Malala Yousafzai, social activist and more, has penned her latest book, ‘Finding My Way’. Garnering huge praise for a raw and unfiltered take on her life outside activism, mental health, and personal life, Malala also made an appearance at The Tonight Show, hosted by Jimmy Fallon. Engaging in a candid conversation, Malala chipped that she is a “funny person” and said, “The first thing I want to tell people is my age…I’m 28.”
Emphasising the philosophy of her book, Malala’s memoir traces her journey from a teenage social activist, who grew up in the public eye. ‘Finding My Way’ explores how she found peace, dealt with mental health issues like anxiety and PTSD, and started her married life after being placed on a pedestal as a Nobel laureate.
‘They think I’m from the 18th century’
Speaking to the American talk show host, Malala shared that she has received her share of social media comments. While some believed that she was still a 13-year-old, others “thought she was a figure from the 18th century.” “Or, that I’m dead,” Malala added. “I meet people who are shocked that I’m not 13 anymore,” she remarked.
As a reply to such comments and to commemorate her journey from being just an activist to a married woman, her book gives her readers access to that. “I can’t cook, I am married, I love to play sports, I play golf, I’m really good at weightlifting,” she said, garnering loud cheers from Fallon’s audience. While she highlights the other relatable and ‘normal’ aspects of her life, she shares that she will remain an activist. “I’m also an activist for girls’ education, because I was once a girl who was banned from going to school,” Malala shared.
But overall, she emphasised that the book recognises her as a “normal person, who loves to have fun, makes mistakes, and find more about herself, and grow through that.” “I’m a funny person,” she added.
About Malala’s ‘Finding My Way’
Reviewers appreciate Malala’s honesty about balancing the expectations placed on her as a Nobel laureate with the realities of being a student at Oxford University, including nearly failing exams and developing her own identity beyond activism. The book shares insight into her romantic life, including her marriage to Asser Malik, which was previously private, offering a fresh personal perspective that humanises her public figure image. Critics and readers praise the memoir for its authenticity, warmth, and humour, marking a departure from her earlier “saintly” portrayal to a more relatable, imperfect young woman
