Not Without My Daughter (book)

Not Without My Daughter is a memoir written by Betty Mahmoody and William Hoffer, published in 1987. The book details Betty Mahmoody's experience of traveling to Iran with her Iranian-American husband, Sayed Bozorg Mahmoody ("Moody"), and their daughter, Mahtob, for what was initially intended as a two-week family visit.

According to the book, once in Iran, Moody declared his intention for them to stay permanently, embracing a more traditional Islamic lifestyle. Betty and Mahtob found themselves trapped in Iran, subject to Moody's increasingly controlling behavior and the societal constraints placed upon women under the Iranian regime at the time.

Not Without My Daughter chronicles Betty's attempts to escape Iran with Mahtob. It describes the cultural differences, the legal limitations she faced as a woman married to an Iranian citizen, and the dangers involved in attempting to leave the country without Moody's consent. The book details her efforts to connect with individuals who could assist them, the risks she took, and the challenges she overcame to eventually flee back to the United States.

The book was a commercial success and was later adapted into a film of the same name in 1991, further increasing its notoriety.

The book has been the subject of considerable controversy. It has been praised for its depiction of a mother's determination and for raising awareness of the challenges faced by women in certain societies. However, it has also been criticized for potentially perpetuating negative stereotypes about Iran and Iranian culture. Moody Mahmoody publicly disputed the accuracy of Betty's account before his death in 2009, arguing that the book presented a biased and inaccurate portrayal of events. Some critics claim the book lacks objectivity and relies on generalizations. The book continues to be debated and discussed in the context of intercultural relations and representations of the Middle East.