End Is Nigh: False Prophets, Doomsday Cults, and the Secret History of Our Obsession with the Apocalypse

From culture writer Mark Hill comes an entertaining, all-encompassing account of the history of the end of the world, uncovering just why humanity continues to be obsessed with the apocalypse.

Has the end of the world always been just around the corner? From biblical prophecies to zombie outbreaks, from medieval plagues to modern fears of nuclear war, pandemics, and technological collapse, humanity has long been obsessed with predicting its own demise. This sweeping and engrossing cultural history explores that obsession, tracing the most bizarre, captivating, and consequential apocalyptic movements across time.

Through a series of vivid and engaging narratives, The End is Nigh uncovers both infamous predictions and little-known doomsday cults, shedding new light on the moments when people were convinced the world was about to end. Along the way, it reveals why these beliefs take hold, examining the cultural events, political upheavals, and collective fears that make apocalyptic thinking feel not just plausible, but inevitable.

At its core, this is a story about why every generation believes it may be the last. By connecting centuries of prophecy, panic, and prediction, Hill shows how our visions of the end reflect our deepest anxieties about the present, offering a compelling framework for understanding both history and our current moment.