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How to Survive the End of the World: A Graphic Exploration of How to (Maybe) Avoid Extinction
"Brilliant; at once terrifying and fascinating." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
In a full-color debut, a graphic novelist takes an engrossing, gleefully existential deep dive into the many ways that humanity could—and almost did—meet its end.
Since 99.9 percent of all species that have lived are extinct, it’s bound to be our turn eventually, right? So what’s most likely to kill us? A well-timed asteroid? Some new robot overlords? With wit and dry humor, debut graphic novelist Katy Doughty blends science and history to explore our chances of surviving disasters such as plagues, global warming, and alien invasion. Drawing on interviews with experts in fields like infectious diseases, AI, and interplanetary exploration, she combines cutting-edge research with compelling visuals: mugshots of the deadliest microbes, graphs of the winners and losers of mass extinction events, and a whole lot of dinosaur drawings. For apocalypse aficionados, the morbidly curious, and the just plain curious, this is your antidote to existential dread—a timely, imaginative, and ultimately hopeful take on humankind’s ability to survive the odds.
In a full-color debut, a graphic novelist takes an engrossing, gleefully existential deep dive into the many ways that humanity could—and almost did—meet its end.
Since 99.9 percent of all species that have lived are extinct, it’s bound to be our turn eventually, right? So what’s most likely to kill us? A well-timed asteroid? Some new robot overlords? With wit and dry humor, debut graphic novelist Katy Doughty blends science and history to explore our chances of surviving disasters such as plagues, global warming, and alien invasion. Drawing on interviews with experts in fields like infectious diseases, AI, and interplanetary exploration, she combines cutting-edge research with compelling visuals: mugshots of the deadliest microbes, graphs of the winners and losers of mass extinction events, and a whole lot of dinosaur drawings. For apocalypse aficionados, the morbidly curious, and the just plain curious, this is your antidote to existential dread—a timely, imaginative, and ultimately hopeful take on humankind’s ability to survive the odds.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published March 31, 2026
About the author
Katy Doughty
2 books16 followersI'm a California-born, Texas-bred, New-England-educated designer and illustrator living in Boston. I hold a BFA. in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design and am an MPH candidate at Boston University School of Public Health. I’m particularly interested in the intersection between visual communication, research, and healthcare. You can see some of my work in The Nib, Lily Magazine, and in anthologies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 11, 2026
Well, I guess that I should have figured this was going to be optimistic by the title. I feel like the author tries to look for the most optimistic outcome for things that could make humanity go extinct. She considers plagues and pandemics, deadly blasts, climate meltdowns, killer machines, falling skies, and cosmic collapse and tries to decide when or if they're possible. It's a graphic novel that's meant to be educational and entertaining at the same time. But it's interesting seeing her go off on tangents about saving the world from climate disaster when we're ultimately all doomed anyway as the sun dies. Anyhow, I guess it was interesting enough, but her explanations and conclusions didn't always seem quite right based on things I've read elsewhere. She also states several thing as fact that are theory, but I guess that's okay. Although, maybe it's just because there's not enough space to go into that much detail. And I'm certainly not an expert. I think, though, that we sometimes tend to latch onto the theories that we hear first or the one that suits our narrative. And it's all speculation anyway.
April 7, 2026
All is lost. (This book was great). But humans have really bungled this one.
April 28, 2026
Interesting things to ponder. Crucial things to initiate action.
April 28, 2026
While this book is aimed at teens, I think that anyone with an interest in science and the many different ways in which the world could end will gain a lot from this well-researched and innovatively drawn volume.
Never has the end of life as we know it been depicted in such a warmly realistic manner. Katy Doughty examines all the different science-based ways in which the end of the world has captured the human imagination in recent years -- with a quick nod to the end times prophesied by various faiths and cultures over the centuries -- and discusses their likelihood in a level-headed manner. She not only draws on established research but also consults with various scientists and activists who make excellent cameos here as they talk about their areas of expertise, whether they be in epidemiology, anthropology, climate justice or more.
Critically, Ms Doughty doesn't just talk about a global extermination event for humanity, but also about the kind of rapid, destabilizing change that would mean the death of our old ways of life and the emergence of something new, strange and not necessarily for the better... but also not necessarily for the worse. That said, the interview with Dr Lawrence Gross regarding the trauma of such devastating change is really excellently done, both in how sorrowful it made me feel for the past and how hopeful it made me feel for the future.
And that's basically the thesis of this book, that no matter what happens, human beings have already and always shown extraordinary resilience, and that our history to date is a powerful testament to who we are as a species. We're not perfect, and we have done some truly terrible things to each other. But in a world with no guarantees, the fact that we've also done amazing things and, perhaps even more importantly, that we persist in doing good is perhaps enough, if not to justify our ongoing survival outright, then as an epitaph on a worthwhile existence in the face of inevitability.
