The Browser's Book of Endings: The End of Practically Everything and Everybody

by Charles Panati

Relates the curious stories behind the extinction of peoples, beliefs, fashions, customs, and inventions.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Trivia, Reference, Biography, Death, Humor

496 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Charles Panati is a former college professor, industrial physicist, author, and science editor of Newsweek.

Reviews

[Donell]

One of the most interesting books that I have read by far. It is split into subjects, so it's easy to read just a little, in a few minutes or stay up all night reading. I did this a couple times. Highly entertaining!

[cellomerl]

I might have to read more by this author. I liked his extensive vocabulary that seemed to roll off the pages in a natural, unselfconscious way. I learned some amazing things from this book and details on topics that I have never come across anywhere else. I wish there were a newer edition (since this one is from 1989 and needs an update).

[Angie]

OMG so much fun and so much weirdness! It does what says on tin and is a nice broad look at all sorts of endings - burials, death culture, will and testaments, extinction, obsolete tech... It gave me ideas and avenues that I must further research. Therefore, this is a Good Book.

[Elizabeth Kennedy]

I loved this book! What a fascinating subject, and all of the topics within the "Ending" scope of the book were great to be surprised with as I progressed through the book. The writing was intelligent, yet it used language that flowed into a concrete idea and as far as I can tell, is very accurate for when it was written. (Updates would include presidents who have since died, more recent studies on extinctions, etc) I learned many things I had not previously known. (Example, there is a possibility that Custer committed suicide!) I felt like I was in a college course while reading this, but an extremely engaging one! Thank you, Charles Panati!

[James S.]

Alternately horrifying and hilarious, Extraordinary Endings is a wonderful book. Panati has culled hundreds of secondary sources to compile this fascinating overview of "endings" - of ideas, practices, and people. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of the book is Panati's humor and wit, which, funny as it is, never detracts from the seriousness of the subject matter. Ultimately, I can give this book the highest praise - I learned something on every page.

[Andrea Patrick]

Good bedtime browsing. Includes the circumstances surrounding the deaths of all the presidents; history of plagues; some famous people thanatographies; some extinctions. I've read this before, but picked it up again in March, when the pandemic hit us all. I thought it would be kind of funny. Then it became too bleak. But over the past four years, I've taken comfort from reading about how terrible things used to be (think living under Trump sucks? At least it's not the Black Death!).

[Christie]

Great coffee table book, a bit outdated information but that's hardly the fault of the book

[JimC]

Filled with interesting information on US presidents, plagues, extinctions and other macabre endings. Easy to pick up and put down as most of topics are covered in two or three pages.

[Artie]

A low 4. A bit long and inconsistent but occasionally fascinating.

[Basil]

Amazing! Fascinating. One of my all time favorites!!

[Stephanie]

I enjoyed this book for the most part.It was entertainingly written while being greatly informative.There was one element of it however that I did not enjoy and that was the author's absolute insistence that evolution was is an indisputable scientific truth.As a creationist,I do not agree.The author speaks unkindly of any concept of religion so I can't say I am surprised.As a misanthrope however,I found plenty to confirm my misanthropy as one will in even a basic accounting of human history.The sections in which the author describes how humans slaughtered gentle,non threatening ,species of animals who didn't even know to be afraid of humans such as the great auk into extinction out of sheer greed left me angry and sickened.All together,its well worth reading even if you don't agree with all the authors opinions.

[Chris]

Thought I'd like this more than I did. I've read some of Panati's other works and I enjoy books covering this type of trivia, but it seemed to go on and on and on. Sections on the the cemetery movement, dead presidents, mass extinctions and species terminated by man were interesting, but those on the deaths of famous people dragged; especially the ending chapter on "famous people of the old West." Seriously, who cares about that.

[Sandra Strange]

This book is everything it says it is: it tells the ending of everybody from bequests of the US presidents to the deaths of notorious characters of the Old West, from different kinds of dying, to ancient extinctions, to vanished customs (including sexual practices--so the book isn't for the faint of heart).

[Lindsay Campbell]

companion to the origins book, though i prefer the origins. this does have people's last words, wills, etc, including all the US presidents and many writers. also covers extinctions. buy the pair while you're at it.

[Jenna]

Great book! So entertaining, but the best part is the educational things that I've learned from reading this! I read it while sitting in the pit for a show a few years back and I've found the need to refer to it many times! Great book I just happened to pick up second hand!

[Paul]

I love this type of trivia! Gives you something to talk about at parties.

[Carolyn]

I was reading this when I delivered my son, which could explain some things, come to think of it. What a bizarre little gem.

[Cheryl Lindstrom]

fantaastic book full of interesting if occassionally morbid info

[Tara Mistletoe]

great to pick up and put down if you can't handle reading marathons,don't worry about losing your place. interesting information,enlightens.

[Tom Oman]

Couldn’t put this down even though I was expecting it to be a bit trite. Great book for casual reading.

[Julie isawesome]

The Dodo is my favorite