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The Wind in My Hair: My Fight for Freedom in Modern Iran Hardcover – Illustrated, May 29, 2018

by Masih Alinejad (Author)

4.5 853 ratings

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An extraordinary memoir from an Iranian journalist in exile about leaving her country, challenging tradition and sparking an online movement against compulsory hijab.

A photo on Masih's Facebook page: a woman standing proudly, face bare, hair blowing in the wind. Her crime: removing her veil, or hijab, which is compulsory for women in Iran. This is the self-portrait that sparked 'My Stealthy Freedom,' a social media campaign that went viral.

But Masih is so much more than the arresting face that sparked a campaign inspiring women to find their voices. She's also a world-class journalist whose personal story, told in her unforgettably bold and spirited voice, is emotional and inspiring. She grew up in a traditional village where her mother, a tailor and respected figure in the community, was the exception to the rule in a culture where women reside in their husbands' shadows.

As a teenager, Masih was arrested for political activism and was surprised to discover she was pregnant while in police custody. When she was released, she married quickly and followed her young husband to Tehran where she was later served divorce papers to the shame and embarrassment of her religiously conservative family. Masih spent nine years struggling to regain custody of her beloved only son and was forced into exile, leaving her homeland and her heritage. Following Donald Trump's notorious immigration ban, Masih found herself separated from her child, who lives abroad, once again.

A testament to a spirit that remains unbroken, and an enlightening, intimate invitation into a world we don't know nearly enough about, The Wind in My Hair is the extraordinary memoir of a woman who overcame enormous adversity to fight for what she believes in, and to encourage others to do the same.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Told poignantly and with a blunt honesty that seems a characteristic of Alinejad's life and writing, here is a gripping tale that permits us to peek at the inner workings of the Iranian Revolution and consider the question of its health and longevity."―New York Times Book Review

""The Wind in My Hair"... paints a vivid portrait of modern Iran...The book comes at a time of renewed energy within the feminist movement, and Ms. Alinejad believes that the book's themes transcend borders."―New York Times

"Alinejad's experiences make for a compelling and eye-opening read."―Christian Science Monitor

"Women all over Iran risked imprisonment and even their lives and safety to post pictures. Alinejad's stories of her illustrious career as a groundbreaking journalist challenging the Islamic Republic make for a fascinating narrative."―Publisher's Weekly

"[Masih's] descriptions of life as a journalist and activist will captivate readers interested in Iran, international affairs, gender equality, and human rights."―Booklist

"Alinejad's account provides a timely glimpse behind the Iranian curtain."―Kirkus

"Masih Alinejad is a fearless champion for women's rights. She built her career as a reporter uncovering powerful truths and writing passionately in support of human rights in a country where doing so meant risking one's freedom and safety. Her book is a must-read for anyone who cares about women's equality and autonomy-in Iran, the United States, and everywhere."―Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebookand Founder of LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org

"Masih Alinejad's personal story is intriguing and inspiring. For her freedom is not just political but existential, which is why Masih's voice is so important to Iran's civil society and the Iranian people's struggles for freedom and democracy."―Azar Nafisi, authorof Reading Lolita in Tehran and The Republic of Imagination

"With mighty righteousness on her side and bravery in her heart, Masih Alinejad is a flame-thrower for the rights of all women who live under the thumb of repression and injustice."―Tina Brown, author of The Vanity Fair Diaries

"Masih Alinejad's inspiring journey from an ordinary working-class village girl in Iran into a transnational activist-journalist is a testimony to not only her talents and passionate dedication to equal rights, but also to the aspiration and determination of many Iranian women whose stories are recounted by her. Masih's courageous journey is part of a growing women's rights movement that resonates with women everywhere."―Nayereh Tohidi,Director, Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at California State, Northridge

About the Author

Masoumeh (Masih) Alinejad-Ghomi was born in 1976 in Ghomikola, Babol. She is an award-winning Iranian journalist, broadcaster, blogger and founder of the My Stealthy Freedom movement. A 2011 graduate of Oxford Brookes University, Alinejad currently reports and presents a weekly TV segment on VOA, called Tablet, where she mixes hard news and satire. Masih has been published in a variety of newspapers and magazines, including Huffington Post, Time magazine and the Washington Post. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown and Company; Illustrated edition (May 29, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 031654891X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316548915
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.43 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.38 x 1.38 x 9.63 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #713,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #231 in Iran History
- #7,882 in Women's Biographies
- #21,112 in Memoirs (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 853 ratings

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Masih Alinejad

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Masih Alinejad is troublemaker. She's one of the most influential voices inside and outside Iran. Masih is a journalist, a TV presenter, a woman's rights activist and the founder of My Stealthy Freedom campaign against compulsory hijab in Iran.

