SKU: 7850806753

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

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If the Oceans Were Ink: An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the QuranPULITZER 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 Power's eye opening story of how she and her longtime friend Sheikh Mohammad Akram Nadwi found a way to confront ugly stereotypes and

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 Power's eye-opening 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 friendship-between a secular American and a madrasa-trained sheikh-had 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 Quran's 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 other's worldviews, Power and Akram offer eye-opening perspectives, destroy long-held myths, and reveal startling connections between worlds that have seemed hopelessly divided for far too long.

Praise for If the Oceans Were Ink

"A 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 Post

"Journalist 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, it's fodder for discussion on the Sheikh's views, how Westerners (such as Power) interpret those views and the interplay of culture and religion." --The Denver Post

"For 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 well-meaning friends--intelligent, compassionate, and revealing--the kind that needs to be taking place around the world."--Fareed Zakaria, author of The Post-American World

"Carla Power's intimate portrait of the Quran, told with nuance and great elegance, captures the extraordinary, living debate over the Muslim holy book's very essence. A spirited, compelling read."--Azadeh Moaveni, author of Lipstick Jihad

"An 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 thought-provoking as it is elegantly written. It takes a difficult, highly charged topic and puts it into terms that are not only understandable and eye-opening, 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 Quran's 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 Islam

"A thoughtful, provocative, intelligent book."--Diana Abu-Jaber, author of Birds Of Paradise and The Language of Baklava

"With a journalist's mind for the story, a born traveler's heart for the adventure of crossing borders, and a seeker's 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



Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Holt McDougal
Published: 04/07/2015
ISBN: 9780805098198
Pages: 352
Weight: 0.60lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.50w x 0.90d
Award: National Book Awards - Finalist

Review Citations: Booklist 03/01/2015 pg. 6
Library Journal Prepub Alert 11/15/2014 pg. 65
Kirkus Reviews 01/01/2015
Publishers Weekly 01/26/2015
Library Journal 03/01/2015 pg. 92
Shelf Awareness 04/10/2015
Library Journal 11/15/2014
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SKU: 7850806753

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Giovanni Gutierrez
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
My HEAVY chewers favorite ball
It's dense and has some weight to it, can definitely get good distance when throwing and it bounces a long way. It's soft enough for my dog to chew on but tough enough that even with her destroying every toy I get her she looses these before ever tearing into them. About softball size.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2026
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Sara
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
Safe
I normally don't write reviews but these products deserve the effort! I bought 4 different black toys from this Brand and all are still intact after 6 months heavy usage by 2 aggressive chewers (a Belg Malinois & black Lab), fantastic products and unlike so many other brands promising to be indestructible, these are the first toys that were not eaten within a month. No more visits to Vet to pay for Xrays after digesting plastic or rubber from badly made toys. Highly recommended.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2026
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Kevin
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 3
NOT INDESTRUCTIBLE
NOT INDESTRUCTIBLE
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Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2026
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Gayle
Draper, US
★★★★★ 5
My puppy LOVEs this ball
Color: Glow in the dark I, Size: Medium
I saw someone recommend this ball in a facebook group. I ordered the first one and it is now sitting somewhere under my deck and I can't find it. My dog loved it so much I had to order a second one. I think the fact there are so many tabs it makes it easy for him to grab it and run so very functional. He doesn't always like to share. The glow in the dark ability I would rate that good at all. The rest of the ball is good quality and holds up well against my aggressive chewer. Its easy to throw or kick. It isn't super hard but is holds it shape well. My dog is about 8 months old and is a mini goldendoodle. I think he was about 18lbs in the video. Perfect size for him. I would definitely recommend, I think your dog would love it!
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Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2025
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Cover
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
Corgi goes crazy for this ball
Six months now, still five stars. It is still easily our Corgi’s favorite ball & she still enjoys it all kinds of ways. Rather than tiring of it she likes it even more. She really likes the tabs that make it so easy to grab & hold onto. The ball is all roughed up & torn up still but held up well & has not had to be pumped back up at all. As others noted a small manual ball pump, about 10” with i think 3 different attachments, is included with each order. The glow in the dark stuff is apparently a coating of some kind which has been totally rubbed off. I used an art pen with glow liquid to trace the pattern on the ball for a glow refresh, we’ll see how long that lasts. It is hard to find toys she likes that much, i highly recommend! Our Welsh Corgi goes nuts for this slightly smaller size soccer ball. She had a full-sized ball that we left slightly deflated so she could run with it. This one is even better than i ever would’ve guessed it would be! The tabs, including a longer tab useful as a handle for humans, make it easy for her to grab it or run all over playing keep away with it. Not interested in herding this ball when she can run all over the yard with it or carry it everywhere with her. She’s a super strong chewer in spite of being small so it is extra durable by our tough standards & it appears that it will last at least a year im guessing. Quality materials & craftsmanship. It’s held up over a month - roughed up but not excessively. The glow in the dark feature is not as bright as the photos - don’t buy it just for that - but it glows some given enough daytime sun, and a dark night so the glow can show. Only the top side of the ball that’s facing up can absorb the sunlight at a time so it’s unlikely that the entire ball could get the amount of sunlight needed to glow brightly all at once. All and all this is the best, most well used toy purchased for her during her one year with us, well worth the $$ and recommend buying it if your pet enjoys balls, keep away, herding, and/or fetch, anything like that. She also likes to hide it from me, just the right size for that.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2023

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