This is a fascinating exploration of apocalyptic thinking and belief, and what it can tell us about our past, present, and future. Over the past 15 years, apocalyptic anticipation has leapt from its cultish roots firmly into the mainstream - research shows that up to 6 out of 10 American adults believe the events foretold in the "Book of Revelation" will come true. But it's not just the Christian Right that is becoming obsessed with the end of the world - secular readers hungry for catastrophe news have propelled books about peak oil, global warming, and the end of civilization into bestsellers across the globe. The "Last Myth" combines history, current events, and psychological and cultural analysis to explore the origins of apocalyptic thinking, why apocalyptic belief is now surging into the mainstream, and what it can teach us about the very real global crises we are facing in the 21st century.
