This was a lovely accessible account of Ziauddin’s life, and you can so clearly feel the love he feels for his family. Of course, Malala’s story is very well-known, and because of that I did find much of this book a little redundant, personally.

I lost interest. This wasn’t the book I thought it would be. The writing wasn’t engaging and I felt it was written well but wasn’t as thought provoking as it could have been. DNF

A wonderful insight into life within another culture. Very well written, very interesting I could not stop reading it. What a lovely man. I would recommend this book it is a great read.

An amazing book and one that everyone should read. I can’t get enough of this family and how inspirational they are. A tough read but a must read!

I am a huge admirer of Malala Yousafzai, and so to hear that her father wrote a book as well? Win!
Gaining another perspective on Malala and her cause, which was hugely encouraged by her father, was wonderful. It is very clear also just how much Zaiuddin loves his daughter. But it was also good to learn about Zaiuddin and where his zeal and passion for girl’s education rights came from. This book really makes me want to do better for my gender. It makes me want to get involved in anyway I can to help girls around the world receive the education that they have a right to.

My rating for this book was brought down by the fact that there was a lot of repetition. I don’t know if that is due to a culture aspect in Pakistan or not, and I apologise that I will come across as rude, but I stopped reading half way through the book for a long time because I was reading the same thing over and over again. I finally finished it and, yes okay there were things I hadn’t read already, but otherwise there was a lot of repetition.

Otherwise I really did love the main content of the book and learning about these precious lives - and would love to read more!

Please do read the blurb of the book elsewhere these are my thoughts only.

Love it as simple as that! I recommend this book to any parent or teacher. We all can learn from his views on the world of parenthood.
His writing style is very simple yet effective, his wording reads humble and educated. He doesn’t preach, he answers questions often asked to him and he drops some other little insights of his family moved to the UK, many people would be able to relate to the culture shock and the momentary “isolation” of living in a different country and learning a new language and cultural codes, we need more books on that subject.

It’s a 4.5 star read as I found it a little redundant at times and a litre short too.
Highly recomendable! I actually just picked up the audiobook as I’d like to hear the names of people and places pronounce correctly, and I will pick it up for my dad too.

How can it possibly feel to be the father of a world-famous inspirational figure, Malala Yousafzai? Ziauddin Yousafzai explains exactly how it feels in this riveting and deeply moving autobiography. A hugely inspirational human in his own right, Ziauddin talks about his own life and makes it clear just how Malala came to grow into such an amazing young lady under her father's influence. Entertaining, humbling and truly awe-inspiring, this is a most tremendous book.

Thought provoking book giving a real insight into a different world and the way that world changed. Inspirational read - would definitely recommend.

I will never get enough insight of this motivational and inspirational family. Hearing from the father gives a new and humbling experience that is so worth the read.

Now, we can argue about nature and nurture, can’t we, but what is clear is that the extraordinary Malala would not have got as far as she has without this background and this amazing man pushing her onwards and opening the gates of education for her. They form a great team, and still work together on the Malala Foundation. But he doesn’t idolise her and put her on a pedestal, and he’s very honest on the family dynamic and especially his relationship with his own sons.

Read my full review on the Shiny New Books website - also reviewed briefly on my blog

https://shinynewbooks.co.uk/let-her-fly-a-fathers-journey-and-the-fight-for-equality-by-ziauddin-yousafzai-with-louise-carpenter/

A powerful story which tells of all the troubles Malala and her family had to live through hearing about life in Pakistan through a father's eyes makes you realise how young girls were not treated as equals it's a really good account of their lives told with passion and humility a really emotional story which will stay with me for a long time a great read

I admit to not having read "I am Malala" and will correct that as soon as possible. What a family of campaigners! From little acts great things grow. I was surprised by the honesty in the book and I wonder if in the telling of this Ziauddin has felt some carthartic effects. He does explain his thoughts on emancipation, and he does take a great deal of the blame for what happened to Malala on his shoulders. He does also show his flaws when he becomes a father expecting respect from the traumatised sons, not understanding some of the effects of western life on all his family. Yet, it would appear he has learned from this. An incredible family.

With regard to the wider context of the book, I think some of the ideas especially about emancipation shown are repeated too often and over explained. There was perhaps not enough about the Taliban and what they stand for other than the oppression of women. How or why the Swat Valley is so important to the Taliban? In other words the book is a very personal account about the family and not really about Pakistan life in general. That said the explanation of how his ideas developed is fascinating.

This is an utterly compelling read.

By now, most of us know the story of Malala and her tireless fight to promote the rights of women to an education in Pakistan, but this is told from the perspective of an adoring father, who, realising the inequity in the country of his birth, is determined to give his daughter the best opportunities life can offer.

While Malala has inevitably stolen the headlines, 'Let Her Fly' is a poignant tribute told from the eyes of her father who not only doted on her from birth, but who saw in her the endless possibilities that had previously been denied to those within his culture who were deemed to be subservient and uneducated in a male-driven society.

An over-whelming portrait of a family determined to provide the best opportunities, who, when struck by tragedy, simply became stronger and more resolute, this is a fantastic testament to the power of belief and a desire to do the greater good. Malala's faith in her cause, despite being targeted by the Taliban, shows the tenacity of her character the pride her father feels in her achievements is both heart-warming and inspiring.

