From the author of The Real History Behind the Templars--the origins and stories behind end-of-the-world predictions throughout history, from Revelations to 2012. In entertaining and sharp prose, historian Sharan Newman explores theories of world destruction from ancient times up to the present day- theories which reveal as much about human nature as they do about the predominant historical, scientific, and religious beliefs of the time. Readers will find answers to the following end-of-times questions: *Did the Mayans really say the world will end in December 2012? *How have the signs in the New Testament Book of Revelations been interpreted over the years? *How did ancient Egyptians, Norse, and Chinese think the world would end? *When did Nostradamus predict that the last days would come? *Does the I Ching reference 2012? *Why didn't the world end in Y2K? *Are meteors, global warming, super-volcanoes, and the threat of nuclear war signs that the end is near?