A review by secrethistory
Let Her Fly: A Father's Journey by Ziauddin Yousafzai

3.0

Weapons may bring immediate power, or immediate change, but it is not the long-lasting kind. The long-lasting change is what you stand for, believe in.

Ziauddin Yousafzai is a passionate, loving individual. This book tells his side of his famous daughter's story, which is incredibly moving, but it's more than that. This short book is packed with so much heart. Yousafzai's own growth from the beginning of his life is interesting for a few reasons. It shows, more or less, a typical rural Pakistani man's upbringing, but also where he diverges from that. He more or less accepts typical gender roles as a young boy, but starts noticing his female relatives being treated poorly. This sets him on a journey that starts with small acts of bravery (writing his daughter's name on the family tree) to the more monumental acts he's known for.

He ties in his loving but troubled relationship with his father to his relationship with his own sons. Seeing a parent admit that they made mistakes--the same mistakes his father made--and respond with an apology, with humility, was refreshing. This is a man who is proud of his sons, appreciates their quirks. And of course, his incredibly warm love for his daughter is powerful and sweet.

Yousafzai's wife, Toor Pekai, has her own story told here, and again we get a glimpse of the average woman's life. She was allowed to go to school, but quit because none of her friends were going, and no one ever made her go back. This kind of societal pressure is one often overlooked. Toor Pekai is continuing her education now, supported by her loving family. She is strong and independent and has a spark of her own that just needed some nurturing.

Yousafzai is idealistic, literary and a little dreamy by nature, but passionate and outspoken too. He writes poetry, a few of which are included (and are lovely). He was given so much more than the others in his family, and recognises and appreciates that, and seems to be motivated, at least in his youth, by his desire not to let it go to waste. He too faced some educational difficult getting passed up for wealthier boys, but rose above what was expected of him with a quality education.

My only problem with the book is it's a bit repetitive. All the stories are unique and interesting, but sometimes there's just some fatherly gushing about his children. The idealism sometimes seems too idealistic, but often this is cut by Malala's practicality. Ultimately the book is about the power of education, and he devotes some space to talk about each member of the family's schooling. This single-minded view eventually wears off onto the reader, until I was feeling as full of love and hope as Yousafzai. I'd recommend Let Her Fly to anyone interested in the Yousafzai family, global education, Pakistani culture, or anyone who just wants a nice memoir to read.