The Wind in My Hair

My Fight for Freedom in Modern Iran

Masih Alinejad author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Little, Brown Book Group

Published:6th Jun '19

£10.99

Available for immediate dispatch.

The Wind in My Hair cover

The photo of 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.


Masih's self-portrait sparked 'My Stealthy Freedom', a social media campaign that went viral.


An enlightening, intimate invitation into a little-known world, this is the extraordinary memoir of a woman who overcame poverty, prison, and exile and encourages others to do the same.

'A must-read for anyone who cares about women's equality and autonomy' SHERYL SANDBERG

'Masih Alinejad is a flame-thrower for the rights of all women' TINA BROWN

'Passionate, riveting' New York Times Book Review

She's been sentenced to prison, fled her native Iran and is unable to see her family. All she wants is to give women the choice to wear the hijab or not... Courageous * Guardian *
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 *
The Wind in My Hair paints a vivid portrait of modern Iran and chronicles her journey from Iran to Britain and finally the United States * New York Times *
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 *
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... a prescient exposé of the cruelty of paradigms, the constrictions of the Muslim woman liberation tale and the often maddening centrality of the veil within it * New York Times Book Review *
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, author of Reading Lolita in Tehran *
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 *
[Alinejad's] descriptions of life as a journalist and activist will captivate readers interested in Iran, international affairs, gender equality, and human rights * Booklist *
'The road to expulsion is paved with scoops,' she writes. It's the content of those scoops, along with the graft and corruption underlying a regime that is still made up of politicians, that will be of interest to readers... Alinejad's account provides a timely glimpse behind the Iranian curtain * Kirkus *
Gutsy Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad tells her life story in a chatty, confiding tone . . . 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 * Publishers Weekly *

ISBN: 9780349008967

Dimensions: 196mm x 126mm x 34mm

Weight: 320g

400 pages