Born in Iran in 1976, Masih became a celebrated political journalist in Iran where she was continually in trouble for her writing. She was forced to flee the country to escape arrest in 2009 in aftermath of political unrest.

Masih has won numerous awards for her writing and broadcast. She lives in Brooklyn but dreams of returning to a democratic and secular Iran.

Learn more at masihalinejadmedia.com

Customer reviews

853 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story fascinating and well-written. They praise the author as brave and strong. The book is described as a compelling memoir that opens their eyes to what's happening in Iran. Many appreciate the photos at the end of the book. However, some customers feel the pacing slows down near the end.

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Story quality Courage Readability Inspiration Beauty Pacing

24 customers mention "Story quality"19 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the story. They find it well-written and engaging, with a true account of a brave and strong woman's life. The author is passionate about her stand that Islamic women should have the choice to choose whether to have children. Readers appreciate the personal history and writing style.

"Powerful story about the triumph and spirit of a human facing indelible odds." Read more

"...A truly compelling story very well written" Read more

"...Her story will never be over, . inspiring and she has opened a door for woman to understand each other and stand united.. Thank you Masih" Read more

"...Her personal history is quirky and fascinating by any standards. The story of her marriage and pregnancy hardly fits into any cultural construct...." Read more

21 customers mention "Courage"21 positive0 negative

Customers praise the author's courage and passion. They describe her as a strong woman who is not afraid to stand up and speak. The book is an inspiring account of her journey and how she has become a leading force for women's rights, especially in Iran.

"Powerful story about the triumph and spirit of a human facing indelible odds." Read more

"An outstanding book written by a rather brave woman! One woman who is not afraid to stand up and speak...." Read more

"...This is a heroic journey of a determined woman to excellence...." Read more

"...book follows the life story of Masih Alinejad, an Iranian journalist and human rights activist, from her beginnings in an impoverished agricultural..." Read more

17 customers mention "Readability"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They describe it as a compelling memoir and a favorite of the year. The story is informative and well worth reading.

"...A really wonderful book!" Read more

"Amazing five stars, 10/10, couldn’t put it down. A truly compelling story very well written" Read more

"...Iran's history, and the lack of human rights for women, this is a good read...." Read more

"Not an easy read but well worth the time." Read more

12 customers mention "Inspiration"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspiring and informative. They say it opens their minds to what's happening in Iran, and it empowers them to take on more social justice issues. The story is told in an engaging way that keeps you wanting more.

"...She is a fine journalist and book flows smoothly when she gets to explaining her work. How she breaks the rules while remains on the course...." Read more

"...Her story will never be over, . inspiring and she has opened a door for woman to understand each other and stand united.. Thank you Masih" Read more

"...She makes an understandable and compelling case for the inhumanity of the forced wearing of the hijab by all girls and women – and the complicity of..." Read more

"An amazing story, it really opens the mind to what is happening in Iran at this current moment. Must read" Read more

4 customers mention "Beauty"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's beauty. They find it worthwhile reading, with beautiful photos at the end. The book provides an inside look at Iran and its Islamic Revolution through a woman's eyes.

"...and one well worth hearing about from a brave, bright and beautiful Iranian woman." Read more

"...women in Iran to fight for freedom. Both beautiful and sad book. Worthwhile Reading." Read more

"...I enjoyed the photos at the end of the book, too." Read more

"Beautiful and captivating. You will love the people and understand what they are up against. Trump is only making things worse for them." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book slows down in the last two chapters. They also mention that the story becomes repetitive and difficult to finish.

"...The story lags somewhat near the end as she details her encounters with movers and shakers of the media...." Read more

"...have praised this book, but I found that the last two chapters were difficult to finish...." Read more

"...The text became a bit repetitive and slower in last chapters." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

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eric s salazar
Excellent read
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2024
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Powerful story about the triumph and spirit of a human facing indelible odds.

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John T. Mooney
OUTSTANDING!
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2024
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An outstanding book written by a rather brave woman! One woman who is not afraid to stand up and speak. I think this book should be on the required reading list in American high schools. People like her are the ones we salute in free countries. While most of society basically gives up and does what they are told, the world needs leaders like this. The military has guns and tanks and bombs and prisons, but all she has is her heart and voice. A really wonderful book!

