In Tara Westover’s Educated she unlocks her memories and takes you on a roller coaster of her early life growing up in the Mormon culture.

Tara is the youngest of seven children born to Gene and LaRee Westover. .

At Buck Peak’s somewhere in Idaho, she looks over the princess, a mountain. She wonders what lies ahead past that. The only world she’s ever known off is that built by her family. Where seeking an education would lead them to be infiltrated by societies such as the Illuminati and forget the norms of Mormonism and dress as a tiny harlot while at that.

Funny thing is that Tara was allowed to drive and work at a certain grocery shop. It’s not until her elder brother Tyler, took an interest in wanting to seek an education outside from the little homeschooling that they had been taught by their mother, is when Tara also gained interest.

She recalls of how she would lie at the feet of Tyler in his room, listening to some of his music while he studied. The only texts that Tara had ever read was the Holy Bible and those of John Smith and other Mormon leaders.

Tyler passed his General Education Development (GED) test and went ahead to study at Brighton Young University (BYU) where Tara would equally follow suite years later.

Tara’s mother was the type who always stood by their husband. She was a midwife and also a herbalist. The family alongside with other Mormons did not believe in hospitals or modern medicine. The unveiling of several accidents including two road accidents, which left her mother recovering at the basement for months, Luke’s leg getting burnt and her father being blasted and most of his skin scarred, all these cases were treated at home.

A rift with Tara and her father began when one day her brother Shawn got an accident and instead of bringing him home to mother for treatment, she called an ambulance instead to the hospital.

However, Tara excels in her university education earning her Masters and PhD from Cambridge University.

Finally, she manages to break from the shell of her family. This was after exposing, the physical and emotional abuse that Shawn had subjected her too. Nobody believed aside from her brothers Richard, Tony and Tyler. Everyone else completely cut her off.

It is a story of strength and liberation. Seeking her own self, world, identity outside of the norms of Mormonism. Also a story of loss and grief as she struggled to accept that her own family chose to disown her instead of believe her. But most importantly it is a story of great courage and seeking better for oneself, an education.

A cacophony of transformation, metamorphosis, falsity and betrayal.

This October is packed with a stellar(you’ll only get it if you’ve seen SpyxFamily) lineup of anime releases. Several highly anticipated series and returning favourites are coming back, making the fall season a major event for anime enthusiasts. Here’s what you should be most excited for

1. Re: Zero Season 3

OCTOBER 2

The third season of Re: Zero returns after a long wait, continuing Subaru’s intense journey through alternate realities filled with dangers and hard-won triumphs. The gripping storyline and beloved characters will certainly keep fans hooked.

2. Dragon Ball Daima

OCTOBER 11
The Dragon Ball franchise introduces a new spin with Dragon Ball Daima. While keeping the franchise’s core characters like Goku, Vegeta, and Bulma, the plot focuses on a fresh storyline that involves Goku’s “grand adventure,” filled with new enemies like Gomah and the Masked Majin. With Toriyama heavily involved, this is expected to be a high-energy addition to the Dragon Ball legacy.

3. Blue Lock Season 2

OCTOBER 5
Following its massively successful first season, Blue Lock Season 2 kicks off with more intense soccer action. As Yoichi Isagi and the team face tougher challenges from international players, the stakes are higher than ever. This series is perfect for sports anime lovers, especially those drawn to fierce competition and emotional growth. I hope the trailers are not a foreshadowing.

4. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3

OCTOBER 5
The war continues in Bleach, where Ichigo Kurosaki and his allies are thrust deeper into the battle with the Wandenreich. This part of the series, highly anticipated by fans, promises even more action-packed scenes and dramatic plot twists. Let the conflict begin.

5. Tower of God Season 2, Cour 2

OCTOBER 6
Following the success of its first part, Tower of God resumes with its intricate plotlines, testing the limits of Bam and his companions as they continue their climb in the mysterious tower.

6. Danmachi Season 5

OCTOBER 4
The adventures in Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? return, bringing viewers back to the labyrinthine world of Orario. Season 5 promises more adventures, romance, and challenges for Bell and his companions.

