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The Doomsday Book: The Science Behind Humanity's Greatest Threats Hardcover – November 17, 2020

by Marshall Brain (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 25 ratings
See all formats and editions
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How might the world as we know it end? In this illustrated guide, How Stuff Works author Marshall Brain explores myriad doomsday scenarios and the science behind them.
 
What if the unimaginable happens? A nuclear bomb detonates over a major city, for example, or a deadly virus infects millions around the world. There are other disasters we don’t even have to imagine because they’ve already occurred, like violent hurricanes or cataclysmic tsunamis that have caused horrific loss of life and damage. In The Doomsday Book, Marshall Brain explains how everything finally ends—the decimation of nations and cities, of civilization, of humanity, of all life on Earth. Brain takes a deep dive into a wide range of doomsday narratives, including manmade events such as an electromagnetic pulse attack, a deadly pandemic, and nuclear warfare; devastating natural phenomena, such as an eruption from a super-volcano, the collapse of the Gulf Stream, or lethal solar flares; and science-fiction scenarios where robots take over or aliens invade. Each compelling chapter provides a detailed description of the situation, the science behind it, and ways to prevent or prepare for its occurrence. With fun graphics and eye-catching photographs at every turn, The Doomsday Book will be the last book you’ll ever have to read about the last days on Earth.

Scenarios include:
- Asteroid Strike: a massive asteroid could obliterate life—just as it might have killed the dinosaurs.
- Gray Goo: self-replicating nanobots engulf the planet.
- Grid Attack: an attack on our power grid shuts down the internet, affecting airports, banks, computers, food delivery, medical devices, and the entire economic system.
- Gulf Stream collapse: the shutdown of this important ocean current causes temperatures to plummet.
- Ocean acidification: if the oceans’ pH levels shift due to a rise in carbon dioxide, all marine life could die.
 
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  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Union Square & Co.
  4. Publication date
    November 17, 2020
  5. Dimensions
    7.75 x 1 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1454939966
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1454939962
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Marshall Brain is best known as the founder and creator of the successful How Stuff Works franchise, which includes books and a website that was sold to Discovery Communications. He was also the host of the National Geographic show called Factory Floor and is the director of the Engineering Entrepreneurship Program at NC State University and the author of more than a dozen books. He lives in Cary, NC.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Union Square & Co. (November 17, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1454939966
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1454939962
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.4 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.75 x 1 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 25 ratings

About the author

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Marshall Brain

Marshall Brain

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Marshall Brain is most widely known as the founder of HowStuffWorks.com. He is also know as the host of the National Geographic Show "Factory Floor with Marshall Brain", as the author of more than a dozen books, as a TEDx speaker, and as a well-known public personality with the ability to deliver complex material in a way that is easily understood by audiences of all types. He has been featured on everything from CNN and Good Morning America to The Oprah Winfrey Show. His latest book is "The Doomsday Book" from Sterling Publishing.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
25 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

T. Kopec
5.0 out of 5 stars The Future ?
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is one of the most thought-provoking books that I have ever read. It would be very easy, after reading this book, to view the future of our world as the "glass half empty". We appear to be confronted with so many potential calamities that it is difficult to know which ones to tackle first.

Our world has recently been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. If this is any example of how we deal with "doomsday" events, the prognosis is not good. If nothing else, it has shown that our self-preservation instincts have caused us to be very selfish and completely reactionary to what is happening. We are all so caught-up in our own lives, that we have not approached this crisis in an efficient manner.

The author's style presents a style which makes this an easy read. It is easy to project that we will not be able to deal with everyone of these doomsday scenarios. Some of these natural events are not within our control. There is much work to be done if we are to hope that our world has a future.
2 people found this helpful
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Gilbert Reynolds
5.0 out of 5 stars A provocative and entertaining read.
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2022
Verified Purchase
Who knew that the destruction of the human race could be so interesting. Seeing that I have lived through several world ending events, it is amazing just how fragile life on Earth can be on a daily basis. The book reads like a textbook providing real life scenarios and real life science to support it. A great read for those looking for information on our next apocalypse.
One person found this helpful
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AGirlAndHerDog
5.0 out of 5 stars Eye opening!
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2020
Verified Purchase
The different doomsday scenarios are fascinating and the science behind it is well explained. I really liked how each chapter also had ways for prevention so it left me with hope that we as a society can work together to make sure these things don't come to pass. I am actually not much of a reader but I happened upon this and it intrigued me so I gave it a shot and was not disappointed. The pictures in it are nice too.
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Entrepreneur Lew
5.0 out of 5 stars A book of discomfort, disbelief, and perhaps, hope.
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2021
Verified Purchase
Brain does a fantastic job pulling you into the pages to experience the emotions of discomfort, disbelief, and perhaps, hope. This book should serve as a wake-up call for its readers - are you going to be reactive or proactive?
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Tina Rollins
1.0 out of 5 stars No periods
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2023
Where the heck are all the periods?
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