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A Brief History of the End of the F*cking World
Do you feel like we're living in the end times? Does it seem like everything is on fire, and one disaster follows another?
Here's a small you're not the first to feel that way. If there's one thing that people throughout history have agreed on, it's that history wasn't going to be around for much longer.
This book is about the apocalypse, and how humans have always believed it to be very f*cking nigh. Across thousands of years, we'll meet weird cults, failed prophets and mass panics, holy warriors leading revolts in anticipation of the last days, and suburbanites waiting for aliens to rescue them from a doomed Earth. We'll journey back to the 'worst period to be alive', as the world reeled from a simultaneous pandemic and climate crisis. And we'll look to the future to ask the unnerving how might it all end?
But it's also a book about how we live in a world where catastrophe is always looming - whether it's a madman with a nuclear button or the slow burn of environmental collapse. Because when we talk about the end of the world, what we really mean is the end of our world. Our obsession with doomsday is really about our fear of it, and our desire for it, and how - ultimately - we can find hope in it.
Here's a small you're not the first to feel that way. If there's one thing that people throughout history have agreed on, it's that history wasn't going to be around for much longer.
This book is about the apocalypse, and how humans have always believed it to be very f*cking nigh. Across thousands of years, we'll meet weird cults, failed prophets and mass panics, holy warriors leading revolts in anticipation of the last days, and suburbanites waiting for aliens to rescue them from a doomed Earth. We'll journey back to the 'worst period to be alive', as the world reeled from a simultaneous pandemic and climate crisis. And we'll look to the future to ask the unnerving how might it all end?
But it's also a book about how we live in a world where catastrophe is always looming - whether it's a madman with a nuclear button or the slow burn of environmental collapse. Because when we talk about the end of the world, what we really mean is the end of our world. Our obsession with doomsday is really about our fear of it, and our desire for it, and how - ultimately - we can find hope in it.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2025
About the author
Tom Phillips
4 books121 followersTom Phillips is the editor of the fact-checking organisation, Full Fact.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 14, 2025
Instead of been a list of various doomsday cults, this book is an in depth look at the history of the apocalypse starting with the origins of doomsday thinking and explores the psychology of such thinking including what happens when doomsday fails to arrive. It finishes up with a look at some of the ways the world might actually end and how apocalyptical thinking has evolved to exploit contemporary concerns (Parts of the environmental movement are definitely doomsday cults in disguise and I suspect this is contributing to climate change denial). Despite the subject matter this book does end on a rather optimistic note.
Overall a very good look at the subject with both breath and depth. If you want an introduction to this topic, this book is a must read.
Overall a very good look at the subject with both breath and depth. If you want an introduction to this topic, this book is a must read.
August 29, 2025
I had to skip a big chunk of the middle due to boredom, but the last 30% of this book was suuuper interesting. The author analysed the history, science, politics and social commentary on possible causes of the end of the world - asteroid, epidemic, nuclear war, AI, climate change, to name a few - all with dry wit and humour at how clever yet ridiculous the human race can be.
April 7, 2025
For a book with a brazen title that in no way justifies the use of the f word, it’s a pretty damn good book. What drew me to it instantly was a fascinating idea that if there’s one thing history teaches us, it’s that since time immemorial humans have been astonishingly adept at apocalyptic predictions (the study of which, I learned, is called eschatology) but the fact that I’m here writing this review is proof enough that not one of those predictions came true.
It’s a novel way of looking at history and I was quite surprised to see the confidence with which people repeatedly claimed the world was going to end. The book covers a wide spectrum of the sources of such conviction, be it religious, political or scientific. I must admit, the religious portions demanded a lot of patience, but when I read that so many respected scientists like Galileo, Napier and others who had a strong background in astronomy were part of this club, it was amusing to say the least.
Finally, there’s a nice segue into the possible reasons the world might actually come to an end, like the Earth being hit by an asteroid (this is in itself is a nice segue to the next book I’m going to read, which is on astrophysics), populations being wiped out by an epidemic or a nuclear explosion. Don’t worry, the author allays any fears about apocalypse prophecies by making a strong case for each of these categories.
Definitely worth a shot if you’re looking for a frequently hilarious retelling of history viewed through a completely different lens.
It’s a novel way of looking at history and I was quite surprised to see the confidence with which people repeatedly claimed the world was going to end. The book covers a wide spectrum of the sources of such conviction, be it religious, political or scientific. I must admit, the religious portions demanded a lot of patience, but when I read that so many respected scientists like Galileo, Napier and others who had a strong background in astronomy were part of this club, it was amusing to say the least.
