'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
