Apocalypse 2012

A Scientific Investigation into Civilization's End

By: Lawrence E. Joseph

Narrated by: Feodor Chin

Don't look up.

It won't help. You can't get out of the way; you can't dig a hole deep enough to hide. The end is coming, and there's nothing you can do about it.

So why listen to this audiobook?

Because you can't cover your ears when it's not just the religious fanatics who are saying we're all going to be destroyed, but the scientists are in on the act, too. Here's what they're saying:

• We're a million years overdue for a mass extinction.
• The sun at radiation minimum is acting much worse than at solar maximum, and one misdirected spewing of plasma could fry us in an instant.
• The magnetic field that shields us from harmful radiation is developing a mysterious crack.
• Our solar system is entering an energetically hostile part of the galaxy.
• The Yellowstone super-volcano is getting ready to blow, and if it does, we can look forward to nuclear winter and 90 percent annihilation.
• The Maya, the world's greatest timekeepers ever, say it's all going to stop on December 21, 2012.

So, see? There's nothing you can do, so you might as well sit back and enjoy the show.

That's why you should download this book.

©2007 Lawrence E. Joseph (P)2007 Random House Inc.

Not Worth 2 Credits

This book seemed too unorganized. There are a lot of neat conjectures portrayed but they didn't seem to come together well, especially in the second half of the book.

Interesting Conjectures

Interesting conjectures about 2012.
Lots of interesting information about potential calamities without a doomsday prophecy awaiting in the shadows. But ...
Second half of book a bit disjoint. And leaves me wondering what was the whole point of the book. And still debating whether it was worth 2 credits -- if the book had been just one credit, I would probably rate it higher. But ...
Not sure I got a good deal here or not. In fact, wish I had found this as an audio book from my local public library instead of spending money on it.
It is worth reading / listening to. As a good listen, it rates about 4. As a good buy, 3 or lower. Sorry ...
can't compare the book against others on the same topic, except "Unlocking the Secrets of 2012" by John Major Jenkins. That book goes more into the Mayan mythology and its meaning, and therefore does not compare.
Looking quickly through the descriptions of the other books on the topic here at Audible -- this and Jenkins' book may be your best buys ...

Look Elsewhere

While this book does contain some decent pieces of information about the subject, it's not nearly enough to be worth two credits. I got it as an impulse buy, but ended up with a mess of a book citing some calculations and some "interviews" the author supposedly had with mystics and taxi drivers during his travels.

Entertaining? Yes. Educational? No.

Self-indulgent and silly.

I have to admit, my expectations may have colored my opinion of this book, I was expecting a well researched survey course of the various horrible things that might happen to our planet and society-- kind of like the more sensational bits of Bill Bryson's "Brief History of Nearly Everything". What I got was a disjointed "personal journey" sort of narrative by an author who apparently never heard a crackpot theory he didn't like. The bits on Mayan beliefs were interesting, but where the author tries to tackle hard science, it gets hard to listen for long without needing to sit down from dizziness, due to all the unavoidable eyerolling you'll find yourself doing.

Zounds!

Stupendous read! Soundly penned, compelling ideas wherein the author's conclusions are pertinent. Research is okay for general public. I think every man woman and child who can do so, should immediately check this book out.

Interesting but tedious

I found this an interesting but skewed review of some of the 2012 theories. Rather than a true scientific review, I think it was definitely advocating the legitimacy of the 2012 apocolyptic ideas. Not to say that they may not be valid, which we will soon find out. What I fear is that all of the 2012 talk may indeed help the prophecies to come true. If you are interested in this idea, then by all means explore this book. But it is hardly worth the price charged. Wait for the paperback or get a used copy.

Overpriced

This book is interesting up to a point and the naration is very good. However, since it seems to present only one very negative view with little skepticism I eventually found it tiresome. IT IS NOT WORTH THE PRICE OR 2 CREDITS THAT WILL BE CHARGED TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

Exceptional!

Although I do not believe most of the timelines stated in the book, I believe the topics discussed are true possibilities. The author has presented them in a way that is interesting and captivating. I was trained in the sciences achieving 99th percentile in the country on the MCAT before entering medical school. My grandfather researched the ionosphere discussed in the book with Van Allen. Although I disregard the date, I believe the U.S. and the World should take head to possible events that may lead to our extinction. Where possible, we should seek their avoidance.

Superb, well thought out, great listen

This is an extraordinary book that is well thought out and extremely well written. The depth of knowledge the author has on most of the pertinent science (observation) and religion (revelation) that point to possible cataclysmic events occurring on 12-21-12 is truly remarkable. So is his tongue in cheek humor for a subject so moribund.

For all those who reviewed the book and were troubled by the author leaning towards a point of view, that is the very nature of a masterwork like this. Charles Darwin advocated his views. So does the Bible. Same goes for Nostradamus, although he was a great deal more obtuse. A point of view that is well documented and persuasively presented is what makes for a great read (or listen in this case).

I highly recommend this book. I do agree that 2 credits is a bit steep for any Audible book.

Best of all, on 12-22-12, we can see if the author was right or wrong! I can hardly wait..

Garbage

Any additional comments?

Written and read like a high school journalism student. Selective use of data to back scenarios. Leaves out details that would contradict. It's already 2012 and a lot of the predictions made haven't happened.