Finally, there’s a nice segue into the possible reasons the world might actually come to an end, like the Earth being hit by an asteroid (this is in itself is a nice segue to the next book I’m going to read, which is on astrophysics), populations being wiped out by an epidemic or a nuclear explosion. Don’t worry, the author allays any fears about apocalypse prophecies by making a strong case for each of these categories.
Definitely worth a shot if you’re looking for a frequently hilarious retelling of history viewed through a completely different lens.
July 11, 2025
The very existence of this book proves that YES the peoples of the world can be obsessed over the apocalypse. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it has a nice light tone and it does present a few eschatological examples of which I was unaware. An amusing diversion that will leave you shaking your head.
April 1, 2026
great book, gave me an existential crisis
June 9, 2025
The end is nigh!
It sounded like so much fun bit it wasn't. I love end of days films but this covered so much other points.
Judgement Day
Ragnarok
Everybody who has thought that the end of the world is coming. There were a lot.
Stopped reading at chapter 6.
It sounded like so much fun bit it wasn't. I love end of days films but this covered so much other points.
Judgement Day
Ragnarok
Everybody who has thought that the end of the world is coming. There were a lot.
Stopped reading at chapter 6.
April 27, 2026
I've been reading about end of the world scenarios for awhile. Nuclear war, the climate crisis, the depletion of oil reserves, etc. I find it good to know potential risks and the signs for the path we humans are taking ourselves.
The author's take is one of tidbits of history, then to give it a funny twist. Some of the tidbits I knew, especially the parts about nukes and asteroids (low probability, high impact events). Others I didn't know, even though I had read up on the Spanish invasion of the New World.
For several thousand years humans have been predicting the end of the world, but have always been wrong. Lots of the religious sects in the eastern Mediterranean were all about when the world would end. Think lots of groups trying to prove their dates are the correct ones. What's sad is a lot of people followed these cult leaders over the centuries and nothing good has come of it. A lot of people were hurt while twisting their minds to make reality fit what they believed. Except reality always kicks you in the head.
If you want to learn about the many folks who have declared a prophecy that names the exact date of when the world will be snuffed out, while laughing at the author's insights, this is a good book to have. Not too serious about a really serious topic. I found the author has an interesting way of describing the world, one that is refreshing and may allow others to learn further about history or science.
========
Quotes from the book on things I learned or fun descriptions:
The Franciscan friars who had flocked to the New World had a clear mission: to speed the Second Coming by converting the entire population of [the] new land. The same prophecies that had driven Columbus now drove the many who followed in his wake.
When you think about it, our life on this planet is profoundly tenuous. We're held captive by a vast orb of destructive horror, trapped on a ball of rock hurtling through the void in an endless loop. In the times when our particular segment of the void-rock is pointed closest to the horror-orb -- and when the plumes of vapourised liquid produced by its nuclear fury briefly dissipate -- then we say, 'It's nice out today,' and expose our torsos.
About odds of getting hit by an asteroid: Humanity plaintively crying, 'But we weren't due!' will cut zero ice with Smashy McDeathrock.
The author's take is one of tidbits of history, then to give it a funny twist. Some of the tidbits I knew, especially the parts about nukes and asteroids (low probability, high impact events). Others I didn't know, even though I had read up on the Spanish invasion of the New World.
For several thousand years humans have been predicting the end of the world, but have always been wrong. Lots of the religious sects in the eastern Mediterranean were all about when the world would end. Think lots of groups trying to prove their dates are the correct ones. What's sad is a lot of people followed these cult leaders over the centuries and nothing good has come of it. A lot of people were hurt while twisting their minds to make reality fit what they believed. Except reality always kicks you in the head.
If you want to learn about the many folks who have declared a prophecy that names the exact date of when the world will be snuffed out, while laughing at the author's insights, this is a good book to have. Not too serious about a really serious topic. I found the author has an interesting way of describing the world, one that is refreshing and may allow others to learn further about history or science.
========
Quotes from the book on things I learned or fun descriptions:
The Franciscan friars who had flocked to the New World had a clear mission: to speed the Second Coming by converting the entire population of [the] new land. The same prophecies that had driven Columbus now drove the many who followed in his wake.
