Mohsin Zaidi (author)

Mohsin Zaidi is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and management consultant, based in New York. His first book, published by Penguin, was the 2020 coming of age memoir A Dutiful Boy[3] about growing up gay in a Muslim household in Britain.[4][5] It won the Polari First Book Prize[6] and the LAMBDA Literary Award for gay memoir/biography in 2021.[7]

For the Urdu poet, see Mohsin Zaidi.

Mohsin Zaidi
Zaidi in 2021
Zaidi in 2021
OccupationBarrister and author
EducationUniversity of Oxford
SubjectComing of age memoir
Notable worksA Dutiful Boy[1]
Notable awardsLambda Literary Award 2021 for gay memoir/biography[2]
Website
www.mohsinzaidi.com

Education

He studied at Kelmscott, a comprehensive school in Walthamstow, before completing his A-levels at Ilford County High School and then going on to complete his BA Law with European Legal Studies in 2007 at Keble College, Oxford, and the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law, London.

Career

In 2009, Zaidi passed the New York State Bar, qualifying as a New York attorney. Following his graduation from Oxford University, he spent four years as a solicitor in the dispute resolution department of Linklaters LLP before working as a judicial assistant for almost a year from September 2013 to Lord Wilson of Culworth and Lord Sumption at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.[8] He also previously worked at a UN War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague. In 2015, he transferred to the Bar and practiced as a criminal barrister at 6 King's Bench Walk. In 2021, he left 6KBW and joined the strategic advisory firm Hakluyt as a management consultant.

Writing

Named one of the best books of the year by The Guardian, GQ, The NewStatesman and Attitude, A Dutiful Boy was published in 2020 by Penguin. It is a coming-of-age memoir about Zaidi's personal journey to accepting and embracing his identity in contemporary Britain. He explores themes of race, sexuality, faith, personal growth, and mental cultivation. At the time of its publication, the book was described by The Guardian as utterly compelling,[9] and The Times said it's a book that will save lives.[10] Zaidi received praise from Lord Michael Cashman, describing it as a page-turner that sparks with humanity and hope.[11] In 2021, the book won the Polari First Book Prize as well as the Lambda Literary Award for gay memoir/biography.[12]

Other writing

For CNN Style, he wrote about his personal experience with fashion in relation to being indicative of class, and what this meant for him as a POC, personally and professionally.[13] In The i Newspaper,[14] Zaidi discusses LGBT rights in the UK and the effects of the British government's unfulfilled promise of banning conversion therapy. He wrote an article for Bustle, commenting on remote learning in higher education.[15] Zaidi shared his opinion regarding the LGBT-targeted 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting in Newsweek, emphasising the importance of bravery in the wake of tragedy.[16]

Speaking

Zaidi regularly undertakes speaking engagements generally centering around topics such as mental health, social mobility, intersectionality, and representation.[17][18] He is also a regular commentator on Sky News.[19]

In 2017, he was appointed a trustee on the board of Stonewall.[20]

Wider influence

Subsequent to the release of his book, Zaidi has been featured in a number of popular media outlets. He wrote for The New York Times[21] on the intersection of class and race. Listed as a leading author in the genre of mental health, he was featured in Mr. Porter's mental health reading list.[22] Zaidi appeared as a guest on the BBC podcast, discussing his legal career.[23] He is also listed by The Financial Times as a top future LGBT leader.[24]

Honours & Awards

In 2015, he was shortlisted for 'Most Innovative European In-House Lawyer'[25] and ranked as Top 30 Future Leaders[26] by the Financial Times. In 2020, Attitude magazine named him a trailblazer changing the world.[27] In 2021, Zaidi was named as one of the Lawyer Magazine’s Hot 100 for work in white-collar crime.[28] His book won the Polari First Book Prize[29] and the LAMBDA Literary Award for gay memoir/biography in 2021.[7]

References
  1. "A Dutiful Boy by Mohsin Zaidi review – utterly compelling". TheGuardian.com. 25 August 2020.
  2. "2021 Winners".
  3. Zaidi, Mohsin. A Dutiful Boy.
  4. "A Dutiful Boy by Mohsin Zaidi review – utterly compelling". the Guardian. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  5. AnOther (17 August 2020). "A Dutiful Boy Is a Moving Memoir about Growing up Gay and Muslim". AnOther. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  6. Polari Prize
  7. Gentes, Brian (2 June 2021). "2021 Lambda Literary Award Winners Announced". Lambda Literary. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  8. "The Justice Diaries: Mohsin Zaidi". LEDUCATE. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  9. Ghadiali, Ashish (25 August 2020). "A Dutiful Boy by Mohsin Zaidi review – utterly compelling". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  10. Sanghera, Sathnam. "Barrister Mohsin Zaidi on being gay and Muslim in modern Britain". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  11. "A Dutiful Boy by Mohsin Zaidi". Penguin Random House Canada. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  12. "2021 Winners". Lambda Literary. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  13. Zaidi, Mohsin. "Judged for what he wore: A first-time author writes about class and clothing". CNN. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  14. Zaidi, Mohsin (26 March 2021). "'I was prescribed a 'cure' for my gayness – where is the UK's promised ban on conversion therapy?'". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  15. "The Education Lost When Our Colleges & Universities Go Virtual". Bustle. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  16. "After Orlando, Let the World See Us Sing and Dance". Newsweek. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  17. Fighting race, religion and class to find acceptance as a gay Muslim man in modern Britain, retrieved 20 April 2023
  18. How to Embrace Your Intersectionality, Jessica Kellgren-Fozard & Mohsin Zaidi: Virtual Penguin Talk, retrieved 20 April 2023
  19. Mohsin Zaidi Speaker Showreel, retrieved 20 April 2023
  20. Stonewall appoints new trustees
  21. Lathigra, Kalpesh; Khan, Aina J. (3 February 2022). "Why Claiming British Identity Is Complicated". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  22. A Mental Health Reading List (Provided By The Genre’s Leading Authors)
  23. "Not All Lawyers Have Law Degrees: Mohsin Zaidi: Let's be honest about lawyers on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  24. Financial Times
  25. Innovative Lawyers 2015
  26. Top 30 Future LGBT Leaders
  27. Stroude, Will; jane (23 December 2020). "20 best LGBTQ books of 2020". Attitude. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  28. "The Lawyer Hot 100". The Lawyer | Legal insight, benchmarking data and jobs. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  29. Polari Prize


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