End of the World book?

[MarkBarbieri]

My son was asking worried questions yesterday about how global warming is destroying the world. As part of our discussion, I tried to give him a little perspective. I told him about many of the "end of the world" scenarios that people have been gravely worried about during my lifetime. Does anyone know if there is a book on the subject?

The ones I could think of off the top of my head were:

1) Overpopulation / starvation
2) Nuclear holocaust
3) Swine flu, AIDS, SARS epidemics
4) Revelations / End Times
5) Terrorism or reaction to terrorism ending life as we know it

I would be surprised to find that the fear of impending doom is a recent phenomena. Now I'm curious about what preceding generations feared would destroy them. So do you know of any good books on the subject?

And in case anyone thinks I'm trying to belittle their personal fear, I'm not. Sometimes "the world" really does end. Rome, Easter Island, and bubonic plague are all cases that come to mind. Who knows, maybe global warming will be the end of us all.

 

[marciemi]

The first one that comes to my mind is "On the Beach" by Neville Shute. Interesting reading but quite a bit dated by now. Still, it could give you an idea of what was thought might happen 40ish years ago.

 

[tasha99]

World War Z and The Zombie Survival Guide (provided he's a teenager at least). You can never be too prepared for zombies.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Don't forget movies! Plethra of material there.

In fact this past weekend my dd's and I were watching the old black and white "THEM", with the giant ants.

We discussed the fear at the time in history of the atomic bomb and what it would do.

It is a lighthearted way of explaining "end times/fear" in history through giant ants that look pretty silly in this day and age.