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362 reviews for:
The End Is Always Near: Apocalyptic Moments from the Bronze Age Collapse to Nuclear Near Misses
Dan Carlin
3.74 AVERAGE
362 reviews for:
The End Is Always Near: Apocalyptic Moments from the Bronze Age Collapse to Nuclear Near Misses
Dan Carlin
3.74 AVERAGE
Not a book for those who panic about every potential disasters or those who dislike footnotes.
Reads very much like an episode of Hardcore History. This is less a book of singular focus and more an overview of some interesting questions posed by a student of various periods of history. At several points it made me want to go and track down books about those different eras to find out more.
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
First and foremost, and this has no reflection on my review, it’s just a matter of personal taste, I absolutely hate that red circle on the cover. I find it extremely garish.
In regards to the book, however, I waffled many times between a 3 and a 4 star rating before ultimately resting on 4. As an avid listening of Carlin’s podcasts, I was a bit off put by seeing multiple sections of chapters, and one entire chapter, be pulled almost directly from his podcasts. I’ve already listened to them, why should I be reading them again?
I came to the conclusion that the content is still smartly written, and still very important. And, I have to assume that not everyone is like me, and may be coming into this without ever listening to his content, and to give it a 3 based on my approach to this book is unfair.
Content wise, as the title indicates, the majority of this book deals with how things “end”, or transition, or may end, or most appropriately, change. There are many instances across history in which humankind changed willingly or were forced to embrace it. Clearly, not a comprehensive source on all the times humankind had to deal with unfortunate circumstances, this book is a great starting point for future research, covering instances in antiquity to the modern era.
In regards to the book, however, I waffled many times between a 3 and a 4 star rating before ultimately resting on 4. As an avid listening of Carlin’s podcasts, I was a bit off put by seeing multiple sections of chapters, and one entire chapter, be pulled almost directly from his podcasts. I’ve already listened to them, why should I be reading them again?
I came to the conclusion that the content is still smartly written, and still very important. And, I have to assume that not everyone is like me, and may be coming into this without ever listening to his content, and to give it a 3 based on my approach to this book is unfair.
Content wise, as the title indicates, the majority of this book deals with how things “end”, or transition, or may end, or most appropriately, change. There are many instances across history in which humankind changed willingly or were forced to embrace it. Clearly, not a comprehensive source on all the times humankind had to deal with unfortunate circumstances, this book is a great starting point for future research, covering instances in antiquity to the modern era.
I listened to the audio edition of this book, and all I can say is that it's Dan Carlin at his finest. His podcast, Hardcore History, has such well-developed and well-researched episodes that each one is nearly a book anyway. He makes an interesting point about our short-sightedness when it comes to the end of our own civilization. Case in point ... every other civilization that has peaked and gone crashing down. Did they suspect that it would end? Do we? And how? And now, with our own weapons that could very well be the architects of our demise ... or the next pandemic that we can't control ... or enough leaders to distance themselves from the gentleman's conduct of war to ultimately sweep us off the planet ... or, we screw up the climate enough that we aren't able to survive any longer. Ultimately, though, Dan Carlin isn't ranting on and on in an all-out apocalyptic story that will make you want to stock up on goods and find the nearest bunker a la 1999. He's pointing out that we like to know the story of other collapses all whilst sort of ignoring that ours could go that way too. We like the movies, thrive on the action-packed, end-of-the-world thrillers, and are a bit smug that 'it wouldn't happen like that'. Well, I imagine the Romans and everyone else didn't think it would happen like that either.
This book had practically zero history in it and was composed entirely of theoretical questions. Dnfed by page 30
Note: I listened to this on Audiobook read by the author.
Long time listeners of Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History podcast will immediately recognize the type of storytelling employed in this book (If you haven’t heard it, I envy you for the 100+ hours of staggeringly immersive, enthralling storytelling you have in your future). In some ways this book is like an extended version of one of the “Blitz” episodes—focused on an idea or concept and weaving historical tales into the narrative.
I also advocate listening to this one... but maybe I’ve just conditioned myself to love Carlin’s narration.
Long time listeners of Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History podcast will immediately recognize the type of storytelling employed in this book (If you haven’t heard it, I envy you for the 100+ hours of staggeringly immersive, enthralling storytelling you have in your future). In some ways this book is like an extended version of one of the “Blitz” episodes—focused on an idea or concept and weaving historical tales into the narrative.
I also advocate listening to this one... but maybe I’ve just conditioned myself to love Carlin’s narration.
Listened to the audiobook narrated by the author which was perfect, just felt like a slightly longer podcast episode (only a little slightly as those episodes get LOOOONG). Very wild to listen to the chapter on pandemics in today's world. That this rolled out only a few months before a certain illness swept the globe it had some interesting angles.
Good listen!
Good listen!
I've been a listener of Dan's for many years, and this (audio)book sounded just like one of his podcasts. It covers a large portion of time (as the title would suggest) but does it in manageable chunks and in later periods reminds you of what was discussed earlier in the book.