In Riding, Pardis Mahdavi meditates on the lessons learned over a lifetime of horseback riding and the falling, failing, and joy it brings. At once a history of Caspian horses, an exploration of Mahdavi’s Iranian-American identity and family history, and a consideration of the capacity for self-reflection and self-compassion through human-animal relationships, Riding offers a roadmap for learning to live in harmony with the self and the environment around us. Mahdavi shows how her relationship with horses gives her insights into intergenerational strength and tools for healing intergenerational trauma. Riding from the mountains of Iran to the beaches of California, Mahdavi shares her love affair with horses, rediscovers a homeland she longs for, and ultimately finds her strength.
Acknowledgments ix 1. Fall(ing) 1 2. Buck(ed) 24 3. Halt(ed) 39 4. Walk On 51 5. Ride Free 65
Pardis Mahdavi is a writer, professor, avid horsewoman, and the author of seven books. Her work has been featured in the Huffington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Ms., the Washington Post, and elsewhere.
“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)