When you think about it, our life on this planet is profoundly tenuous. We're held captive by a vast orb of destructive horror, trapped on a ball of rock hurtling through the void in an endless loop. In the times when our particular segment of the void-rock is pointed closest to the horror-orb -- and when the plumes of vapourised liquid produced by its nuclear fury briefly dissipate -- then we say, 'It's nice out today,' and expose our torsos.
About odds of getting hit by an asteroid: Humanity plaintively crying, 'But we weren't due!' will cut zero ice with Smashy McDeathrock.
April 22, 2026
There is a real gift in a non-fiction book that manages to come off as personable and with a lot of character without diving into irrelevant and boring autobiographical details, and Phillips managed to nail it with this one, and his decision to narrate the audiobook himself aids in that as well.
As with the best non-fiction books, I learned a lot more than I thought I knew about apocalyptic movements and the history of related conceptions, and whilst I might have expected something more linear, the formating chosen here, some based on historical accounts, others going into historical tangents when relevant ultimately worked best. Not every account was as interesting as every other, but in each case you got a sense of what was being established by the account. What's more, the humorous tone in certain moments didn't detract from the importance of what was being laid out, and I think that's because the jokes were conversational and observational, rather than attempting to shoehorn in a chosen topic to joke about.
I think the best thing one can take away from this (and certainly one of the most important points for me) is the difference between perception and reality when it comes to the end of the world as we know it. As Phillips rightly points out 'a world' ending is not an illusion when it comes to seismic change, but neither is it ever the end of the story. And when talking about modern global catastrophic risks, and even pointing out the unlikelihoods of many (I wasn't aware that fewer nuclear weapons exist today compared to the height of the Cold War, and that's nice to know) or nuancing them with detail and research, he left an important impression about how doomerist, fatalist, declinist, and pessimist the mindset that spreads an apocalypse narrative really is, and why it's important to resist it.
As with the best non-fiction books, I learned a lot more than I thought I knew about apocalyptic movements and the history of related conceptions, and whilst I might have expected something more linear, the formating chosen here, some based on historical accounts, others going into historical tangents when relevant ultimately worked best. Not every account was as interesting as every other, but in each case you got a sense of what was being established by the account. What's more, the humorous tone in certain moments didn't detract from the importance of what was being laid out, and I think that's because the jokes were conversational and observational, rather than attempting to shoehorn in a chosen topic to joke about.
I think the best thing one can take away from this (and certainly one of the most important points for me) is the difference between perception and reality when it comes to the end of the world as we know it. As Phillips rightly points out 'a world' ending is not an illusion when it comes to seismic change, but neither is it ever the end of the story. And when talking about modern global catastrophic risks, and even pointing out the unlikelihoods of many (I wasn't aware that fewer nuclear weapons exist today compared to the height of the Cold War, and that's nice to know) or nuancing them with detail and research, he left an important impression about how doomerist, fatalist, declinist, and pessimist the mindset that spreads an apocalypse narrative really is, and why it's important to resist it.
March 5, 2026
I found the book tough to read.
There was a lot of information, however it felt disordered and very biased.
The author held a heavily atheistic narrative which praised scientific rationalism and condemned any form of religious belief. There was a clear intent to paint Christians in a delirious light, using carefully selected examples to support this depiction. Not only this, but the author seemed to take great pleasure in it, evoking a sense of crude self-righteousness.
The author's writing style was overly authoritative for my liking. It is abundantly clear that the author believes (profoundly) in the power of scientific rationalism and sees religion as naive, futile, and inaccurate. This formed the underlying basis of the book, and the vast majority of the book is him taking pleasure in these negative portrayals of Christianity and trying to convince the reader as to why atheism is rationally superior.
He conveniently tip-toed around Islam, making Christianity the sole focus (I wonder why).
I enjoyed the last 50 pages or so. I would have enjoyed a book which contained more of those elements.
I think it's a shame that the author couldn't adopt a more neutral, open-minded standpoint.
There was a lot of information, however it felt disordered and very biased.
The author held a heavily atheistic narrative which praised scientific rationalism and condemned any form of religious belief. There was a clear intent to paint Christians in a delirious light, using carefully selected examples to support this depiction. Not only this, but the author seemed to take great pleasure in it, evoking a sense of crude self-righteousness.
The author's writing style was overly authoritative for my liking. It is abundantly clear that the author believes (profoundly) in the power of scientific rationalism and sees religion as naive, futile, and inaccurate. This formed the underlying basis of the book, and the vast majority of the book is him taking pleasure in these negative portrayals of Christianity and trying to convince the reader as to why atheism is rationally superior.
