Lost Without My Daughter

After reading Betty's book and Mahtob's book, I felt Sayed deserved to have his side read, too.I'm sorry to say that his story was not believable.He paints a portrait of Betty that is nonsensical and implausible. For example, when in Betty's book she describes issues with their marriage and times that Moody became depressed or angry with situations in their life, Moody describes them as issues caused by a very unstable Betty.He said that Betty ran off on three occasions, seemingly without cause and without purpose. He said the last time she left she withdrew $200k from their savings in Texas and ran off to Michigan.Supposedly when Moody sought an explanation she came back and announced she was pregnant.Moody claims that the United States creates terrible, untrue stereotypes when portraying Iranians. Then he goes on to do exactly that when referring to Americans in his book.Moody claims that Betty's father beat her mother. That her father was lazy and lived to sit in his easy chair and pass gas and drink beer. Moody supposedly once witnessed Betty's father through a plate of food at Betty's mother, breaking the plate and making a mess, simply because the food was cold.Moody claimed that Betty's first husband beat her and that after she married Moody she thought nothing of sending her sons to their father, who also beat them.Moody also claimed that Betty's sister was marrying her high school sweetheart while still in high school. He was "shocked" to see her coming down the aisle seven months pregnant.Moody talked about how everyone in Betty's family -which at one point he claims is small and another point is very large- supposedly all get together to fanatically watch wrestling.And Moody did not reserve the stereotypes only for Betty's family. Apparently, everyone in America speaks like an uneducated hillbilly. At least according to Moody we do.I could continue with the lies and the stereotypes, as they are plentiful in this book.I think Sayed Mahmoody didn't have an editor, as the grammatical mistakes in this book are plentiful.Towards the end of the book, I felt that Moody could have easily made up stories to garner sympathy from the reader. Most especially if he imagined Mahtob might potentially read his book some day. Such as the supposed incident that he said brought him out of his depression after Betty and Mahtob left, the nearby bombing of a children's birthday party.Sayed Mahmoody actually claims in his book that going to Iran was Betty's idea, and that she intended that they try it for one year.He also claims that at one point in Iran, it was Betty who hit him, and that he never hit Betty.I don't regret buying this book. I do feel it is important to listen to all sides of a story and I did find Moody's book an interesting read. In the end, however, I find his side of the story implausible and, at times, sadly ridiculous.

I have read and watched "Not Without My Daughter" several times, so I was interested in reading what Moody had to say. He just comes across as bitter, small, and spiteful about how life has turned out for him. I have some degree of sympathy that he never saw Mahtob before he died, but that was his own doing. Strip away the geopolitics, which I was glad to read (it helps give a better perspective in into his point of view), and about all you have is him calling Betty a liar, a tramp, and trailer trash who is beneath a great doctor like him (at least, that is how I read it).

He lies about his ex-wife. He lies about her family. Then he ends the book with Iranian propaganda. Don't bother with this book.

I found Dr Mahmoody's version of life in Iran interesting and I'm sure Betty was not an absolutely perfect spouse, but he would have been more believable if he hadn't gone so far in trashing her family and painting her as crazy while he was just the poor kindly suffering little man being beat up by an American amazon. I'm sure there are a few kernels of truth in this book but I'm also sure much of it was a figment of his imagination.

Not well written. Like he's trying to "get back" at his ex wife. No real substance to it. Don't waste the $6 on it. For free, then possibly. No. Don't buy it.

It’s very clear that Moody (Dr Sayyed Mahmoody) wrote this book full of lies and contradiction, and filled the gaps with propaganda. His timeline doesn’t even match up with known facts. This could have been a sad plea of a dying man for his daughter to forgive him and see him one last time, but instead it rings as an accusation that her mother was a crazy, mentally emotional and unstable woman. At times he portrays Betty as weak and confused, at others he claims himself a vulnerable and helpless victim of her craft and manipulation, going so far as to claim that she was physically larger than him and the aggressive abuser. None of his side of the story rings true.

I disliked the entire book. I have no interest in Iranians or their country. I would never want to visit another country. It was a mistake to order this book. I also haven't read the book that Betty wrote or the movie that was made.

Interesting but knowing his version is so way off the path, I was shocked at his sense of logic. I am wondering if he didn't suffer some sort of mental problem that contributed to this whole thing. I kind of feel sorry for him, giving up everything in his life because of his self importance.

I could not put this book down! I bought Not Without My Daughter over 20 years ago! Reading Dr. Mahmoody's account I honestly think he is telling the truth! Shame on you Betty Mahmoody! My husband lived and worked in Iran for a couple of years. He said the people he met/worked with were some of the nicest people he had ever met!!

I'm finding it very difficult to believe this book as it is the absolute polar opposite of Betty's. Also, the way it backs and forths and doesn't give you dates ie it wouldn't be so bad if when it goes back, it says "April xxxx" ...... the lack of dates/years makes me doubt Moody because he's so vague.I don't believe that, for example, when he finds out his wife has emptied their bank account of $200,000 - he's so nie about it. HIs reaction to everything seems to be so nice/reasonable which I don't believe.I have no doubt there are some exaggerations in Betty's book, but not such a wide difference.

Worth reading if only to understand eastern culture and how propaganda from the west creates hatred. I live in one of the post communist countries, it's the same story again but in another part of the world. How long before people realise and become able to live in peace regardless their race, origin, culture etc.?

Hmmmm, this is a difficult one. Whilst I enjoyed the book & realise there are two sides to every story, there were numerous inconsistencies in Sayed Mahmoody's version of events. He came across (In his book), as the most reasonable man on earth, but it just didn't ring true for me.It was however a 'good read'.

If stayed wrote the truth ,then his wife was in the wrong,and I felt sorry for him .only she knows ?