‘Superb … entertaining … Phillips traverses this sprawling terrain with energy and charm’ Telegraph
‘Exceptionally funny from cover to cover, it is not only an entertaining read but also deeply researched and thoughtful’ Irish Independent
‘Fans of Phillips’s earlier books Humans and Truth will be pleased that the ex-BuzzFeed editor is on form, not letting the grimness of his subject spoil his gagsmithery’ Guardian
‘A great read … [Phillips] fills his timeline of unfilled apocalypses with wry humour’ New Scientist
Do you feel like we’re living in the end times? Does it seem like everything is on fire? That one disaster follows another?
Here’s some comforting news: you’re not the first to feel that way. If there’s one thing that people throughout history have agreed on, it’s that the end of the world has always been very f*cking nigh.
This book is about the apocalypse, and the many ways we’ve incorrectly predicted that the world would end. From ancient times to the modern day, it’s a tale of weird cults, failed prophets and bored suburbanites waiting for aliens to rescue them . . . plus one very unfortunate chicken.
But why are we obsessed with a prediction that hasn’t ever come true? (. . .Yet). And after 3,000 years of getting it wrong, how can we learn to live in a world which feels like it could all burn down tomorrow?
Praise for the Brief History series:
‘Uproarious . . . Abundant good humour’ The Times
‘Witty, entertaining and slightly distressing… You should probably read it’ Sarah Knight, author of The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck
‘Brilliant. Utterly, utterly brilliant’ Jeremy Clarkson
‘Very funny’ Mark Watson
‘Both readable and entertaining’ Telegraph
‘Exceptionally funny from cover to cover, it is not only an entertaining read but also deeply researched and thoughtful’ Irish Independent
‘Fans of Phillips’s earlier books Humans and Truth will be pleased that the ex-BuzzFeed editor is on form, not letting the grimness of his subject spoil his gagsmithery’ Guardian
‘A great read … [Phillips] fills his timeline of unfilled apocalypses with wry humour’ New Scientist
Do you feel like we’re living in the end times? Does it seem like everything is on fire? That one disaster follows another?
Here’s some comforting news: you’re not the first to feel that way. If there’s one thing that people throughout history have agreed on, it’s that the end of the world has always been very f*cking nigh.
This book is about the apocalypse, and the many ways we’ve incorrectly predicted that the world would end. From ancient times to the modern day, it’s a tale of weird cults, failed prophets and bored suburbanites waiting for aliens to rescue them . . . plus one very unfortunate chicken.
But why are we obsessed with a prediction that hasn’t ever come true? (. . .Yet). And after 3,000 years of getting it wrong, how can we learn to live in a world which feels like it could all burn down tomorrow?
Praise for the Brief History series:
‘Uproarious . . . Abundant good humour’ The Times
‘Witty, entertaining and slightly distressing… You should probably read it’ Sarah Knight, author of The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck
‘Brilliant. Utterly, utterly brilliant’ Jeremy Clarkson
‘Very funny’ Mark Watson
‘Both readable and entertaining’ Telegraph
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Reviews
A great read ... [Phillips] fills his timeline of unfulfilled apocalypses with wry humour and keeps the queue of plagues and judgements accessible.
Superb ... entertaining ... Phillips traverses this sprawling terrain with energy and charm.
[A] topically valuable corrective for those who think - what with Gaza, Ukraine, floods, firestorms and fools with their fingers on world-ending buttons - we are indeed in the end times and should descend into our silos or colonise Mars ... Fans of Phillips's earlier books Humans: A Brief History of How we F*cked It All Up and Truth: A Brief History of Total Bullsh*t will be pleased that the ex-BuzzFeed editor is on form, not letting the grimness of his subject spoil his gagsmithery.
Exceptionally funny from cover to cover, it is not only an entertaining read but also deeply researched and thoughtful [. . .] his research is meticulous, and he lays it out with precision [. . .] What sets Phillips apart from other historical writers is his ability to mix academic research with comedy. He never simply presents historical facts; he delivers them with wit, sarcasm and a deep understanding of human absurdity. His writing allows for the historical details to be engaging, and his voice shines through every word.