He conveniently tip-toed around Islam, making Christianity the sole focus (I wonder why).
I enjoyed the last 50 pages or so. I would have enjoyed a book which contained more of those elements.
I think it's a shame that the author couldn't adopt a more neutral, open-minded standpoint.
March 17, 2025
If you’ve ever wondered just how many times humanity has teetered on the brink of annihilation, A Brief History of the End of the F**ing World* is here to provide a darkly hilarious, occasionally terrifying, and strangely comforting answer: a lot. Tom Phillips takes us on a whirlwind tour of history’s near-misses, from rogue nukes and plagues to cosmic threats and human stupidity. It’s both a love letter to our resilience and a warning that we might not always be so lucky.
Phillips writes with his signature wit, balancing well-researched history with laugh-out-loud moments that make you forget you’re reading about potential doom. Some chapters feel sharper than others, and a few of the disasters blur together, but the book remains engaging throughout. It’s a perfect read for anyone who enjoys history with a side of dark humour—and who doesn’t mind being reminded that civilisation is, at best, a wobbly house of cards.
Not quite an existential crisis in book form, but definitely a reminder that we’ve survived some absolute disasters. Will we keep getting lucky? That remains to be seen.
Phillips writes with his signature wit, balancing well-researched history with laugh-out-loud moments that make you forget you’re reading about potential doom. Some chapters feel sharper than others, and a few of the disasters blur together, but the book remains engaging throughout. It’s a perfect read for anyone who enjoys history with a side of dark humour—and who doesn’t mind being reminded that civilisation is, at best, a wobbly house of cards.
Not quite an existential crisis in book form, but definitely a reminder that we’ve survived some absolute disasters. Will we keep getting lucky? That remains to be seen.
April 23, 2026
A good book is one that makes me want to read more. And this, my friends, was a GOOD book. Tom Phillips touched on so many historical subjects that piqued my interest in those topics and made me want to learn more about them.
The premise of this book is simple: The end of the world has always been "coming soon," but never seems to get here. From The Epic of Gilgamesh to the Bible to The Crusades, the plague, and even COVID-19. Phillips touches on doomsday cults, climate change and artificial intelligence. And he does it all with a well-placed tongue-in-cheek tone, both in his choice of words and how he voiced them.
There were a few parts that dragged a bit, but overall, it was 12 hours well-spent.
I see that Phillips has some other books on Audible and I'll be sure to check them out in the future.
The premise of this book is simple: The end of the world has always been "coming soon," but never seems to get here. From The Epic of Gilgamesh to the Bible to The Crusades, the plague, and even COVID-19. Phillips touches on doomsday cults, climate change and artificial intelligence. And he does it all with a well-placed tongue-in-cheek tone, both in his choice of words and how he voiced them.
There were a few parts that dragged a bit, but overall, it was 12 hours well-spent.
I see that Phillips has some other books on Audible and I'll be sure to check them out in the future.
December 19, 2025
This is good fun - a broad sweep of histories real and imagined from hundreds of millions of years in the past to the distant future, with jokes, some surprising details, and an impressive ability to find thematic connections between people separated by thousands of miles and hundreds of years. Some was familiar, much was not.
Is also a strangely optimistic book, given the subject-matter. Albeit the key takeaway for me was confirmation that Americans seem to be particularly susceptible to apocalyptic thinking, and this is not a good thing for either them or the rest of the world...
Is also a strangely optimistic book, given the subject-matter. Albeit the key takeaway for me was confirmation that Americans seem to be particularly susceptible to apocalyptic thinking, and this is not a good thing for either them or the rest of the world...
April 11, 2025
This was one of the most engaging, nuanced, and in depth history books I have read in a long time. It's also more than just history, it's an exploration of the human condition, on the why we as a species continue to develop apocalyptic thought. It's also so full of hope, for the first time in a long time I am less afraid of the world.
Perhaps we really do indeed need to pay less attention to the big apocalypse, and more attention the little apocalypses that happen every day.
Perhaps we really do indeed need to pay less attention to the big apocalypse, and more attention the little apocalypses that happen every day.
July 13, 2025
(3.5 rounded down.)
There is definitely some interesting material in this book about how human beings have, it seems, always been inclined to see the end as imminent. The problem is, there is not enough material for a book of this length. Or maybe it’s that the author doesn’t have enough to say about the material. Either way, I found the book repetitive and thus somewhat boring after about the halfway mark.