7. Uzumaki

SEPTEMBER 28
For fans of horror, Uzumaki, based on Junji Ito’s spine-chilling manga, is finally arriving this fall. Its visually disturbing art and haunting storyline will likely make it one of the top horror anime of the season.

Fall 2024 anime release dates

• Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II (October 4, 2024)
• Look Back (October 4, 2024) [MOVIE]
• Ranma 1/2 (October 5, 2024)
• Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (October 10, 2024)
• Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance (October 11, 2024)
• My Hero Academia: You’re Next (October 11, 2024) [MOVIE]
• Attack on Titan The Movie: The Last Attack (November 8, 2024 in Japan) [MOVIE]
• Arcane season 2 (Beginning November 9, 2024)
• Fate/strange Fake (November 2024)
• Beastars season 3 (December 2024) 

This season’s lineup offers a broad spectrum of genres, from sports (Blue Lock), action (Dragon Ball Daima), and fantasy (Danmachi), to horror (Uzumaki), showcasing just how packed and exciting October will be for anime fans.

British Somaliland Protectorate, 1937

Imagine you’re born in a country pushing for independence, where healthcare is practically non-existent, and everyone expects you to be someone’s wife, cook some food, and call it a day.

That’s it. No big dreams allowed.

Now, meet Edna Adan Ismail. A woman who looked around at that setup and thought, “Yeah, no thanks!”

Edna grew up in Somaliland at a time when there were barely any doctors, medical supplies were a joke, and society didn’t exactly cheer women on to be changemakers.

She even endured FGM, but Edna wasn’t about to let anything stop her.

Despite the naysayers, she fought for her education, chased her dream of becoming a midwife, and went on to teach women how to safely deliver babies in her country.

She always told herself, “If I don’t do it, then who will?”

The Struggle, 1969-2002

But life wasn’t all sunshine and perfect hospital wards. Edna lost everything she loved during political tensions, got divorced 4 times (yeah, 4), lost her family and friends, and even ended up imprisoned.

Most people would throw in the towel at this point, but not Edna.

She bounced back with an insane determination, building the first non-profit charity hospital after the Somali Civil War, and being part of the reestablishment of healthcare in Somaliland, all in her retirement years.

And now, she’s encouraging you and me to get up, stand out, and fix some of the world’s mess, too.

If you’re thinking, “Okay, but what does this have to do with me?”

Hold on, I’m getting to that.

Who Should Be Grabbing This Book

This book is basically an anthem for anyone standing on the edge of a big, scary decision.

It’s an additional encouragement tool to whisper, “You got this, give it time and effort.”

So, here’s who needs to read it:

1. If you’re switching careers to something totally new, wondering if you’ll come out stronger or get fired in a month.
2. If you’re diving into undergrad, master’s, or getting your PhD and freaking out about whether you’ll handle it or collapse in a mountain of textbooks.
3. If you’re trying to leave a toxic relationship but are scared of what’s on the other side of that breakup (spoiler: freedom).
4. If you have a dream that no one understands, and your friends, parents, or partner are all like, “Are you sure?” (Yes, you are).
5. If you’re dreaming of starting an organization to change the world or a ministry for God’s kingdom but feel wildly underqualified and short on resources.
6. If you’re stuck feeling friendless in this weirdly connected-yet-lonely world and want to find someone who gets you (they’re out there, promise).
7. If you’ve tried everything to find a partner—from church, to school, to a new country—and you’re about to give up (don’t).
8. If you’ve just moved to a new city or country and feel like an imposter, and you’ve drawn conclusions, you’ll never fit in.
9. If you want to be the change in your community that no one else is brave enough to step up for.

What You’ll Learn from A Woman of Firsts

Edna’s life is full of lessons, but here’s the real stuff she’ll teach you:

1. Courage to Step Into the Uncomfortable.
2. Success is About Lifting Others.
3. Be a Lifelong Learner.

And so, the question is:

Are You Brave Enough To Step Into The Unknown, Even When It Feels Impossible?

This book has been an extra shot of courage for me in a new chapter of my life, and it’s done the same for my friends—and millions of others who’ve picked it up.

Seriously, sneak this into your bag while hopping on a taxi or waiting for your food delivery.

You’ll be glad you did.

Don’t ever underestimate the capacity of a human being who is determined to do something — Edna Adan Ismail.