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About this item
Highlights
- "I was riveted by this searing ode to the resiliency of the human psyche, rich in beauty and devastation.
- About the Author: Atash Yaghmaian is a writer and psychotherapist whose stories and articles about mental health and Iran have appeared in Ms. magazine, the New York Daily News, The Mighty, and Thrive Global, among others.
- 248 Pages
- Biography + Autobiography, Survival
Description
Book Synopsis
"I was riveted by this searing ode to the resiliency of the human psyche, rich in beauty and devastation."--Melissa Febos, author of Girlhood An unflinching and stunning debut memoir of an Iranian girl's coming-of-age experiencing abuse, war, and superstition--and her survival through dissociative identity disorder, which offered her an inner world into which she could escape When she was a child, Atash Yaghmaian's home life was unpredictable: a confusing mix of love and terror. Outside of her home, Iran was also on fire. Her reality of abuse, war, gender oppression, and religious superstition left her feeling unsafe everywhere. So, she left reality and disassociated into a place she called the House of Stone: a building in a magical forest full of peaceful creatures, kind talking trees, and volcanoes. Inhabiting this world are 9 beings, each different parts of Atash, who would be her salvation from the external horrors of her outer world. Set against the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini's regime, and the 8-year Iran-Iraq War, My Name Means Fire is Atash's story of survival as she experiences tragic events including sexual abuse, a mother who subjected her to superstitious rituals, and the horrors of war. In chapters alternating with what's happening in her outside world, her other parts--each named after a color--tell the story of her inner world, giving readers an understanding of what it's like to be inside the consciousness of someone who is multiple. Honest, powerful, and moving, My Name Means Fire is a bold narrative that challenges the stigma and misinformation around dissociative identity disorder (DID) and ultimately reckons with what it takes to survive.Review Quotes
"A haunting memoir that excavates the weight of names, family mythology, and inherited trauma."
--Kirkus Reviews "Transformative . . . Atash Yaghmaian channels the power of her fiery name to illuminate a path toward hope and healing."
--Shelf Awareness "I was riveted by this searing ode to the resiliency of the human psyche, rich in beauty and devastation."
--Melissa Febos, National Book Critics Circle Award winner and author of Girlhood "Atash's writing lives in the strongest softness. Every page was a sensory experience--I could hear, see, and feel every scene . . . This is a beautiful book."
--Bassey Ikpi, New York Times best-selling author of I'm Telling the Truth, but I'm Lying "With an artistry steeped in truth and tenderness, Atash Yaghmaian braids a story of horrors and hope, of ferocious courage and incredible love for her many parts. A triumph."
--Molly Winter, New York Times best-selling author of More: A Memoir of Open Marriage "As someone living with DID, I deeply appreciate the courage and vulnerability it takes to share your experience. Atash's story in My Name Means Fire is raw, brave, and profoundly validating . . . a compassionate and insightful glimpse into dissociation."
--Olga Trujillo, author of The Sum of My Parts "Overflowing with emotional honesty and grace about a condition that's so misunderstood. . . . This memoir is full of hope. It's also an open-hearted invitation to readers: to be kinder to themselves, the way Atash had to learn--through struggle, strength, and deep self-compassion."
--Christie Tate, New York Times best-selling author of Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life "Yaghmaian's dissociative world reads like magical realism. Fascinating, provocative, and deeply personal, My Name Means Fire offers an unconventional perspective that will challenge your thinking on trauma and survival."
--Nina Darnton, author of A Perfect Mother
About the Author
Atash Yaghmaian is a writer and psychotherapist whose stories and articles about mental health and Iran have appeared in Ms. magazine, the New York Daily News, The Mighty, and Thrive Global, among others. Born in Tehran, Atash migrated to the United States alone at the age of 19, fleeing war, trauma, and abuse. She blogs at atashyaghmaian.com.Dimensions (Overall): 8.5 Inches (H) x 5.5 Inches (W)
Weight: 1.25 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Sub-Genre: Survival
Genre: Biography + Autobiography
Number of Pages: 248
Publisher: Beacon Press
Format: Hardcover
Author: Atash Yaghmaian
Language: English
Street Date: October 14, 2025
TCIN: 1001714136
UPC: 9780807020722
Item Number (DPCI): 247-39-3843
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1 inches length x 5.5 inches width x 8.5 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1.25 pounds
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