Anyway, the bulk of the book is divided into chapters on the main ways in which the world could end. Plagues And Pandemics, Deadly Blasts, Climate Meltdown, Killer Machines, Falling Skies and Cosmic Collapse all get their evaluations, in addition to explanations of how scientists, activists and everyday people are working to prevent these final curtains. For a book on such grim topics -- each scenario is extrapolated and described logically from current events -- it is tremendously upbeat, and neither in a utilitarian nor a cynical manner. It is actually one of the best representatives of the hopepunk movement in non-fiction format that I've ever read, particularly in the way it believes that communities have the power to shape recognizably happy and prosperous continuing futures for all humanity.
I really needed to read this book when I did, and I think it will resonate with plenty of other readers, too. Highly recommended, both for the intellectual content and the humanistic way that Ms Doughty renders it in both text and imagery.
How To Survive The End Of The World by Katy Doughty was published March 31 2026 by MITeen Press and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
This review first appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
Never has the end of life as we know it been depicted in such a warmly realistic manner. Katy Doughty examines all the different science-based ways in which the end of the world has captured the human imagination in recent years -- with a quick nod to the end times prophesied by various faiths and cultures over the centuries -- and discusses their likelihood in a level-headed manner. She not only draws on established research but also consults with various scientists and activists who make excellent cameos here as they talk about their areas of expertise, whether they be in epidemiology, anthropology, climate justice or more.
Critically, Ms Doughty doesn't just talk about a global extermination event for humanity, but also about the kind of rapid, destabilizing change that would mean the death of our old ways of life and the emergence of something new, strange and not necessarily for the better... but also not necessarily for the worse. That said, the interview with Dr Lawrence Gross regarding the trauma of such devastating change is really excellently done, both in how sorrowful it made me feel for the past and how hopeful it made me feel for the future.
And that's basically the thesis of this book, that no matter what happens, human beings have already and always shown extraordinary resilience, and that our history to date is a powerful testament to who we are as a species. We're not perfect, and we have done some truly terrible things to each other. But in a world with no guarantees, the fact that we've also done amazing things and, perhaps even more importantly, that we persist in doing good is perhaps enough, if not to justify our ongoing survival outright, then as an epitaph on a worthwhile existence in the face of inevitability.
Anyway, the bulk of the book is divided into chapters on the main ways in which the world could end. Plagues And Pandemics, Deadly Blasts, Climate Meltdown, Killer Machines, Falling Skies and Cosmic Collapse all get their evaluations, in addition to explanations of how scientists, activists and everyday people are working to prevent these final curtains. For a book on such grim topics -- each scenario is extrapolated and described logically from current events -- it is tremendously upbeat, and neither in a utilitarian nor a cynical manner. It is actually one of the best representatives of the hopepunk movement in non-fiction format that I've ever read, particularly in the way it believes that communities have the power to shape recognizably happy and prosperous continuing futures for all humanity.
I really needed to read this book when I did, and I think it will resonate with plenty of other readers, too. Highly recommended, both for the intellectual content and the humanistic way that Ms Doughty renders it in both text and imagery.
How To Survive The End Of The World by Katy Doughty was published March 31 2026 by MITeen Press and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
This review first appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“Even if it will end, ours is a world that calls for living.”
Because of humans, many forms of life have become extinct; yet someday, we too will share this fate. This morbid thinking begs the question: what exactly would this extinction look like? Using expert interviews, facts, and a keen sense of humor, Doughty paints us detailed pictures of this cataclysmic reality. This graphic novel takes the reader on a journey through time, showcasing all the possible—and impossible—doomsday scenarios for the world we call home. From pandemics to volcanoes, nuclear blasts, climate calamities, artificial intelligence, falling space rocks, or the universe’s total collapse, this graphic novel captures all the various ways we can meet our end. Even so, humanity’s ending isn’t set in stone. Doughty’s novel remains resiliently hopeful: a call to action for what we can do about what happens next.
While we’ve all personally experienced the signs of this end-of-the-world future with climate change and the tragedy of COVID-19, our imagining of this reality remains ever-shifting and uncertain. Understandably, this can be overwhelming; I know it has been for me these past couple of years. So what Doughty does in this graphic novel is illuminate all these different possibilities through insightful research as well as compassionate wisdom. It’s evident throughout the novel that Doughty has a deep love for humanity, whether it's our shared history or the legacy we leave behind. Despite the existential dread this particular subject matter inspires, I appreciated how the novel reinforces the ways in which we can positively change or come to terms with these endings. It illustrates how powerful hope, courage, and resolve are when facing these doomsday futures, but also that some concerns are, frankly, inevitable. In this respect, Doughty deftly balances care with seriousness. Not only does she explain scientific concepts and histories in an accessible way for the curious layman, but she also captivates readers with bold, colorful illustrations to supplement the nonfiction. Ultimately, this graphic novel was an enlightening read—perfect for anyone who’s anxious about the end of the world.