There is definitely some interesting material in this book about how human beings have, it seems, always been inclined to see the end as imminent. The problem is, there is not enough material for a book of this length. Or maybe it’s that the author doesn’t have enough to say about the material. Either way, I found the book repetitive and thus somewhat boring after about the halfway mark.
December 14, 2025
A witty look at apocalyptic thought throughout history and why it still exists today. The author dives into the end of the world and the cults that have spring up because of such thought and a brief interlude into the psychology of why it persists, despite the end never arriving when predicted. The author ends with a look at what might actual end our time on the Earth and why we seem obsessed with it.
March 23, 2025
I loved this. Instead of giving you a brief look at modern day doomsday cults, the author takes you on a journey throughout pretty much the entirety of human existence, the cosmos and beyond, in order to explain the question of why we’re so fascinated by the idea of our own demise, doomsday, and apocalypse. A really funny, dark, witty listen.
July 16, 2025
I've read and studied academic treatise on the apocalypse before and have read some serious philosophical treatise on the human tendency to imagine the end, this isn't it. This is a fun introduction to the origins, types, and failures of apocalyptic thought along with a few thoughts on possible methods of real demise. Nothing strenuous but still fun and worth a read.
September 15, 2025
Not what I was expecting, and a bit underwhelming. I was hoping for some kind of historical overview of our/my apocalyptic obsession (even if a tad humorous and flippant), but this was more a survey of apocalyptic trends and types through history that failed to delve enough into the whys and wherefores of those beliefs and fears. Intermittently entertaining and sporadically informative.
September 22, 2025
3.5 Stars.
There was a period of about a hundred pages in the middle that almost lost me. Most of the content in the mediaeval period was boring as hell. I don't know why, I've read plenty of things about and/or set in the middle ages that were fascinating, but this just struggled to hold my attention.
However, apart from that hundred-ish pages, this was funny, fascinating, and friendly.
There was a period of about a hundred pages in the middle that almost lost me. Most of the content in the mediaeval period was boring as hell. I don't know why, I've read plenty of things about and/or set in the middle ages that were fascinating, but this just struggled to hold my attention.
However, apart from that hundred-ish pages, this was funny, fascinating, and friendly.
October 4, 2025
DNF 😬
I think I’m going to give up on this author… I really loved conspiracy but every other book has missed the mark! The topics he chooses are so interesting, I can’t help but be enticed to download but they always end up being a snooze fest. I don’t know how you can take such an interesting topic and turn it into a sleep aid.
Maybe it’s just me 🤷🏽♀️
I think I’m going to give up on this author… I really loved conspiracy but every other book has missed the mark! The topics he chooses are so interesting, I can’t help but be enticed to download but they always end up being a snooze fest. I don’t know how you can take such an interesting topic and turn it into a sleep aid.
Maybe it’s just me 🤷🏽♀️
August 13, 2025
Stay away, largely incoherent and a rambling jumble of mush. Skip a line? doesn’t matter. forgo a paragraph? Hardly noticeable. Forget a page? The book maybe makes more sense.
I all honestly the last 3 chapters were good, do yourself a favour, skip the first 11, you likely wont even have noticed
I all honestly the last 3 chapters were good, do yourself a favour, skip the first 11, you likely wont even have noticed
November 10, 2025
Not my favourite Tom Phillips, which is surprising given the non-ficticious stab at the top is unique enough to garner some interest. He went about on cinematic blockbusters for far too long, and the book was uneven.
January 17, 2026
A good read and a fun way of approaching the topic. The book manages to take itself seriously without being too serious. It did read as two books (teaching about cults, and teaching about apocalypses) but it does all come together nicely.
February 13, 2026
Really good. Lots of information on several different angles. Funny, has a Mark Watney vibe in parts. Only knocked off a star as some of the longer explanations could have been condensed down and were a little repetitive
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June 11, 20254 typos
June 26, 2025
3,5/5
June 30, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. I'm new to Tom Phillips and haven't read his other books but I will definitely do that now. His book was genuinely interesting with a touch of humour and was a great read.
August 6, 2025
I found this book informative but very hard going, whereas I found Conspiracy: A History of Boll*cks Theories, and How Not to Fall for Them both informative and easy to read.
August 19, 2025
I love Tom Phillips as a writer, he always has such a fun way of recounting history. Wasn’t my favourite topic, but still a very enjoyable and knowledgeable read!!!
August 27, 2025
Too much ancient and medival stuff for my taste, yet the book still argues a compelling point (spolier incoming): it's not the end of the world.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews