Reading this book was a surreal experience; it's one of those moments when it's hard to believe Iran and the US occupy the same planet. Shirin Ebadi's courage is astounding, but I'm equally if not more amazed by her patience and persistence. So often I found myself getting frustrated, despairing, with each set-back she describes, and yet Ms. Ebadi continued on, doing what she could where she could. Her work fighting for human rights in Iran reminds readers that achieving any good, no matter how seemingly small or fleeting, is worth the effort and that it's the accumulation of these little kindnesses that improve the world. I hope this book makes it way onto future high school reading lists, especially for global history courses.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.

I heard Shirin Ebadi speak at Edinburgh International Book Festival and was so impressed with her courage and dedication to human rights that I had to read the book. It's an insight into life in Iran for an intelligent, independent Muslim woman who refuses to back down. If you are interested in human rights, the Middle East or women's rights then you should read this book.

I learned a lot about the political climate in Iran from this book written by a woman who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her work in human rights. She has been living in exile since 2009. Her story of how dealing with the Iranian government tore her family apart is an eye-opening story of the realities of people living in a place like Iran.

This book has a very powerful and necessary message. I'd recommend it to anyone who pays attention to the news and wants to see a side of Iran not necessarily always portrayed. I have infinite respect for the author and her colleagues, who have gone through things that seem straight out of a spy tv show and not real life. Very inspiring for anyone with an interest in feminism, political science, and human rights.

// Until We Are Free by Shirin Ebadi

While I was reading Until We Are Free a couple of weeks ago, I couldn't help but realise how women always have it worse in the face of war or anything else that involves violence. From becoming the first female judge in Tehran in 1975 to setting up her Human Rights Center, Ebadi has had a long and tiring fight. It's incredible how she trudged on even in the face of death threats, a failing marriage and state appointed spies who traced her every move. While the Iranian revolution persecuted thousands of innocent people, Ebadi made it her mission to help such families. And this came at a price.

It is worth noting how Ebadi uses dark humour to show the ridiculous ideas harboured by the authorities when Ahmadinejad was in power. She was hounded constantly by his men to the extent of even forcing her to live in exile. Her office was vandalized and an unvarying danger loomed over her family for decades.

Even her Nobel Peace Prize was ridiculed by the government time and again. While Ebadi founded several missions with other Peace Prize winners, it only angered the authorities more. Her refusal to succumb to the religious bigots, the ones in power and to the men who wanted to see women like Ebadi in submission, infuriated them further.

Until We Are Free champions humanity like no other book. Ebadi's sheer determination and unflinching loyalty to help those in need even at the cost of living with collateral damage instills fire in one's heart. It takes immense courage to live amidst such danger, one that reminds you every single day that you may not live to see the next one and when you're a woman it becomes ten times harder. Perhaps this was why I found the book so powerful.

I highly recommend this.

I really enjoyed this book far more than Iran Awakening. Dont get me wrong, Iran Awakening was educational especially to those who have zero knowledge about Iran politics. This book is a continuation of Iran Awakening but i still feel this book is far more personal to her (at least that's how i perceived it).Iran already abandoned and tortured her but Ebadi still fighting for the good cause of Iranians. I felt quite sad that it costs her marriage, career, livelihood and the zero possibility of going back to her own motherland.

From a judge to being exiled from her home country of Iran. This book made me angry and I suppose that is a good thing. It is hard for me to fathom a society that takes away your profession because you are a woman. One that harasses and threatens you because you are not following their orders. This was heartbreaking to read and it makes me very happy that I am a Canadian woman.

This book was very informative. I learned a ton. I can't imagine going through what Shirin has and handling all of that. The book starts during the later years of Shirin's life in Iran and then discusses her first few years outside of Iran.

So by this point, a lot has already happened. I found myself curious about the earlier years, so I'll have to read another book by her on that.

There were times I was absolutely absorbed in this book and other times when it was slower. But it was a fascinating read.