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3 people found this helpful

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Vali B. Dashti
To know Masih Alinejad is to know Iran
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2018
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I give this book 4 star. After finishing first chapter, I was about to stop reading the book but since I was curious about her activism, decided to keep reading and was not disappointed. She is a fine journalist and book flows smoothly when she gets to explaining her work. How she breaks the rules while remains on the course. I was pleasantly surprised and appreciated the positive influences Kambiz had in her life. One could see in pages of the book, how he was with her at all the right moments, provided sound advise, supported her emotionally and loved her.
This is a heroic journey of a determined woman to excellence. Growing up in rural Iran with chaos of revolution aftermath, stumbles on, gets back up and learns to educate herself and find her destiny. This is the story of Iran. To know Masih Alinejad is to know Iran.

She was not daughter of elite family with modern lifestyle, her instinct told her she has to be free, to be equal with her brother. That is why she was attracted to stealthy reading of banned books as she quote her brother “One day you’re reading Marx, the next you are reciting Quran,” and forms the “Faryad-e Kaveh” Group and end up in jail. She was lucky, forming a political club is considered as “sedition” by government, many at her condition were executed or handed long term jail sentences only few years earlier. Reading further, one can see how the underground political parties and guerrillas infiltrating these student clubs and radicalizing them as it appeared in their first pamphlet “Shabnamehs”.
The question weather life was better during the Shah’s time or not still is the question of new generation. Cyber space and social media afforded people to see pictures and video clips of life then and see a resemblance with what they see in modern societies and wondering why their parents revolted? But at this time not many parents would give Masih’s father answer “No. No and no. We had more money, but we didn’t have God’s government.“ Corruption is so rampant that nobody is shy to admit it.
She is saying that “The revolution was supposed to benefit families like ours, the downtrodden, the meek, and the poor.” The answer is indeed one of the purpose of revolution or as Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini said then was to benefit the downtrodden, the meek, the poor. And worked for some of them. But when those downtrodden, the meek, the poor who took power, they did not like to share with others downtrodden, the meek, the poor. Majority of current figures of government are from poor families of Shah’s time. As stealthy freedom pages of Masih Alinejad shows, still there are more than enough supporter of this government among those downtrodden, the meek, the poor, as well as lower middle class, who are not afraid of to confront the protesting women in streets, buses and metro knowing they are being video taped for uploading to Masih’s Youtube and Facebook pages.
Women resistance to compulsory hijab was started much earlier then March 8, 1979 as she narrates after she is saying: “It was only after the triumph of the revolution that many women realized that they had willingly ceded their rights and brought about a regime that demanded their subjugation.” Indeed women, during the months of unrest, demonstrations and strikes before fall of the Shah’s government, assembled in large numbers and declared they are not going to allow women rights being pushed back. After the official implementation of hijab mandate, women all over the country resisted hijab at work and street, but mostly left leaning political leaders ordered their protesting female members to stop protesting to not weaken anti Imperialism momentum.

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5 people found this helpful

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Allie Berding
Sooooo good
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2024
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Amazing five stars, 10/10, couldn’t put it down. A truly compelling story very well written

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Helen Hancke
A must to read
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2024
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Masih writes a very personal story of her life as a journalist and advocate for women’s rights. She gives us a very clear view of the difficulties the Iranian women face - just in having a choice to wear a hijab or not. And also the severe consequences for violating the law! Many Iranian women are in prison today for having done nothing wrong but asking for a simple right to have a choice

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Pat Ellson
Great book! Fascinating story well written.
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2022
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I have often heard that the Iranians are wonderful welcoming people. Unfortunately they are governed by a stifling regime that seeks to remove joy and freedom from their world. We must not judge the people based on the government actions. The people are not supporting their elections which are truly a sham.

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6 people found this helpful

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Frederick W. Benner
Great Item For The Price
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2024
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Item arrived on time and intact and was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you

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Kindle Customer
Don't like good books
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2021
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I heard about Iran's efforts to kidnap Masih and thought she m must be someone important. I read the book and am sad I finished the book, thinking it's over... Until I read the Facebook page.. This woman will never be over. Her story will never be over, . inspiring and she has opened a door for woman to understand each other and stand united.. Thank you Masih

