logo

58 pages 1 hour read

Not Without My Daughter

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1987

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Betty Mahmoody

Not Without My Daughter

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1987
Book Details
Pages

528

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Iran • 1980s

Publication Year

1987

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Not Without My Daughter is an autobiographical novel by Betty Mahmoody that recounts her harrowing experience as an American woman trapped in Iran with her young daughter, Mahtob, after her Iranian husband, Moody, reveals his intention to remain in Iran permanently. Betty struggles against cultural and legal constraints to plan their escape, ultimately succeeding with the help of smugglers. The book contains depictions of extreme domestic abuse and other distressing scenes.

Suspenseful

Dark

Emotional

Unnerving

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.4

37,435 ratings

80%

Loved it

15%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Not Without My Daughter by Betty Mahmoody is a gripping memoir that narrates the author's harrowing escape from Iran with her daughter. Reviews are mixed; readers praise its intense storytelling and emotional depth, but some criticize it for cultural bias and an overly negative portrayal of Iran. Overall, it's a compelling yet polarizing read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Not Without My Daughter?

A reader who enjoys Not Without My Daughter by Betty Mahmoody is likely interested in true stories of resilience and cultural conflict. They would appreciate the tension and emotional gravity found in travel memoirs like Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, as well as the familial struggles depicted in novels such as A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.

4.4

37,435 ratings

80%

Loved it

15%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

528

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Iran • 1980s

Publication Year

1987

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.