Daring to Drive: A gripping account of one woman's home-grown courage that will speak to the fighter in all of us

A gripping memoir about a young woman from Saudi Arabia who becomes the accidental leader of a wildly subversive movement to put women behind the steering wheel. 

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 14 June 2018
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd

The story of the woman who inspired change with her call for greater freedoms for women is a testament to the power of activism and the determination of individuals to fight for equality. From the winner of the 2018 UN Peace Prize, Manal al-Sharif became a global figurehead of a cause that drew the attention of global leaders who urged the [Saudi] Kingdom to overturn the ban on women driving.

Manal al-Sharif's gripping account of homegrown courage will speak to the fighter in all of us. Books like this one can change the world. Deborah Feldman, New York Times bestselling author of Unorthodox, said, "Manal al-Sharif is following in a long tradition of women activists around the world who have put themselves on the line to expose and challenge discriminatory laws and policies."

Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International News, noted, "Manal al-Sharif was born in Mecca, the year fundamentalism took hold in Saudi Arabia. As a young girl, she would burn her brother's boy band CDs in the oven because music was haram: forbidden by Islamic law. By her twenties, she was a computer security engineer. But as she became older, the unequal way in which women are treated became too much to bear: she was branded a slut for talking to male colleagues at work; her school-age brother had to chaperone her on business trips, and, while she kept a car in her garage, she was forbidden from driving down Saudi streets."

Her personal rebellion began the day she got behind the wheel of a car: an act that ultimately led to her arrest and imprisonment. Manal's Women2Drive campaign inspired other women to take action. Manal has been lauded by the Oslo Freedom Forum, described by Time Magazine as one of the most 100 most influential people in the world, and she was awarded the Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent.

Manal al-Sharif's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right and fighting for equality. Her courage and determination have inspired countless others to join the fight for a better world, and her legacy will continue to inspire future generations.

Weight: 254g
Dimension: 158 x 150 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781471164422