If the Oceans Were Ink: An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Quran

PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST Named A Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post and The Denver Post Praised by Fareed Zakaria as intelligent, compassionate, and revealing, a powerful journey to help bridge one of the greatest divides shaping our world today.If the Oceans Were Ink is Carla Powers eyeopening story of how she and her longtime friend Sheikh Mohammad Akram Nadwi found a way to confront ugly stereotypes and persistent misperceptions that were cleaving their communities. Their friendshipbetween a secular American and a madrasatrained sheikhhad always seemed unlikely, but now they were frustrated and bewildered by the battles being fought in their names. Both knew that a close look at the Quran would reveal a faith that preached peace and not mass murder; respect for women and not oppression. And so they embarked on a yearlong journey through the controversial text.A journalist who grew up in the Midwest and the Middle East, Power offers her unique vantage point on the Qurans most provocative verses as she debates with Akram at cafes, family gatherings, and packed lecture halls, conversations filled with both good humor and powerful insights. Their story takes them to madrasas in India and pilgrimage sites in Mecca, as they encounter politicians and jihadis, feminist activists and conservative scholars. Armed with a new understanding of each others worldviews, Power and Akram offer eyeopening perspectives, destroy longheld myths, and reveal startling connections between worlds that have seemed hopelessly divided for far too long.Praise for If the Oceans Were InkA vibrant tale of a friendship.... If the Oceans Were Ink is a welcome and nuanced look at Islam [and] goes a long way toward combating the dehumanizing stereotypes of Muslims that are all too common. If the Oceans Were Ink should be mandatory reading for the 52 percent of Americans who admit to not knowing enough about Muslims.The Washington PostJournalist Power writes about her year studying the Quran with a Muslim scholar she befriended while working at a think tank in London. For some, this will be a strong introduction to Islam. To others, its fodder for discussion on the Sheikhs views, how Westerners (such as Power) interpret those views and the interplay of culture and religion. The Denver PostFor all those who wonder what Islam says about war and peace, men and women, Jews and gentiles, this is the book to read. It is a conversation among wellmeaning friendsintelligent, compassionate, and revealingthe kind that needs to be taking place around the world.Fareed Zakaria, author of The PostAmerican WorldCarla Powers intimate portrait of the Quran, told with nuance and great elegance, captures the extraordinary, living debate over the Muslim holy books very essence. A spirited, compelling read.Azadeh Moaveni, author of Lipstick JihadAn inspiring story of two [people] from different worlds who refuse to let religious and cultural differences, prejudice, and ignorance get in the way of their friendship, If the Oceans Were Ink is as thoughtprovoking as it is elegantly written. It takes a difficult, highly charged topic and puts it into terms that are not only understandable and eyeopening, but beautiful.Bustle (11 Beautifully Written Memoirs by Women)Unique, masterful, and deeply engaging. Carla Power takes the reader on an extraordinary journey in interfaith understanding as she debates and discovers the Qurans message, meaning, and values on peace and violence, gender and veiling, religious pluralism and tolerance.John L. Esposito, University Professor and Professor of Islamic Studies, Georgetown University, and author of The Future of IslamA thoughtful, provocative, intelligent book.Diana AbuJaber, author of Birds Of Paradise and The Language of BaklavaWith a journalists mind for the story, a born travelers heart for the adventure of crossing borders, and a seekers yen for the poetry and mysticism of belief, Power creates an exceptional record of a timeless quest.Merritt Tierce, a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree and author of Love Me Back