courses?
The short answer: Yes.
Here’s why:
You Take Charge of Your Learning
When you’re in the online learning space, there’s not one “right” path, or even a path that every single person takes.
Pretty much everyone will tell you their course will change your life - and there’s a good chance it might.
But the fact is, unlike a more traditional learning path, you get to choose:
What skills to learn
Where to learn those skills
How much you’re willing to pay to learn those skills
What’s valuable to you
You’re the one making the decisions, not an institution or a salesperson. Whether or not you find this scary (it definitely can be!), it’s the truth. Everything is a la carte. You can buy one thing from 5 people or, if you find someone who’s really helpful, 5 things from one person. Either way, you get to make that decision.
You Control the Time Frame
When you take online writing courses, you know ahead of time exactly what you’re getting. You have the option to purchase a course that’s self-paced so you can do it on your own time.
There are also plenty of options to join a program that walks through things step-by-step, if you think that will be helpful in keeping you accountable and moving forward.
You’re free to choose whichever sounds more appealing to you.
You Have the Opportunity to Network & Connect with a Community
In most online writing courses, you will get an invitation to join a community of like-minded individuals who are completing the program with you. It’s kind of like a class, but without the mandatory butt-in-seat time & forced group work.
Being able to network and be a part of a writing community is incredibly valuable, though, because not only do you hear what other people are thinking about, struggling with, and winning at, but you can also get a little slice of that human connection with people who know what you’re working on.
You Can Go Wherever You Want (as Long as You Have Internet)
Probably one of the best things about taking an online writing course is the ability to go anywhere and still have access to the same quality of learning - as long as you have the internet, of course.
It’s an added bonus that you could even potentially stay at home in your own bed with your favorite grungy PJs and absolutely no one will know or care. Who doesn’t want that option to learn such a valuable skill?!
Where to Take Online Writing Courses
By now you’re probably wondering where the heck to find these online writing courses because, hey, there are awesome perks and maybe you’re tired of being at home doing nothing. Or maybe you’ve been at home doing everything and you want to start spending some time on you!
Either way, there are some pretty great places to take online writing courses. These are just a few ideas because I have used them personally, but I would encourage you to look at all the options for any skill you want to learn! Have some fun, do some dreaming, and then decide.
1. Masterclass -If you want to learn writing from some master writers, Masterclass is an awesome place to go! You can take classes from such writers as: Dan Brown, Margaret Atwood, Judy Blume, and Malcolm Gladwell. These writers are bonafide writing successes!
2. Udemy - You can find almost any skill with a huge variety of teachers on Udemy. They have anything from creative to technical to academic writing skills courses available. Just make sure that you look through the options and look at the teacher before choosing so you know you’re getting information from someone who really knows their stuff!
3. From Me! - I won’t toot my own horn too much, but I’ve worked with a lot of students over the years. One of my main focuses, aside from the actual skills building part, is to increase student confidence. And I’ll tell you a secret, I’ve been focusing on building student confidence with my teaching since I started - I’ve always worked on it as a teacher.
The program I’m offering starting in September is 8 weeks long, and I designed it to take writers from the very beginning (we start with brainstorming) through the writing process and come out at the end with a “good” first draft of a creative project.
I couldn’t be more excited if I tried! If you want to read all about it, you can click here. It will take you to the program page and fill you in on all the juicy details.
Next Steps
So there you have it! Online writing courses can be a great way to gain practical (and fun) new skills that will help you in your career, and probably at home, too! You’ll love the flexibility, the options, and the decisions you get to make about what you’re learning. It’s a good deal! There’s a reason there are so many choices.
But what do you do with this information?
1. Decide What Writing Skills You Want to Work On You’ll probably want to choose one or two skills to start with before you try to look at classes to take, otherwise you might get overwhelmed by the variety. Thinking about what you want to do with your new skills will help.
2. Look for Classes You Could Take to Improve Your Skills If you’re not able to pinpoint which skills you want to learn, you can always take a look at what’s available, although I’ll warn you it’s a lot! Sometimes it’s fun to window shop before you decide on the must have, though, you know?
3. Sign Up for a Class/Course! Once you’ve looked around, pick one and buy it!
4. Get Help if You Need It - If all of this seems overwhelming to you, you’re definitely not alone. The first time I bought a course and invested in myself I was so scared! And honestly, the times after that, too.
With creative work, especially, it can sometimes be harder to see the value of an investment. If this is you, let me help! I do offer an 8 week program, but I also offer 1:1 coaching for writers, too.
If you send me an email at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com telling me a little about yourself and what you want to do, I’ll give you a complimentary 30 minute session to help you figure out what you want and you can decide what’s best. Sound good?
My challenge to you is to think about what kinds of writing skills would be valuable to you right now and take an online writing course about it.
Have you taken an online writing course before? Used one of the options I listed? Or found something awesome you think should be on the list? I’d love to hear about your experiences and recommendations! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com!
Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.