History's Worst Predictions ─ And the People Who Made Them

This hardcover book is an excellent historical resource, and a great gift for anyone with an interest in history. Organized chronologically from Antiquity to modern times and beyond, History's Worst Predictions excavates the strata of history to expose the credulity and absurdity of humanity's prophetic utterances. Every aspect of human life—religion, politics, science, economy, culture, and war—has provided material for the most far-fetched and inaccurate of predictions. Chapters include:

• The "First" Second Coming: Saints Mark, Matthew, Luke, and Paul
• Plagiarist Prophet: Nostradamus
• Historical Imperative: Karl Marx
• Man of Peace: Neville Chamberlain
• All Shook Up: Variety Magazine

This beautifully illustrated, full-color volume contains photographs and maps that bring each chapter to life, depicting the people and places responsible for some of the most infamous prophecies in human history.

Eric Chaline is a professional journalist and writer specializing in history, philosophy, and religion. A graduate of Cambridge University and The School of African and Oriental Studies, London, he lived in Tokyo for seven years where he was English-language editor for Kodansha Publishers. His book credits from that time include Martial Arts for Fitness and Tai Chi for Mind, Body and Spirit, which have been translated into several languages. More recently, he has published titles on philosophy, including The Book of Zen, and on history, including Traveler’s Guide to the Ancient World: Ancient Greece, History’s Worst Inventions, and History’s Worst Deceptions. He now lives and works in London, where he is conducting doctoral research in sociology at South Bank University.