Eve of Destruction: Prophecies, Theories and Preparations for the End of the World [Paperback]

Eva Shaw (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Foretelling the end of the world has always been popular. It offers cheap entertainment as well as a chance to cry doom upon those of whom one disapproves. Shaw concentrates on the Judeo-Christian skein of prophecy, which extends from the Bible through Nostradamus and his medieval fellows to the New Age and current chiliasts. She cites a wealth of examples of the growth and development of millenarianism: early Christianity's Book of Revelation, the medieval fascination with that scripture's cryptic prognostications, and modern seers including Edgar Cayce and William Miller, among whose offspring are Jehovah's Witnesses and the Seventh Day Adventists. Yet the bulk of the book is concerned with the present day. Shaw details the phenomena used by believers as evidence for the nearness of the "end times" or the "rapture" ; discusses the Marian visitations at Fatima and elsewhere; and even looks at the current popularity of doomsday-descrying ecological predictions. Summarizing more than analyzing, Shaw provides a valuable overview of the pathology known as prophecy. Dennis Winters --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Two years ago the the conflagration in Waco, Texas, astonished a world as the Branch Davidians and the self-anointed leader, David Koresh, followed their convictions to eventual destruction. Little did anyone realize the serious implications of this event: Its use as a rallying point for other extremists and leading to the bombing in Oklahoma City. What most people don't know is that there are over 2000 other cults in America who are stockpiling arms and provisions in anticipation of a great battle between good and evil that will mean the end of the world. These cults are not just a recent phenomenon; they have a long and rich history dating back to the tribes and cultures of early man. "Eve of Destruction: Prophecies, Theories and Preparations for the End of the World" is a history of this collective human obsession with its own destruction. -- Midwest Book Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 254 pages
• Publisher: Ralph Lowe (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565654315
• ISBN-13: 978-1565654310
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,875,682 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Disappointment, November 6, 1997

By 

Nick Fraser ([e-mail]) (Seattle, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eve of Destruction: Prophecies, Theories and Preparations for the End of the World (Hardcover)

While the subject matter of this book is potentially facinating, this book has problems. First of all, it is shockingly poorly edited. Second, the author can't quite decide to take a detached view of the material or to be lighthearted. One way or the other might not be that bad, but both is annoying. For a better, more in-depth treatment of this subject, I recommend Nicholas Campion's "The Great Year".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining look at end-of-the-world theories, July 16, 1998

By 

TT "teddy606" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eve of Destruction: Prophecies, Theories and Preparations for the End of the World (Paperback)

"Eve of Destruction" is a great place to start your interest in eschatology, the study of myths of the end of the world. It's written in a fairly lighthearted but entertaining manner, and it is enlightening in its broad brush of end-of-the-world theories and myths throughout history. It is the rare book that contains both scholarly research and a layman's language, and "Eve of Destruction" fits the bill. Worth a read.

4.0 out of 5 stars The end of worldly history, March 30, 2003

By 

OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Eve of Destruction: Prophecies, Theories and Preparations for the End of the World (Hardcover)

This book is filled with a remarkable variety of material on the topic of the End of the World. While the author does thoroughly cover the various biblical interpretations of the End Times, she goes far beyond the various Christian perspectives. Here you also find Mayan, Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim, teachings equally considered. Moreover, prophets and prophecy from all ages are included, from the dawn of recorded history to contemporary times.

It is truly fascinating how profoundly metaphysically advanced Traditional cultures such as the Greek, Indian and Mayan could come to quite simular concepts and timing on the great cosmic cycles...

As this book points out, Madam Blavatsky was also of the opinion that an end would come around the year 2000-but could be changed by more and more people becoming attuned to spiritual wisdom and guidance.

The author's use and comparison of quotes from relevent source material is especially good.