From nuclear winter to fiery apocalypses, humans have always had a strange fascination with the end of the world. Dorian Lynskey’s new book, Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell About the End of the World, dives into this centuries-old obsession, offering a captivating mix of history, pop culture, and sharp wit.

Lynskey, a British journalist known for his deep dives into cultural phenomena, explores how our love for fictional disasters contrasts with our reluctance to face real-world crises. Whether it’s the atomic bomb’s grim prophecies or Lord Byron’s bleak poem “Darkness” about a sunless Earth, Lynskey unpacks the stories that have both terrified and captivated us.

The book is a treasure trove of references, from sci-fi classics to religious texts like the Book of Revelation. Lynskey’s enthusiasm for his subject is infectious, though he occasionally gets carried away with examples, making the 500-page tome feel a bit lengthy. Still, his humor and insight keep the journey engaging.

One of the book’s standout themes is the idea that stories—whether in books, movies, or poems—can jolt us into action. As Lynskey notes, there’s a long-standing belief that a terrifying enough tale can “traumatize us into awareness.” Yet, as wildfires rage and real-world disasters unfold, it’s clear that our appetite for fictional doom doesn’t always translate into real change.

Everything Must Go is a timely, thought-provoking read, blending history and cultural critique with a dose of dark humor. If you’ve ever wondered why we’re so obsessed with the apocalypse, Lynskey’s book has the answers—and they’re as entertaining as they are unsettling.