How to Survive the End of the World: A Graphic Exploration of How to (Maybe) Avoid Extinction releases on March 31st, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and MITeen Press for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
Because of humans, many forms of life have become extinct; yet someday, we too will share this fate. This morbid thinking begs the question: what exactly would this extinction look like? Using expert interviews, facts, and a keen sense of humor, Doughty paints us detailed pictures of this cataclysmic reality. This graphic novel takes the reader on a journey through time, showcasing all the possible—and impossible—doomsday scenarios for the world we call home. From pandemics to volcanoes, nuclear blasts, climate calamities, artificial intelligence, falling space rocks, or the universe’s total collapse, this graphic novel captures all the various ways we can meet our end. Even so, humanity’s ending isn’t set in stone. Doughty’s novel remains resiliently hopeful: a call to action for what we can do about what happens next.
While we’ve all personally experienced the signs of this end-of-the-world future with climate change and the tragedy of COVID-19, our imagining of this reality remains ever-shifting and uncertain. Understandably, this can be overwhelming; I know it has been for me these past couple of years. So what Doughty does in this graphic novel is illuminate all these different possibilities through insightful research as well as compassionate wisdom. It’s evident throughout the novel that Doughty has a deep love for humanity, whether it's our shared history or the legacy we leave behind. Despite the existential dread this particular subject matter inspires, I appreciated how the novel reinforces the ways in which we can positively change or come to terms with these endings. It illustrates how powerful hope, courage, and resolve are when facing these doomsday futures, but also that some concerns are, frankly, inevitable. In this respect, Doughty deftly balances care with seriousness. Not only does she explain scientific concepts and histories in an accessible way for the curious layman, but she also captivates readers with bold, colorful illustrations to supplement the nonfiction. Ultimately, this graphic novel was an enlightening read—perfect for anyone who’s anxious about the end of the world.
How to Survive the End of the World: A Graphic Exploration of How to (Maybe) Avoid Extinction releases on March 31st, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and MITeen Press for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I have mixed feelings about this book. Firstly, I don't care for graphic novels, etc. As a child I did love the comic books and the Sunday newspaper comics section. But those days are past. However, I do concede that there is a certain attention-grabbing quality to a graphic book or story, and I also acknowledge that the genre is actually "genre spanning" and can be a useful tool to get reluctant readers to read or to educate interestingly about the mundane.
So where does How to Survive the End of the World......" fit into the mold of genre, interest, educate, or entertain? This quality hardcover book begins with early Earth's existence and events that geology has preserved. A look at plagues that nearly wiped out broad swaths of mankind and onto modern man's creation of tools that could potentially destroy mankind and any form of life on Earth. So the book has a bit of history, and bit of education, a lot of caution, some encouragement, and tid-bits of "how to survive" tucked into the pages.
The comics, or should I say "illustrations," are done creatively and will forge images in the reader's mind without terrifyingly raw reality.
A product of MIT Teen Press, the intellectual quality of content promises to be worth delving into and is such that will engage children with bright, questioning minds.
Having recently experienced the Covid Pandemic and the isolation, fear, alarm that ensued, readers will appreciate the part of this book that covers pandemics and plagues throughout history and how mankind survived - often with great loss. They'll get a glimpse into solutions and pros and cons of fighting disease.
Readers will take a look at current concern many have of machines, technology, robots taking over mankind. Then there is a look at present fears and past events of when huge chunks of rock (meteors and meteorites) fall from the sky and devastate the land. These are very present fears and the book takes a reassuring look at such.
"It takes courage to imagine the end of the world--an even more courage to try to change the ending." [pg. 224, How to Survive the End of the World: A Graphic Exploration of How to (Maybe) Avoid Extinction]
I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
So where does How to Survive the End of the World......" fit into the mold of genre, interest, educate, or entertain? This quality hardcover book begins with early Earth's existence and events that geology has preserved. A look at plagues that nearly wiped out broad swaths of mankind and onto modern man's creation of tools that could potentially destroy mankind and any form of life on Earth. So the book has a bit of history, and bit of education, a lot of caution, some encouragement, and tid-bits of "how to survive" tucked into the pages.
The comics, or should I say "illustrations," are done creatively and will forge images in the reader's mind without terrifyingly raw reality.
A product of MIT Teen Press, the intellectual quality of content promises to be worth delving into and is such that will engage children with bright, questioning minds.
