I Should Have Honor

A Memoir of Hope and Pride in Pakistan

By: Khalida Brohi

Narrated by: Khalida Brohi

A fearless memoir about tribal life in Pakistan - and the act of violence that inspired one ambitious young woman to pursue a life of activism and female empowerment

“Khalida Brohi understands the true nature of honor. She is fearless in her pursuit of justice and equality.” (Malala Yousafzai, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize)

From a young age, Khalida Brohi was raised to believe in the sanctity of arranged marriage. Her mother was forced to marry a 13-year-old boy when she was only nine; Khalida herself was promised as a bride before she was even born. But her father refused to let her become a child bride. He was a man who believed in education, not just for himself but for his daughters, and Khalida grew up thinking she would become the first female doctor in her small village. Khalida thought her life was proceeding on an unusual track for a woman of her circumstances, but one whose path was orderly and straightforward.

Everything shifted for Khalida when she found out that her beloved cousin had been murdered by her uncle in a tradition known as “honor killing.” Her cousin’s crime? She had fallen in love with a man who was not her betrothed. This moment ignited the spark in Khalida Brohi that inspired a globe-spanning career as an activist, beginning at the age of 16. From a tiny cement-roofed room in Karachi where she was allowed 10 minutes of computer use per day, Brohi started a Facebook campaign that went viral. From there, she created a foundation focused on empowering the lives of women in rural communities through education and employment opportunities, while crucially working to change the minds of their male partners, fathers, and brothers.

This book is the story of how Brohi, while only a girl herself, shone her light on the women and girls of Pakistan, despite the hurdles and threats she faced along the way. And ultimately, she learned that the only way to eradicate the parts of a culture she despised was to fully embrace the parts of it that she loved.

©2018 Khalida Brohi (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Khalida Brohi’s moving story is a testament to what is possible no matter the odds. In her courageous activism and now in I Should Have Honor, Khalida gives a voice to the women and girls who are denied their own by society. This book is a true act of honor.” (Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and founder of LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org)

“Khalida Brohi’s powerful storytelling exposes the little-known world of tribal Pakistan and the injustices facing women there. With insight and determination, she explores the most entrenched social customs facing women today and shares her secrets for innovation, impact, and success. This story is timely not just for those who care about women’s rights but for anyone involved in activism, community mobilization, and social entrepreneurship.”(Arianna Huffington, founder, HuffPost and founder and CEO, Thrive Global)

“The heartfelt story of a woman’s ardent dedication to stopping the senseless ‘honor’ killings in Pakistan.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Khalida Brohi is a force of nature. Her story, in many ways, is beyond belief. It’s incredible that someone so young could achieve this much through passion and ingenuity.” (Chris Anderson, head of TED)

Audiobook lacks features of print version

the print version has photographs and a glossary, something that's missing in the audio version.

Touching

I absolutely loved this book and I was thrilled that the narrator was the author herself; for a story can be that more touching when the emotions and struggles and joys are first hand.
This is a great look into the lives of others who are so different and yet, for myself, so eerily familiar.
Khalida Brohi gave herself to this book, a little piece of herself to tell her story, her countries story. You can feel her emotions and her words pull you along side of her.
With each hurdle of her life, each mistake and correction, you find a sense of fellowship with this amazing woman who gives so much.

Will listen again

Loved this book. Will likely listen again. So much passion. This is a book I would much rather listen to than read because I get to hear how everything is pronounced. The author's work and sprit is inspiring.

Loved it

Very moving story. "Don't cry - strategize" was a phase I take away as the power and heart of the book.