Riding

“Riding is a compelling story about failure, feminism, and freedom, mixed with tantalizing glimpses of an Iran that Americans never see. It is a fast, exhilarating read, like a good gallop!” - Anne-Marie Slaughter, author of Unfinished Business: Women Men Work Family

“This impassioned memoir introduces readers to the thrill of riding as ultimate reciprocity, inspiring us to rethink what we mean by learning. In the process, we discover the lineaments of beauty in the ardent commitment to a feminism rethought across species and against the background of a country’s tragedy. Mesmerizing.” - Colin Dayan, author of Animal Quintet: A Southern Memoir

"Even readers who have never sat in a saddle will be captivated by this short book as it tenderly navigates her journey of self-discovery while confronting fears." - Brenda Barrera, Booklist

"What you get from this slim memoir is so much more than the beauty and empowerment of horseback riding. Lovingly articulated, Mahdavi’s absorbing message to readers centers on balance, freedom, feminism and home, even against a backdrop of tragedy and trauma." - Karla J. Strand, Ms. Magazine

"Mahdavi’s exploration of Iranian-American identity, mythological Persian warrior women, and the yearning to find belonging in an ancestral homeland is heartfelt. . . . In direct, confessional prose, Riding unfolds Mahdavi’s unforgettable relationships with her horses and the many lessons she learns from her rides across cultures and continents." - Danielle Shi, ZYZZYVA