Having recently experienced the Covid Pandemic and the isolation, fear, alarm that ensued, readers will appreciate the part of this book that covers pandemics and plagues throughout history and how mankind survived - often with great loss. They'll get a glimpse into solutions and pros and cons of fighting disease.
Readers will take a look at current concern many have of machines, technology, robots taking over mankind. Then there is a look at present fears and past events of when huge chunks of rock (meteors and meteorites) fall from the sky and devastate the land. These are very present fears and the book takes a reassuring look at such.
"It takes courage to imagine the end of the world--an even more courage to try to change the ending." [pg. 224, How to Survive the End of the World: A Graphic Exploration of How to (Maybe) Avoid Extinction]
I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
November 16, 2025
How to Survive the End of the World by Katy Doughty hits just the right mix of informative, panic-reducing, and call to action. Ideal if you feel a little overwhelmed at times.
What worked for me was the way she didn't downplay some of the major concerns many people have but placed them in perspective. Some of the things that can worry people excessively both have slim odds and are mostly out of our control, so be aware but don't over-stress over them. Some things (such as climate change and potential future pandemics) are more likely but are also things we can actually do something about. By helping to educate readers and offer directions for any activism and/or beneficial actions, Doughty has given us a book that can help us feel just a little less like the end of the world (as we know it) is right around the corner and a little more empowered to do what we can about the things we might actually be able to have some impact.
I also think this would be a good book for parents to discuss with their children. I won't venture a guess at what age, you know your child's stress and knowledge level better than I do, but a conversation that would help them to not be spooked when alarmists are shouting their end-of-times predictions (which seem to keep being wrong but their flocks keep buying into their lies) can only help.
Recommended for those readers who find themselves periodically overwhelmed by multiple seemingly unavoidable existential crises even though they know that even as bad as it is it isn't quite that bad (yet).
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
What worked for me was the way she didn't downplay some of the major concerns many people have but placed them in perspective. Some of the things that can worry people excessively both have slim odds and are mostly out of our control, so be aware but don't over-stress over them. Some things (such as climate change and potential future pandemics) are more likely but are also things we can actually do something about. By helping to educate readers and offer directions for any activism and/or beneficial actions, Doughty has given us a book that can help us feel just a little less like the end of the world (as we know it) is right around the corner and a little more empowered to do what we can about the things we might actually be able to have some impact.
I also think this would be a good book for parents to discuss with their children. I won't venture a guess at what age, you know your child's stress and knowledge level better than I do, but a conversation that would help them to not be spooked when alarmists are shouting their end-of-times predictions (which seem to keep being wrong but their flocks keep buying into their lies) can only help.
Recommended for those readers who find themselves periodically overwhelmed by multiple seemingly unavoidable existential crises even though they know that even as bad as it is it isn't quite that bad (yet).
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
November 30, 2025
We became a post-apocalyptic people...the post-traumatic stress disorder can become intergenerational.
Despite being eternally fascinating, there's a pretty stark truth in the fact that science is inherently extremely capable of creating existential crises. Much as I love to learn about this topic, there's a deep discomfort I feel in some of the knowledge that this topic imparts. And while I know I will be long gone by the time many of the events described as "the end of the world" occur, it's still rather terrifying to me.
How to Survive the End of the World is one of those books that promotes intense exploration of thought, calculated interest in different types of analysis. It's also extremely depressing, as far as I'm concerned. I think there are a lot of people who can look at this information and find it unceasingly beautiful and fascinating—and to some extent, I can definitely agree—but I cannot help feeling some form of despair at all the endings.
Even with this personal feeling of mine, though, I find the information in this book to be incredibly important. And while, perhaps, it may not be important to my generation in the sense of it all having an integral impact on us, but the knowledge we gain today is the knowledge that may one day help those of the future. I think this is definitely a book worth picking up.
It takes humility to admit when you can't control the ending. It takes resolve to try to understand it anyway, even if the end is very far off.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
xx-dnf-skim-reference
April 15, 2026April 2026. Only skimmed - so much non-narrative graphic-ness is more than I'm up to atm.
Seems like another plea to young people to plan for the future, because the majority of adults clearly can't be trusted.
"If you plan it right, 98 people would be enough to keep a space crew going for the 6300 years it would take to reach Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our sun." (Without planning, it's more like 1K people would be needed to repopulate w/ enough genetic diversity etc.)
In the section on AI, the expert Thomas Arnold helped the author write this:
"Powerful predictive algorithms analyze data from the past and attempt to guess at the future. 'If you go purely on the data. You're reinforcing something that the past has given us.' It means that criminal justice isn't about crime and punishment. It's a game of statistics. Courtrooms use AI risk assessments to forecast who might reoffend. These assessments find black defendants much riskier than white defendants with the same criminal history. Financing isn't about how much money you need. It's about how much money people like you were allowed in the past. Here again, racial minority applicants are denied at higher rates than their white counterparts."
