A lot of books promise to tell you how history shaped the present, but On Earth or in Poems is something special: it tells you exactly HOW this happens. This book shows you how cultures listen to each other across time, how we hear and interpret stories, and—most importantly—how we make use of these stories to build our futures. Calderwood is too clever to believe that al-Andalus means just one thing. On Earth or in Poems follows five different stories that intersect and ricochet off each other in surprising ways: the stories of al-Andalus in Arabic literature, Amazigh literature and culture, in feminist history, in musical traditions such as flamenco and hip hop, and in Palestinian history and literature. Calderwood tells each of these stories with nuance and sophistication. His book is based on virtuosic research in multiple languages, and on cultural texts ranging from street art to political history, Moroccan hip hop to Palestinian poetry. And yet, Calderwood’s stories are riveting--written with humor, soul, and style. This book will, of course, be interesting to anyone who is curious about Al-Andalus: the more-than-700 years of Muslim rule in what is now Spain and Portugal. The book will appeal to everyone who is curious about the history of Spain, Morocco, the Middle East, or the Mediterranean. But I’m not a specialist in any of these things. On Earth or in Poems is a book for everyone. I love this book, and I find myself thinking all the time about its sharp details and its complex, generous outlook on the world. The book teaches us that history—just like our future—is ours to make.

A lot of books promise to tell you how history shaped the present, but On Earth or in Poems is something special: it tells you exactly HOW this happens. This book shows you how cultures listen to each other across time, how we hear and interpret stories, and—most importantly—how we make use of these stories to build our futures. Calderwood is too clever to believe that al-Andalus means just one thing. On Earth or in Poems follows five different stories that intersect and ricochet off each other in surprising ways: the stories of al-Andalus in Arabic literature, Amazigh literature and culture, in feminist history, in musical traditions such as flamenco and hip hop, and in Palestinian history and literature. Calderwood tells each of these stories with nuance and sophistication. His book is based on virtuosic research in multiple languages, and on cultural texts ranging from street art to political history, Moroccan hip hop to Palestinian poetry. And yet, Calderwood’s stories are riveting--written with humor, soul, and style. This book will, of course, be interesting to anyone who is curious about Al-Andalus: the more-than-700 years of Muslim rule in what is now Spain and Portugal. The book will appeal to everyone who is curious about the history of Spain, Morocco, the Middle East, or the Mediterranean. But I’m not a specialist in any of these things. On Earth or in Poems is a book for everyone. I love this book, and I find myself thinking all the time about its sharp details and its complex, generous outlook on the world. The book teaches us that history—just like our future—is ours to make.

A lot of books promise to tell you how history shaped the present, but On Earth or in Poems is something special: it tells you exactly HOW this happens. This book shows you how cultures listen to each other across time, how we hear and interpret stories, and—most importantly—how we make use of these stories to build our futures. Calderwood is too clever to believe that al-Andalus means just one thing. On Earth or in Poems follows five different stories that intersect and ricochet off each other in surprising ways: the stories of al-Andalus in Arabic literature, Amazigh literature and culture, in feminist history, in musical traditions such as flamenco and hip hop, and in Palestinian history and literature. Calderwood tells each of these stories with nuance and sophistication. His book is based on virtuosic research in multiple languages, and on cultural texts ranging from street art to political history, Moroccan hip hop to Palestinian poetry. And yet, Calderwood’s stories are riveting--written with humor, soul, and style. This book will, of course, be interesting to anyone who is curious about Al-Andalus: the more-than-700 years of Muslim rule in what is now Spain and Portugal. The book will appeal to everyone who is curious about the history of Spain, Morocco, the Middle East, or the Mediterranean. But I’m not a specialist in any of these things. On Earth or in Poems is a book for everyone. I love this book, and I find myself thinking all the time about its sharp details and its complex, generous outlook on the world. The book teaches us that history—just like our future—is ours to make.

Eric Calderwood's writing style is accessible, thought-provoking, and enthralling. As an individual coming to the book without previous education on Al-Andalus, I cherished the vibrant storytelling and coherent explanations that made me included and able to absorb the material from where I was at. I found the epilogue to be a particularly remarkable chapter, which educated me on the evolution of narratives surrounding the history of the Mosque--Cathedral of Cordoba. I felt that this chapter was absolutely vital to read before seeing the site in person, and I'm grateful to have had the chance to do so. The history of Al-Andalus is brought to life by Eric Calderwood, and I can genuinely say that his writing has inspired me to want to continue learning about it.

Eric Calderwood's writing style is accessible, thought-provoking, and enthralling. As an individual coming to the book without previous education on Al-Andalus, I cherished the vibrant storytelling and coherent explanations that made me included and able to absorb the material from where I was at. I found the epilogue to be a particularly remarkable chapter, which educated me on the evolution of narratives surrounding the history of the Mosque--Cathedral of Cordoba. I felt that this chapter was absolutely vital to read before seeing the site in person, and I'm grateful to have had the chance to do so. The history of Al-Andalus is brought to life by Eric Calderwood, and I can genuinely say that his writing has inspired me to want to continue learning about it.