I get the author's point, and it is valid from a certain perspective. That perspective is essentially a very disassociated one. A perspective of trying to find a talking point there one doesn't really exist. we all know a book cannot speak. Most reverts from Christianity to Islam still understand the benefits mentioned in the Bible, because we can read it. The first commandment given to Mouhammed (PBUH) by Gabriel (PBUH) is to read, but why? (I'm switching to a broader commentary) The Quran is a verbal revelation (Much like a lot of the Torah). The Quran is maintained as a verbal tradition alongside a written one. But Mouhammed (PBUH) never needed to read to understand it, so why command him to read? Of course this could be as simple as maintaining the fact the he could not read, or it could be as profound as saying that God's word needs to be read and analyzed to reveal more wisdom contained.
