I had downloaded this some time ago and yesterday while decluttering my PC it fell into my view and I was compelled to start reading it. 

Edit: just read this powerful bit: 

" There are more fake gurus and false teachers in this world than the number of stars in the visible universe. Don’t confuse power-driven, selfcentered people with true mentors. A genuine spiritual master will not direct your attention to himself or herself and will not expect absolute obedience or utter admiration from you, but instead will help you to appreciate and admire your inner self. True mentors are as transparent as glass. They let the Light of God pass through them.”

Shafak will challenge Paulo Coelho's dominance. With its timely, thought-provoking message . . . The Forty Rules of Love deserves to be a global publishing phenomenon ― Independent

Shafak's novel The Forty Rules of Love (Aşk in Turkish) became a bestseller in Turkey, on its release it sold more than 200,000 copies by 2009, surpassing a previous record of 120,000 copies set by Orhan Pamuk's The New Life.

In France, it was awarded a Prix ALEF* – Mention Spéciale Littérature Etrangère

It was also nominated for the 2012 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.

In 2019, it was listed by the BBC as one of the 100 "most inspiring" novels and one of the "100 novels that shaped our world".

Elif Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish novelist and the most widely read female author in Turkey. She writes in both Turkish and English, and has published seventeen books, eleven of which are novels. Her work has been translated into fifty languages. Shafak holds a PhD in political science and she has taught at various universities in Turkey, the US and the UK, including St Anne's College, Oxford University, where she is an honorary fellow. She is a member of World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Creative Economy and a founding member of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). An advocate for women's rights, LGBT rights and freedom of speech, Shafak is an inspiring public speaker and twice a TED global speaker, each time receiving a standing ovation. Shafak contributes to many major publications around the world and she has been awarded the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. In 2017 she was chosen by Politico as one of the twelve people who would make the world better. She has judged numerous literary prizes and is chairing the Wellcome Prize 2019. Find out more about Elif Shafak on her website: www.elifshafak.com

When I read the about the authors WEF connection I was not sure if I would still want to read it, but I will. I love Rumi. And this came to me, so open heart, and open eyes and open ears it will be for me