"An inspiring book for challenging times and . . . a rewarding read for everyone intrigued by archaeological discovery and the deep history of human social change." - Science
"Lizzie Wade is an exceptional journalist and a master storyteller. In Apocalypse, she peels back the many myths of the present to reveal the true stories of past apocalypses and, perhaps more important, what happened afterward. She reminds us that survival always has been, and still is, possible, and that our world always has been, and still is, a choice." - Ed Yong, author of An Immense World
"This book upended my understanding of the ancient world. Wade renders our deep past in vivid prose, showing us that times of great rupture also bring great possibilities for new ways of living, if we let them. Apocalypse is the best kind of history book: vibrant and vital." - Zoë Schlanger, author of The Light Eaters
"We all know the images that portray life at the end of civilization-the survivors scrabbling through ruined cities. Strangely, though, anthropologists, archaeologists, historians, and geneticists have been studying the collapses of the past for decades, and-as Lizzie Wade's crisp, superb Apocalypse makes clear-the drumbeat of Hollywood imagery bears little relation to what has happened, or what we could expect. The true story is more complex, more interesting, and-paradoxically-more hopeful."
- Charles Mann, author of The Wizard and the Prophet and 1491
" . . . a deep dive into archaeology and history, [and] a fast-moving account, leaping across time (right back to the Neanderthals) and across the planet, from Spain to Pakistan, Mexico to the UK, combining scientific evidence, facts and theories with imaginative storytelling to bring different case studies to life. . . . [and offers] an opportunity to think about the future hopefully, not just fearfully." - Geographical Magazine (UK)
"Written amid one of the world's worst pandemics in a century and published in the wake of catastrophic California wildfires, journalist Lizzie Wade's Apocalypse widens the lens to describe vividly how multiple societies have experienced massive upheavals and have emerged altered in sometimes unexpected ways. Combining extensive research and reporting with some speculative digressions, Wade travels from prehistoric Europe to the contemporary West for stories of extreme hardship and humankind's response to it. . . . [and] has done an impressive job recounting some of these stories." - Shelf Awareness
"The world has ended many times and usually, amazingly, humans keep going. Rooted in solid science that never loses sight of the human and the possible, this book shows us why good stories and an understanding of history matter more than ever." - Agustín Fuentes, author of The Creative Spark
"A timely examination of catastrophes that humanity has faced through history. There are lessons, warnings, and solace to be drawn from this deep-time perspective on the existential challenges facing us today." - Alice Roberts, author of Ancestors
"With her knack for bringing the ancient world to life, Lizzie Wade turns the idea of apocalypse on its head, showing us how endings offer new opportunities for freedom, community building, and cultural change. Apocalypse is a fascinating chronicle of our deep past, written with extraordinary wisdom and clarity."
- Annalee Newitz, author of The Terraformers
"A fascinating dive into the tragedies-and comebacks-of those that came before us. Apocalypse shows us the strength of human ingenuity, which we shouldn't just admire but learn from, so that we can stand up to the problems we face today." - Hannah Ritchie, author of Not the End of the World
"An extraordinary book. Wade invites us to turn away from despair and apathy and embrace the creativity and compassion that has made humans so resilient. I found myself up late at night thinking of the lessons of the book long after I finished it." - Jennifer Raff, author of Origin
"Lizzie Wade's vivid descriptions bring the latest archaeological research to life in this fascinating and timely book. Despite its sobering subject matter, Apocalypse is ultimately an inspiring read, revealing how lessons from past crises can help us survive the looming apocalypse, which is likely to be the greatest challenge our species has ever encountered." - Jonathan Kennedy, author of Pathogenesis
"A sobering look..." - Kirkus
"This book tells the grim story of how our species has bounced from one apocalypse to the next. The good news is that, through human ingenuity, we survived-and there is much we can learn from how our ancestors managed these natural catastrophes." - Robin Dunbar, Professor of Evolutionary Psychology, University of Oxford
"A richly imagined new view on the great human tradition of apocalypse that defies conventional wisdom and long-held stories about our deep past to reveal how cataclysmic events are not irrevocable endings, but transformations." - The Next Big Idea Club, "May 2025 Must-Read Books"
"In this surprisingly hopeful book, Wade reports on what archaeologists see when they look at sites of upheaval and invites us to look at the past-and our own troubled time-in a new way." - MIT Review