Countdown!, Or, How Nigh Is the End?

by Patrick Moore

Patrick Moore is Britain's most respected and best-loved astronomer. In "Countdown!" he examines the multifarious theories of how and when the world will end, from St Augustine to the Millennium Bug, via Nostradamus. With a healthy dose of irreverent humour, he investigates and dismisses the weird and wonderful predictions of sometimes imminent cataclysm, before turning to the science of what might really happen (a long, long time in the future, thankfully). Written with his trademark combination of wit and accessible science, and updated to include the latest theories on asteroids and climate change, this is a must-read book for anyone with an interest in popular science in general, and how the world might end in particular.

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 27, 1999

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author with this name.

Sir Alfred Patrick Caldwell-Moore, CBE, Hon FRS, FRAS, known as Patrick Moore, was an English amateur astronomer, who is the most well known English promoter of astronomy. Moore wrote numerous books on the subject, as well as make public, television and radio appearances, over the course of his long life. He is credited as having done more than any other to raise the profile of astronomy among the British general public.

Reviews

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy signed at Cheltenham book Festival



There he was, and I was lucky - the only photo allowed. His shoulder pads outweighed his physique by, oooh, nine inches each side. And dandruff abounded.

But what a (curmodgeonly) gent.

And still he lives on:

R4x Sunday Elastic Planet : 2. The Train

The Ministry of Furniture and methodist pirates. Patrick Moore guest stars.

[David Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick Moore was a great communicator of science. He had the ability to describe an obscure concept in a way that even a 4-year-old could understand.

In Countdown, Patrick explains some of the then-popular theories, guesses, and panic of how the Earth was due to end... But stubbornly enough, the Earth decided not to do so.

He explains both the crazy doomsayers concept and explains how they were wrong but clearly explaining the scientific reasons behind why the world continues on today.

This book isn't for everyone, few books are. I would recommend this to anyone, old or young, who has an interest in science and is wanting a light read. There's no crazy math or mega nerd speak, everything is clearly explained.

[Bradley White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrick Moore is always a joy to read. His conversational style and accessibility makes the pages fly by. This book is no exception, a delightful romp though the history of end-of-the-world predictions and what might actually do it in the future.