"The end of humanity doesn't erase the fact of our existence, any more than this last chapter erases this whole book, any more than a period erases a sentence."
Seems like another plea to young people to plan for the future, because the majority of adults clearly can't be trusted.
"If you plan it right, 98 people would be enough to keep a space crew going for the 6300 years it would take to reach Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our sun." (Without planning, it's more like 1K people would be needed to repopulate w/ enough genetic diversity etc.)
In the section on AI, the expert Thomas Arnold helped the author write this:
"Powerful predictive algorithms analyze data from the past and attempt to guess at the future. 'If you go purely on the data. You're reinforcing something that the past has given us.' It means that criminal justice isn't about crime and punishment. It's a game of statistics. Courtrooms use AI risk assessments to forecast who might reoffend. These assessments find black defendants much riskier than white defendants with the same criminal history. Financing isn't about how much money you need. It's about how much money people like you were allowed in the past. Here again, racial minority applicants are denied at higher rates than their white counterparts."
"The end of humanity doesn't erase the fact of our existence, any more than this last chapter erases this whole book, any more than a period erases a sentence."
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less." - M. Curie
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for the sharing the digital ARC of this title for an unbiased review.
In How to Survive the End of the World, Doughty patiently lays out the entire human tapestry of scientific discovery to answer the question of how things can end (whether it be human civilization, the planet, or the universe itself). And sometimes she talk about how we can skirt it (if it is not already too late).
Definetly for fans of Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, however I will say not as comical as I expected such a book to be based on the description (I was expecting Allie Brosh levels of humor to accompany the Allie Brosh artistry)
One thing I appreciated about how Katy Doughty presented her argument is the use of 'talking head' sections of people currently in the field - it definetly contributed to my list of authors to look for in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for the sharing the digital ARC of this title for an unbiased review.
In How to Survive the End of the World, Doughty patiently lays out the entire human tapestry of scientific discovery to answer the question of how things can end (whether it be human civilization, the planet, or the universe itself). And sometimes she talk about how we can skirt it (if it is not already too late).
Definetly for fans of Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, however I will say not as comical as I expected such a book to be based on the description (I was expecting Allie Brosh levels of humor to accompany the Allie Brosh artistry)
One thing I appreciated about how Katy Doughty presented her argument is the use of 'talking head' sections of people currently in the field - it definetly contributed to my list of authors to look for in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher for promotional purposes.
I give this book 4.5 stars which rounds up to 5.
What a thought provoking and informative read!
For a graphic novel, this book really packed a punch. The book explores different ways humans could potentially go extinct (examples include plagues, climate change, robots, and asteroids). It then explains how likely each event is to happen and how to possibly avoid it.
The book is thoroughly researched as evidenced by its lengthy bibliography. The author even included interviews with experts in each chapter. I learned so much!
The book is aimed at a young adult audience so all the information is presented in an accessible way. Complex ideas are easily broken down into digestible parts. Plus, since this is a graphic novel, the illustrations are enormously helpful.
I enjoyed the art style. It was very vibrant and colorful but very clear in what it was depicting.
I did find the book to be slightly depressing at times. Contemplating the end of the world filled me with existential dread. The book does offer glimmers of hope though, so it’s not all doom and gloom.
Overall, I recommend this book to anyone (young adult or adult) who wants to learn more about the various ways humans can go extinct. It’s a great starting point for the topic!
I give this book 4.5 stars which rounds up to 5.
What a thought provoking and informative read!
For a graphic novel, this book really packed a punch. The book explores different ways humans could potentially go extinct (examples include plagues, climate change, robots, and asteroids). It then explains how likely each event is to happen and how to possibly avoid it.
The book is thoroughly researched as evidenced by its lengthy bibliography. The author even included interviews with experts in each chapter. I learned so much!
The book is aimed at a young adult audience so all the information is presented in an accessible way. Complex ideas are easily broken down into digestible parts. Plus, since this is a graphic novel, the illustrations are enormously helpful.
I enjoyed the art style. It was very vibrant and colorful but very clear in what it was depicting.
I did find the book to be slightly depressing at times. Contemplating the end of the world filled me with existential dread. The book does offer glimmers of hope though, so it’s not all doom and gloom.
Overall, I recommend this book to anyone (young adult or adult) who wants to learn more about the various ways humans can go extinct. It’s a great starting point for the topic!
November 25, 2025
This is a graphic novel that discusses the end of the world and the various ways this can happen. It blends facts, history, and future scenarios to give you a general overview of what might happen. So while a bit depressing at times, this gives a great overview of the state of the world and its future, without overwhelming the reader too much.
