- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Ebury Press (5 July 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0091910870
- ISBN-13: 978-0091910877
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 13.4 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 223,214 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
Product Description
Book Description
A bizarre and fascinating journey into the United States' religious heartlands - and why 50 million Americans believe the apocalypse is imminent
Product Description
Journeying to the dusty heartlands of America's Bible Belt, Nicholas Guyatt goes in search of the truth behind a startling development - that fifty million Americans have come to believe the apocalypse will take place in their own lifetimes.
They're convinced that, any day now, Jesus will snatch up his followers and spirit them to heaven. For the rest of us, things are going to get very nasty indeed: massive earthquakes, devastating wars, not to mention the terrifying rise of the Antichrist.
But true believers aren't just sitting around waiting for the Rapture. They're getting involved in debates over abortion, gay rights and even foreign policy. Are they devout or deranged? Why do they seem so cheerful about the end of the world? And does their influence stretch beyond the Bible Belt - perhaps even to the White House?
Strange, funny and unsettling in equal measure, Have a Nice Doomsday uncovers the apocalyptic obsession at the heart of the world's only superpower.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've just finished reading this book and it's raised quite a few questions in my head about exactly how much influence 'apocalyptic Christians' have in Washington. Answer - more than you'd think.
Nicholas Guyatt's book is very well written: imparital, funny in parts, intelligent and well-reasoned and he gets to meet the majority of the key players in the field of End Times Christianity.
He also combines interviews and current affairs with sections on apocalyptic Christianity in history (from England in the 1600s) and explains how the believers in the US got to what they believe and how.
The book's relatively up to date (having been published in 2007) although I would love there to be an addendum now that Tony Blair has been made the special envoy to the Middle East. If you read this book, you'll know straight away what these particular Christians will think of it!
Overall, a well-written and interesting look into an area of Christianity that appears to be big in the US but is barely known over here, but may be impacting on World affairs in a scary way. Very good.
Nicholas Guyatt's book is very well written: imparital, funny in parts, intelligent and well-reasoned and he gets to meet the majority of the key players in the field of End Times Christianity.
He also combines interviews and current affairs with sections on apocalyptic Christianity in history (from England in the 1600s) and explains how the believers in the US got to what they believe and how.
The book's relatively up to date (having been published in 2007) although I would love there to be an addendum now that Tony Blair has been made the special envoy to the Middle East. If you read this book, you'll know straight away what these particular Christians will think of it!
Overall, a well-written and interesting look into an area of Christianity that appears to be big in the US but is barely known over here, but may be impacting on World affairs in a scary way. Very good.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed Guyatt's 2007 book in which he seeks out some of the leading lights in the apocalyptic/end of times movement(s) of the USA.
I was somewhat relieved to discover that these lunatics don't have quite as much political influence that the more sane among us had begun to fear that they might. (Bush is now no longer in office, of course.)
The author hunkers down with an assortment of these strange, 'death-wish' pea-brains and invites them to explain how the rantings of bronze age epileptics and psychopaths can be understood as 'warnings' from God.
He also discovers - surprise, surprise - that there's an awful lot of `manna' to be made from this caper, too. Books, lecture tours, CDs, DVDs, computer games and TV shows.
Guyatt explores the only-to-be-expected schisms that exist within this life-hating, self-loathing bunch of fools and finds that some feel that they should 'engage in the political process' whilst others feel that they should not.
One of the most intriguing splits seems to be over whether 'the Jews' can be 'saved' if they don't accept Christ as their saviour.
It's real fun stuff as these dreadful people whine on endlessly about the merits and meanings of age-old hysteria and superstition.
The author has done a good job. I couldn't have sat with any of these wackos without laughing in their faces. Thanks to Guyatt, I didn't have to.
Barry
I was somewhat relieved to discover that these lunatics don't have quite as much political influence that the more sane among us had begun to fear that they might. (Bush is now no longer in office, of course.)
The author hunkers down with an assortment of these strange, 'death-wish' pea-brains and invites them to explain how the rantings of bronze age epileptics and psychopaths can be understood as 'warnings' from God.
He also discovers - surprise, surprise - that there's an awful lot of `manna' to be made from this caper, too. Books, lecture tours, CDs, DVDs, computer games and TV shows.
Guyatt explores the only-to-be-expected schisms that exist within this life-hating, self-loathing bunch of fools and finds that some feel that they should 'engage in the political process' whilst others feel that they should not.
One of the most intriguing splits seems to be over whether 'the Jews' can be 'saved' if they don't accept Christ as their saviour.
It's real fun stuff as these dreadful people whine on endlessly about the merits and meanings of age-old hysteria and superstition.
The author has done a good job. I couldn't have sat with any of these wackos without laughing in their faces. Thanks to Guyatt, I didn't have to.
Barry
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a lot of fun. I remember reading Hal Lindsay's `Late Great Planet Earth' in the 1970's at school all about how the Soviets were going to attack Israel, bring about Armageddon and so the end of the world. It didn't make me a Christian, but left a lingering sense there was something special about Israel and that its creation in 1948 was the fulfilment of Biblical prophecy. But when I did become a Christian and started to meet zealous Zionists I must confess to it all leaving me a little uneasy. Their maps about the end times all seemed like a rather uninspiring geography lesson, detached from the true spirit of Christianity. Then about ten years ago I read Colin Chapman's `Whose Promised Land' that theologically takes apart Christian Zionism, and more recently Stephen Sizer. So I was definitely up for this delightful book which chronicles the author's visits to hard line Christian Zionists in America, supposedly yearning for the end of the world - which they are very much enjoying. He doesn't get to meet all the big names, but doesn't do badly. He gets a few moments with Tim LaHaye, author of the `Left Behind' series, even less time with John Hagee, the fiery Zionist from San Antonio and none at all with Lindsey. But he gets to talk with plenty of their friends and supporters. And he does get quality time with the new rising Zionist star, Joel Rosenberg. What is most endearing about this book is the tone. The whole business makes me angry. Ignoring Jesus' blunt statement that no one knows when the end will be, these people twist Scriptures and make money out of gullible and superstitious Christians. End times are certainly big business in the States, and the winners all end up playing golf in Palm Springs. They are also draining millions of dollars away from genuine Christian mission to the absurd business of helping Jews get to Israel. It's a tawdry nonsense, and I suspect it is also shot through with racism. Unable anymore to practise it in America, these Christians now funnel these dark emotions on to the `baddies' in their end time prophesies - twenty years ago the Soviets, now the Iranians. In fact their whole theology is racist as, contrary to Scripture, they claim the Jews...just by birth...are still the people of God. So I get upset. The wonderful thing about this book is the calm, understated, humorous way Guyatt takes us through this oddity that these Americans who so clearly have a good life, are desperate to have a domesday. He never gets up on to the soap box and starts ranting, but just lets the players state their case. And when it gets into print, it looks pretty silly, but, and here the author challenges my judgemental attitude, he also lets us see most of them as people as well as zealots for their cause, and not just people, but fellow Christians.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Disappointing
Unfortunately in this occasionally entertaining book Nicholas Guyatt does not answer the principle question in the books title. Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2008 by Paul Holland
Entertaining, useful and important
Author Nicholas Guyatt book sports a rather telling frontpage photo and logo, with a lone church standing tall on a field among (holy?) explosions. Read more
Published on 11 Aug 2007 by Grendel97
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
