Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms: Journeys into the Disappearing Religions of the Middle East

Former diplomat Russell pulls from his diverse experiences to create this fascinating and compelling look at members of minority faiths in the Middle East, including Mandeans, Yazidis, Zoroastrians, Druze, Samaritans, Copts, and Kalasha. Although Islam was historically protective of smaller "religions of the book," the rise of militant extremist sects has seen these other religions come under fire and face possible extinction. Russell deftly intertwines personal stories of his travels with historical sources, interviews, and contemporary news to illustrate the challenging political and cultural environment that members of these communities face. The result is a book that strikes a perfect balance between academic history and evocative memoir—an accomplished feat. Narration by Michael Page gives the book a smooth, conversational flow, allowing listeners to relax into Russell's expressive writing style.