I found this book informative, easy to read, nicely illustrated, and it had just the right amount of panic-inducing information without causing a panic-attack from what might happen. The author does a great job at placing all concerns in perspective of the reader's control. Some things are completely out of our control but are a possibility but others are within our control and we can fight for change to happen in those areas. It was just a great blend of scientific facts and calls to action to get the reader motivated to do something to save our future.
Overall, this book is the perfect mixture of upsetting information about the potential ends of the world, history, mitigation steps, and a call to action.
*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I found this book informative, easy to read, nicely illustrated, and it had just the right amount of panic-inducing information without causing a panic-attack from what might happen. The author does a great job at placing all concerns in perspective of the reader's control. Some things are completely out of our control but are a possibility but others are within our control and we can fight for change to happen in those areas. It was just a great blend of scientific facts and calls to action to get the reader motivated to do something to save our future.
Overall, this book is the perfect mixture of upsetting information about the potential ends of the world, history, mitigation steps, and a call to action.
*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
November 29, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press | MITeen Press for the digital ARC for review.
This was a fantastic resource for learning about the past and present of humanity. It had an interesting premise and title, that immediately drew me in and inspired me to request the ARC. It is written and illustrated in a way that is interesting and also easy to follow. I learned so much that I never knew and have a different perspective on many ideas.
I love how this book uses language in a way that I never thought of before. A perfect example of that is the use of the word “apocalypse.” Apocalypse is typically used in a way to describe the end of the world as a whole by some terrible means. I love the way it was used in this book as the end of a people and not all of humanity. Examples of this are the colonization of Native Americans and the Japanese citizens affected by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Scariest things: Cosmic collapse & climate change
Most interesting: killer machines and space travel & colonization
I highly recommend you pick this up if the title sounds interesting to you, as this was way better than I could have ever expected.
This was a fantastic resource for learning about the past and present of humanity. It had an interesting premise and title, that immediately drew me in and inspired me to request the ARC. It is written and illustrated in a way that is interesting and also easy to follow. I learned so much that I never knew and have a different perspective on many ideas.
I love how this book uses language in a way that I never thought of before. A perfect example of that is the use of the word “apocalypse.” Apocalypse is typically used in a way to describe the end of the world as a whole by some terrible means. I love the way it was used in this book as the end of a people and not all of humanity. Examples of this are the colonization of Native Americans and the Japanese citizens affected by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Scariest things: Cosmic collapse & climate change
Most interesting: killer machines and space travel & colonization
I highly recommend you pick this up if the title sounds interesting to you, as this was way better than I could have ever expected.
April 14, 2026
How to Survive the End of the World is a fascinating, witty, and highly engaging exploration of one of humanity’s biggest questions, how long can we really last? Katy Doughty combines science, history, and humor in a way that makes complex and sometimes unsettling topics feel accessible and even entertaining.
What makes this book stand out is its balance. It dives into serious subjects like pandemics, climate change, and technological risks, but does so with a tone that is both curious and approachable. The blend of expert insights and visual storytelling creates an experience that is as informative as it is enjoyable.
The graphic format adds another layer of engagement, helping to break down complex ideas while keeping the narrative lively and visually interesting. It’s clear that a lot of thought and research went into crafting something that is both educational and compelling.
A smart, creative, and thought-provoking read for anyone curious about the future and humanity’s chances of surviving it.
What makes this book stand out is its balance. It dives into serious subjects like pandemics, climate change, and technological risks, but does so with a tone that is both curious and approachable. The blend of expert insights and visual storytelling creates an experience that is as informative as it is enjoyable.
The graphic format adds another layer of engagement, helping to break down complex ideas while keeping the narrative lively and visually interesting. It’s clear that a lot of thought and research went into crafting something that is both educational and compelling.
A smart, creative, and thought-provoking read for anyone curious about the future and humanity’s chances of surviving it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley and Candlewick Press for the ARC!
A wonderfully written graphic novel that examines the many possible ways the world could end. It explores both scenarios beyond human control and those influenced by human actions. While the subject matter could easily feel overwhelming, the author presents it with care, clearly outlining the realistic likelihood of each scenario without minimizing the seriousness of the concerns.
As a history major, I found the book's initial exploration of plagues and pandemics particularly compelling. It provided a chilling look at how rapidly silent killers can devastate entire populations. While I have always been fascinated by the history of disease and it's deadly effects on communities, this narrative shifted my perspective on how such outbreaks possess the potential to end the world.
A must read for teens seeking a compelling and easy to digest read on how the world could end.