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6 people found this helpful

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Bahram-e Aziz
La voz de las feministas iraníes (más o menos )
Reviewed in Spain on October 19, 2024
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Una interesante autobiografía de Masih Alineyad, a través de la cual podemos entender las motivaciones de su causa política. No obstante, Alineyad presenta al mundo occidental como la panacea del feminismo y las libertades. La autora parece dar a entender que este es el único modelo a seguir para las sociedades del mundo islámico, a pesar de sus reiteradas defensas de que cualquier mujer pueda vestir como quiera. Es decir, da la imprensión de que sus ideales están inspirados en cierta colonialidad, la cual resulta ya un poco rancia. Estaría bien que Alineyad hubiese mencionado las diferentes opresiones padecidas en su país de acogida. Pero bueno, la narración tiene un tono muy personal, desde el sufrimiento y desamparo que sufrió la protagonista en su país de origen, y es comprensible. Tiene también un tono fanfarrón y jactancioso que hace a la historia un poco cargante.

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Amazon Customer
The struggle of a courageous woman
Reviewed in Canada on June 6, 2018
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It's not always easy to read Masih's book in which she describes her brave struggle against a dictatorial, brutal regime that forces women to wear the hijab in order to control them. Masih is a gifted writer and her story is at times heartbreaking and at times joyful. Do yourself a favour and purchase this book.

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Simmi
Truly good
Reviewed in India on September 21, 2018
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I like it very much. This is the true story of life of a Iranian journalist, Masih Alinezad. Who fought against the conservative thought of Iranian Islamic republic, which opressed the women rights. This is the must read book.

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Sinbad the Sailor
in a world of happiness -or discontent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2018
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.
Masih Alinejad hallmarks her character in this stunning autobiography: An impressive biography that will open our hearts and thoughts to reflect upon a world of oppression and control: A world that is very much closer to ourselves than we could have imagined: It is a deeply thoughtful and personal story that is refreshing to read: A story that will shine upon her spirit to struggle under the control of the very strict laws that govern women and girls in Iran.

And yet, in a world of happiness -or discontent, there are some things that should NOT be -whether they be happening overseas or in our own backyard? This is the beauty of a question that draws itself forth in a reflection that haunts the consciousness of injustice.

We can reflect upon our own life and upbringing, and generally be content, and change the way we live -if we can? But in truth - the oppressiveness of control -will drain our resources of strength.

Masih Alinejad may relish her rebellious and mischievous nature in humour -but we endear ourselves to her courage and charm!

I feel the book will be widely acclaimed, and be inspirational as a cornerstone of guidance and courage -and to help bury the burden of fear -and write own story respectively!

I highly recommend:

* * * *

'….The wind breathes through our hair. I turn to view your smile and black hair. A world lies beneath our carpet, our feet are on a rug with colourful patterns, and kings.... on a magic carpet I'd like to share...my spirit lives at night. I have a bedtime book to read – 1,000 Arabian adventures …and this is one of the stories told -beautiful you are...and inspiring too...'

Read more

Sinbad the Sailor

in a world of happiness -or discontent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2018
.
Masih Alinejad hallmarks her character in this stunning autobiography: An impressive biography that will open our hearts and thoughts to reflect upon a world of oppression and control: A world that is very much closer to ourselves than we could have imagined: It is a deeply thoughtful and personal story that is refreshing to read: A story that will shine upon her spirit to struggle under the control of the very strict laws that govern women and girls in Iran.

And yet, in a world of happiness -or discontent, there are some things that should NOT be -whether they be happening overseas or in our own backyard? This is the beauty of a question that draws itself forth in a reflection that haunts the consciousness of injustice.

We can reflect upon our own life and upbringing, and generally be content, and change the way we live -if we can? But in truth - the oppressiveness of control -will drain our resources of strength.

Masih Alinejad may relish her rebellious and mischievous nature in humour -but we endear ourselves to her courage and charm!

I feel the book will be widely acclaimed, and be inspirational as a cornerstone of guidance and courage -and to help bury the burden of fear -and write own story respectively!

I highly recommend:

* * * *

'….The wind breathes through our hair. I turn to view your smile and black hair. A world lies beneath our carpet, our feet are on a rug with colourful patterns, and kings.... on a magic carpet I'd like to share...my spirit lives at night. I have a bedtime book to read – 1,000 Arabian adventures …and this is one of the stories told -beautiful you are...and inspiring too...'

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Yasmeen
nicht sooooo interessant
Reviewed in Germany on September 1, 2021
Verified Purchase
Ich hatte mir wesentlich mehr erwartet. Aber OK, sie hat nicht das gleiche Paar Socken an und findet, das sie supergut singen kann?!?!?! Ist deutlich unter meinen Erwartungen geblieben.

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