The End of the World: An Annotated Bibliography [Library Binding]

Tom McIver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1999

This bibliography contains careful and bias-free annotations of close to 3,500 works written over many centuries about the end of the world, predominantly but not entirely from a Christian perspective. The books, pamphlets, websites, and selected other media cover a wide variety of eschatological beliefs-from the numerous fundamentalist scenarios to the mystical and the violent-and include such topics as the Tribulation, the Rapture, the Millennium, Armageddon, the Second Coming, the Antichrist, and the Apocalypse. Works on other major religions (such as Judaism, Islam), the mythos of popular cultures (Mayan prophecies, Norse Ragnark), UFO, occult and psychic theories (Heaven's Gate, Nostradamus), and secular theories (Y2K computer chaos) can be found. The work is in four parts (plus indexes). Entries in the pre-1800 part are arranged chronologically beginning with the Books of Enoch in the second century BC. Other entries are arranged alphabetically within the three chronological subdivisions of 1800-1910, 1910-1970, and post-1970. All include full bibliographic information and annotations regarding format, type of work, theme, the author's background, the category of theories espoused, distinctive or notable characteristics, the intended readership, and the significance of the work. There are cross-references to works by the same author. An introduction describes major types of beliefs, outlines basic Fundamentalist end-of-the-world scenarios, summarizes Biblical sources, and explains important terms, concepts and relationships among sources. The work is extensively indexed by author, title, and subject.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

As the millennium approaches, pronouncements on apocalyptic events, Armageddon, and the Second Coming are receiving more attention. McIver (Anti-Evolution: An Annotated Bibliography) here compiles citations for nearly 3500 eschatological sources, including fiction, pamphlets, web sites, and videos. These are based primarily on biblical belief and predictions, including their connection with Y2K. Some citations of Jewish, Islamic, psychic, and occult works are also represented. A good preface and introduction outline the book's structure, terminology, purpose, and background. Works written before 1800 are chronologically arranged, beginning with the books of Enoch (second- to first-century B.C.E.); three additional sections, arranged alphabetically by author, include works originally published from 1800 to 1910, from 1910 to 1970, and since 1970. About two-thirds of the citations have annotations consisting of quotations summarizing content; partial or brief phrasesAe.g., "Kissinger as Antichrist," "Pre-mill pre-trib, any moment Rapture"Aor concisely written half-page descriptions. An index of authors, titles, and subjects is keyed to entry numbers. McIver remains admirably impartial in his approachAdespite "how long, and how often, the End has been predicted, and...how wrong many of these beliefs have already turned out to be." For libraries where there is interest in the topic and those with a religious emphasis.AStanley P. Hodge, Ball State Univ. Lib., Muncie, IN
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Librarian Tom McIver, Ph.D. in anthropology, is also the author of Anti-Evolution: An Annotated Bibliography (1988, "invaluable...highly recommended"-Choice; "meaty annotations"-Wilson Library Bulletin), one of the most intellectually satisfying of McFarland's 1,500 title history. Living in Cleveland, Ohio, he performs research in the fields of science and religion, and writes frequently for journals.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 398 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company; Annotated edition (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786407085
• ISBN-13: 978-0786407088
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,015,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable for serious researchers, November 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The End of the World: An Annotated Bibliography (Library Binding)

The Introduction is very informative in and of itself, and is followed by thousands of sources predicting the End from the time of Jesus to 2000 and beyond. Amazing diversity of approaches, opinions, and calculations. Believers should consult this as well: perhaps it will give them pause.

5.0 out of 5 stars Expensive but superb!, January 13, 2009

By 

RoboGod (Elko County, Nevada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The End of the World: An Annotated Bibliography (Library Binding)

For many years I had the fantasy of winning a lottery (or otherwise coming into a great sum of cash) and using that money to pay a team of researchers to collect, analyze, and publish an annotated bibliography of hundreds, if not thousands, of end-of-the-world scenarios offered by religious "thinkers" over the centuries. But behold! Others have already completed this task, and have done so magnificently! This work never ceases to amaze, amuse, and humble me. Some three and a half thousand predictions are offered here, and all (so far) have come to ... nothing! One would think the religiously insane among us would give up on this crap after awhile ... certainly this should be required reading for religious nuts of all stripes. The predictions offered for the past few years have been especially entertaining: the supposed dates of the end of the world come and go, come and go, come and go ... and the predictions are stomped deep into the gunk of muddy religious thinking. The ancient Aesop tale THE BOY WHO CALLED WOLF comes to mind immediately upon studying this work. Want to make some crazy end-of-the-world prophecy? READ THIS FIRST! Thank you, Mr. McIver! SO GOOD!