A wonderfully written graphic novel that examines the many possible ways the world could end. It explores both scenarios beyond human control and those influenced by human actions. While the subject matter could easily feel overwhelming, the author presents it with care, clearly outlining the realistic likelihood of each scenario without minimizing the seriousness of the concerns.
As a history major, I found the book's initial exploration of plagues and pandemics particularly compelling. It provided a chilling look at how rapidly silent killers can devastate entire populations. While I have always been fascinated by the history of disease and it's deadly effects on communities, this narrative shifted my perspective on how such outbreaks possess the potential to end the world.
A must read for teens seeking a compelling and easy to digest read on how the world could end.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved this graphic novel!
Thank you to NetGalley for access to a digital arc.
Katy Doughty goes through a few different ways the world might end, sharing the science behind them and interviewing experts. Because of the various methods of possible destruction, Doughty delves into sociology, anthropology, biology, ecology, physics, and more. The text and illustrations are really accessible and easy to understand while also being entertaining and hopeful. (I will probably not be book talking this text to our ELL or remedial reading students, but freshmen will definitely be able to enjoy this.) She even includes suggested reading for further inquiry, source notes, and an extensive bibliography. The characters depicted are of diverse skin tones and ages.
We will be putting this on our school's summer reading list.
Thank you to NetGalley for access to a digital arc.
Katy Doughty goes through a few different ways the world might end, sharing the science behind them and interviewing experts. Because of the various methods of possible destruction, Doughty delves into sociology, anthropology, biology, ecology, physics, and more. The text and illustrations are really accessible and easy to understand while also being entertaining and hopeful. (I will probably not be book talking this text to our ELL or remedial reading students, but freshmen will definitely be able to enjoy this.) She even includes suggested reading for further inquiry, source notes, and an extensive bibliography. The characters depicted are of diverse skin tones and ages.
We will be putting this on our school's summer reading list.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
How to Survive the End of the World is a wonderfully illustrated graphic novel of the various ways the world could potentially end. It is informative, and explains the likelihood of each scenario happening.
I personally found the first half of the book more intriguing. Learning about a potential pandemic or world ending war was more interesting than extinction via space phenomenon.
The book being produced in a graphic novel format was perfect. The subject matter is a bit depressing and anxiety inducing, so the possible world ending scenarios being put forth in a comic strip style gave it less of a Doomsday feeling.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
I personally found the first half of the book more intriguing. Learning about a potential pandemic or world ending war was more interesting than extinction via space phenomenon.
The book being produced in a graphic novel format was perfect. The subject matter is a bit depressing and anxiety inducing, so the possible world ending scenarios being put forth in a comic strip style gave it less of a Doomsday feeling.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for the arc.
I did enjoy this overall but it's weird to say that when the book covers extremely terrifying topics that already plague my mind right now especially the chapters on AI and Climate Change. The book is titled "How to Survive the End of the World" but I didn't really get any how to survives, just here's the inevitable ending to those possibilities. There wasn't a lot of guidance on what we can do to avert those endings so I was left feeling less optimistic and more weighted in my already tiresome dread for what the future holds. The art was great but as a book to actually help avoid extinction, i don't think it actually does what the title describes.
I did enjoy this overall but it's weird to say that when the book covers extremely terrifying topics that already plague my mind right now especially the chapters on AI and Climate Change. The book is titled "How to Survive the End of the World" but I didn't really get any how to survives, just here's the inevitable ending to those possibilities. There wasn't a lot of guidance on what we can do to avert those endings so I was left feeling less optimistic and more weighted in my already tiresome dread for what the future holds. The art was great but as a book to actually help avoid extinction, i don't think it actually does what the title describes.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This graphic novel is, expectedly, very bleak. As the book explores different ways life on earth might end, it leaves us with one certainty - nothing lasts forever. But still, there is an element of hope and optimism in saying that even when humanity ends, there is stuff to remember in humanity. I will say, though, this bleak, long book is pretty dense. Casual reader will have a hard time reading this book start to finish, but the way the book is designed with sections encourages readers to pop in and out of the story, and that will help.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
April 3, 2026
Katy Doughty takes a serious topic that is imperative for younger audiences to understand and puts it in a format that will grab their attention, the graphic novel. The art work is well done and the information provided is informative and backed with references. Utilizing field professionals and affected communities adds an important layer to the narrative, showing the reader the real life implications of what is being discussed. What I like most about this is that it is not all doom and gloom, Doughty makes it a point to let the readers know that some of the scenarios in this book can be avoidable or the affects lessened if we take appropriate action, this provides the reader with a sense of responsibility towards the world they are living in.
This is a book I would not mind sharing with my 11 year old as an introduction a tough discussion and what we can do to contribute to the betterment of the world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press (MITeen Press) for a copy of this informative and fascinating read.
