Tara Westover in conversation with David Runciman

I feel many will miss the underlining yet profound meaning in this book. If you have been raised in an environment as complicated as hers, you will catch it. It's between the words, between the sentences. It's in the stance she takes, the understanding she applies, and the commitment to make no one the victim or the perpetrator - even if this was the case. It's her ability to straddle between both worlds and still make sense out of it, sense that will help others do the same. There is love there, and where there is love there is understanding. I am grateful for her courage to write her story. I have a feeling it's only the beginning of the great things to come from this woman.

Her words just flow one after another...her personal growth went beyond what she credits herself in the book. It's really beautiful and gives me hope. I love how, instead of anger, she is at peace and doesn't put blame on anyone. I think a part of it is she does want to find a reason of why her upbringing was the way it was. She's gone through a period of anger and conflict within herself and has finally accepted to free herself. She chose to let the anger go and turned to understanding that her parents' actions were never intended to hurt her but more about their restrictive beliefs. Really inspiring.

The best book I've read in years. You need to really read it twice to really grasp this story. Its a lot more than someone that never goes to school until she enters college at age 17. Its far more than that.

Tara story is one of the best stories i have had the privilege to read.. i am amazed at how she self taught herself... Thank you Tara for writing it all down.

Mr. and Mrs. Gates made it financially possible for Tara Westover to go to Cambridge? What an extraordinarily good investment. Bravo! And thank you.

I just read the book cover to cover, dropped everything to read this masterpiece. I guess I'm not the same person after reading it.

My son and I both read it right away. I read it within 24 hours couldn't stop reading it couldn't put it down. We came to the conclusion that she is wicked smart as we say in Boston haha. Also highly motivated to do well and get out of a dangerous abusive environment. Finally we thought that compared to working in the junkyard with her father sitting and reading and listening to professors was a luxurious vacation. He's a school teacher and I am a truck driving Teamster we both could identify with her family situation. Great book. Want to read more

My question is do humans have to go through deep suffering to come out shining stars like this beautiful being ? I always wondered about that . I recently read another memoir were there was suffering as well and this lady was a shining star as well the book is Projection Encounters with my runaway mother by Priscila Uppal this book taught me to become a better mother and to sympathize with my own mother and appreciate her more and so much more

I listened amazing story about Tara ,she lived under terrible fear of violence and her father’s constant brain wash and survived from unimaginable family life. She survived and achieved so much in her young age. I hope her story affect many people under same situation be brave and get out make your own life.

absolutely amazing. best book I've read this year. Thank you for uploading this

Thank you for telling your story.

Thank you for sharing your story Tara. You are a very refreshing human being.

Tara, you are such an inspiration. Keep writing, please!

Thought provoking book, very complex and so is her life. Incredible perseverance to learn when many would give up. Hope you write another book. Wishing you a happy life. GW

With her smarts and perspective on the person and education, she would be a great Secretary of Eduction

I just finished the book late last night! Amazing feat of triumph! I am still in awe!

Inspiring, insightful, and wise! Thank you so much!

Seriously the best book I've read. Good for her to write her life down In a book.

I just finished reading Tara’s book today. It is so powerful and gripping. The abuse she suffered at the hands of her vulgar brother Shawn makes for uncomfortable reading, but her book is so beautifully written. Her parents, especially her dad are just completely bat shit crazy cult followers. Her brother Shawn I strongly believe should be locked up, as he is a rather dangerous individual.

This is a very articulate discussion derived from Westover’s brilliant autobiography. Her account is sometimes horrifying but superbly nuanced and often humbling. She communicates what it was like to be part of a deprived rural Midwest culture without in any sense being superior or patronising. She sees value in an upbringing which, to many of us, seems horrendous. Her particular focus on the need to build bridges of understanding between rural and urban communities is echoed by RD Vance on his Hillbilly Elegy. Well worth listening to in full.