A must-read!

Ziauddin Yousafzai grows from a stammering village boy into a man of outstanding courage as he looks around his native Pakistan and is ashamed of the inequality he sees, and decides to fight for equality for his own wife and daughter … and by extension all women in Pakistan. He provides and education for his daughter Malala, something only provided to boys, and subsequently sees her shot by the Taliban for attending his school. Enough to make anyone doubt their stance and question themselves … and yet Malala survives and later becomes the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. The very title of the book is from his own quote: “Whenever anybody asked me how Malala became who she is, I have often used the phrase, "Ask me not what I did but what I did not do. I did not clip her wings".

This beautiful story centres on Ziauddin but is really about the love he has for those around him, whether parents, children, siblings, wife, and, yes, his country. It is a story of immense courage and, for me, the beauty of this man is that unlike many so-called ‘activists’, who exude only anger against those they feel they are fighting, this humble man still feels love and compassion for his country and Pakistani society, despite the flaws that he sees there. In so doing, he shows love at its strongest – not some namby-pamby sentimental emotion but rather a deep conviction and a choice to try to make things better. And he shows us that anyone can do this – whether you’re born into a world with everything going for you, or whether you grow up as an uneducated village boy.

I have rarely read a book so full of love and courage and hope. It is skilfully crafted as well, with none of the plodding you sometimes get with non-fiction. I could not put this book down. Beautiful.

A memoir of Malala's father Ziauddin Yousafzai which starts in his home as a young boy in Pakistan and how he couldn't understand why as he grew up his sisters were treated differently to him and why his mother and sisters had to do all the menial work and wait upon him and his father. When he got married he made sure that he treated his wife as an equal.
When he had his own daughter Malala he insisted that she had an education like her brothers and when the Taliban was trying to stop girls going to school he enabled Malala to carry on going.
It also covers the time from Malala getting shot and then coming to England and his pride when she was accepted to Oxford University and one of the male professors made her a cup of tea.
This is the story of a very enlightened man and how his thoughts and actions caused huge ripples around the world.

This is short but very sweet. It is the story of Malala's father and how he became a feminist before he'd even heard of the word. I found it very interesting as a parenting book as of course we all know about Malala but he also has two sons and is very honest about the mistakes he has made with one of them. Also fascinating about his wife and how she was uneducated until recently but how she still supports her daughter's campaign.

This book will warm your heart! Ziauddin Yousafzi is an amazing man with great morals, principles and determination. At a young age he is appalled in the gender inequality that he witnesses growing up in Pakistan and is determined that his wife and daughter will be treated equally. It takes a lot of courage and heart to break out of his conditioning, but he did encouraging Malala to be herself and to never hold her back in anyway.

Whenever anybody asked me how Malala became who she is, I have often used the phrase, "Ask me not what I did but what I did not do. I did not clip her wings"

A fascinating insight into life in Pakistan, and how family influence the way life can change, but not without pain.Malala is an inspiration, but without the backup of her family she couldn’t have achieved as much as she has. The descriptions of her fathers life show her family are not afraid of change, and do champion it. Well worth reading, I’m pleased I had the opportunity.

A well written account of a remarkable girl and her family. Malala and her family have been through so many heart rendering circumstances, its good to know life is better for all concerned. What a courageous girl Malala has been and still is. I really enjoyed reading this book.

I haven’t read Malala’s book yet, partly as I think I might find it too upsetting despite knowing what a remarkable young lady she is. So I came to read her father's book with a little trepidation in case that was also going to be upsetting. But quite the opposite – he does not dwell on the dark side of life with the Taliban or the shooting and aftermath but on his life, his upbringing and his family.

Ziauddin Yousafza tells us about his background, his marriage and his children but mostly he tells of his moral principles and family values. His writing is very clear and readable. He is an educator who was running a school for many years before the family fled Pakistan in 2012 after Malala’s shooting. He constantly emphasises how important education is for all and his commitment to providing that is admirable. I would have loved to know more about what happened with his school after he left and how life in the school and that community is now in 2018.

Ziauddin is the perfect example of someone who does not preach or force opinions on others but simply lives his life in accordance with his values and beliefs. I love the stories in the book where members of his family are treating their womenfolk as inferior and expecting them to hide their faces and/or bodies but then some change their thinking after they see Ziauddin respect the women in his life without imposing restrictions on their clothing, education or lifestyle.

I hope to read more from Ziauddin and will also be reading Malala’s book soon. They are the most incredible family and I wish them all well as I am sure it cannot have been easy being Ziauddin’s wife or Malala’s two brothers who haven’t enjoyed the limelight and have had tougher lives in many ways than Malala and her father who are busy touring and speaking. One day maybe we will hear the voice of Malala’s mother in a book. She is obviously an incredible person too as she fought hard to have children educated at her husband’s school even when their parents could not afford the fees. I am sure there is much more she could tell us too.

Ziauddin is a very remarkable person and if it wasn’t for him on so many levels the world would not be benefiting from all the immense good that his daughter is doing to make it a better place in the face of extreme adversity.

Please do read this book and encourage your young people to do so. It is completely inspirational, even more so when you consider the culture they were living in where speaking out against those in power could have such terrible consequences.

With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK, Ebury Publishing for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.