This is a book I would not mind sharing with my 11 year old as an introduction a tough discussion and what we can do to contribute to the betterment of the world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press (MITeen Press) for a copy of this informative and fascinating read.
April 7, 2026
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC of this graphic novel. This is a retro-futuristically illustrated guide to all the way things could go epically wrong for our planet, but most likely won’t. I love how it feels like something from a ‘50s/‘60s kids’ science kit, and it’s more of an encyclopedic read—to pick up and put down and read in a nonlinear fashion. The book really lends itself to skipping around, as it internally references pervious and future topics with page numbers, giving the reader a chance to diving into a fact-finding rabbit hole if they choose. Ultimately a calming & informative book for anxious and doom-focused teens.
April 29, 2026
This was not what I expected after picking it up with no more than a cursory look at the cover. For some reason I thought it would be a quirky dystopian graphic novel about surviving an apocalypse. It's actually a run-down of the various ways humanity could be wiped out and if they are unavoidable or not. It presents the science in an easily digestible way for teens (and let's face it, most adults) and explores various disasters from climate change, AI takeover, to a stray meteor or nuclear war. Obviously it's not a light fun read, but the overall tone is hopeful. Just don't read it expecting fiction.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This graphic nonfiction is great for my high school readers!
Doughty explores how plagues and pandemics, deadly blasts, a climate meltdown, killer machines, falling skies, and a cosmic collapse could be what causes humanity's extinction. Interspersed with the narrative are "ask the expert" sections which lends fantastic credibility to what could be seen as a too-lighthearted book. I especially love how Doughty includes that the colonization (and diseases from European settlers) decimated the North American indigenous peoples in the plagues and pandemics chapter.
Doughty explores how plagues and pandemics, deadly blasts, a climate meltdown, killer machines, falling skies, and a cosmic collapse could be what causes humanity's extinction. Interspersed with the narrative are "ask the expert" sections which lends fantastic credibility to what could be seen as a too-lighthearted book. I especially love how Doughty includes that the colonization (and diseases from European settlers) decimated the North American indigenous peoples in the plagues and pandemics chapter.
April 12, 2026
Very good. It was not at all what I expected but I learned a lot from reading this, about history (detail about the Cuban missile crisis and 1983 Russian almost-bombing) and science (astronomy, planet Earth orbit details = we wobble! we stretch!). So, a nice surprise. And did anyone else notice the error on page 76? In the upper right panel, the abbreviation for nitrous oxide is shown as ( NO2 ) ; it's supposed to be N2O. It was the drawing of the molecule that cued me in to this, because I have no science or even any higher education at all. ::pats self on back ironically?::
Review of advance copy
Reminiscent of the work of Jim Ottaviani or Jay Hosler, Katy Doughty’s graphic novel is a light, fun but educational take on the various ways the world and universe might end and how science might delay or prevent that.
It’s more uplifting than you’d think, but also a call to action, and we probably ought to make every member of Congress read it. It would also be a great tool in middle school or high school classrooms.
It’s more uplifting than you’d think, but also a call to action, and we probably ought to make every member of Congress read it. It would also be a great tool in middle school or high school classrooms.
May 13, 2026
thanks to NetGalley and the publisher of the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars. Also, did I read this on my Chromebook at work? yes, yes I did. I really like how it's basically a "all this stuff could happen to end us and we can't avoid it or thinking about it, so let's rationalize it instead"
I also appreciated how it covered a wide range of things, including very realistic things to very hyperbolic things. It's also easy to read and the images and design are great.
I also appreciated how it covered a wide range of things, including very realistic things to very hyperbolic things. It's also easy to read and the images and design are great.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Received an ARC courtesy of the publisher via Edelweiss
I am trying to read a bit more nonfiction. The format made the information seem more digestible to me. I thought this would be really depressing, but the author managed to make it hopeful and included some ways the reader could possibly help prevent extinction.
I am trying to read a bit more nonfiction. The format made the information seem more digestible to me. I thought this would be really depressing, but the author managed to make it hopeful and included some ways the reader could possibly help prevent extinction.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Though the art was not my style, this graphic novel nicely delved into various events that could cause humanity to die off, and did so in a way that never made me panic. It takes care to explain from multiple perspectives, often involving voices of expertise other than the author. Overall, a good pick, and I'll be recommending to teens.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
An informative deep dive into 6 possible ways for the world, as you know it, to end. It was at times a very stressful read, if only because we can see the effects of climate change or resource exploitation impacting our world right now. But I appreciated the author’s point of view and ultimately positive spin on the future of humanity.
September 6, 2025
The best way to combat fear is with information. Though this book was terrifying at times, my worries were always quelled with the information that followed. Incredibly informative and even inspiring! Very well done.
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