HATRED'S KINGDOM

Most books that examine the causes of terrorism consider only its modern roots. Dore Gold, however, examines the development of Wahhabism, a radical branch of Islam that has fomented the fanatical views that led to events such as the 9/11 attacks. Gold explains how the government of Saudi Arabia has countenanced the leaders of Wahhabism by aligning itself with the movement and heavily funding its terrorist activities. Nadia May is an unusual choice to narrate; as the book is written by a man, one expects a masculine narrator. But May’s soft-spoken, sweetly accented voice is well suited to the material. She reads with a calm that allows the listener to concentrate on the material, which offers a fascinating, seldom heard perspective on the history and growth of terrorism. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 04]