It's Not the End of the World, It's Just the End of You: The Great Extinction of the Nations

by David P. Goldman, Spengler

Why do cultures commit suicide? Why are we witnessing a new great extinction of peoples? Why is the economic crisis really a spiritual crisis? Probing the inner workings of civilization in a tour d'horizon of cultural decline, Spengler argues that Europe's postnational, secular dystopia is a death trap, that the onslaught of modernity has plunged Islam into an even greater crisis, and that the destiny of nations is decided in the human heart, by religion. Christian America, in spite of its follies and gullibility, has the spiritual strength to restore the faith of the West.This book presents, in one comprehensive volume, the wide scope of Spengler's theories on Christianity, Islam, America, the financial crisis, horror movies, modern art, Israel, Tolkien's Middle Earth, tribalism, the global balance of power, demography, and sex in the twenty-first century. he global balance of power, demography, and sex in the twenty-first century. These highly original essays may provoke you, even frighten you-but never bore you."In the more than twenty years I've known David Goldman, he's always had an original take on the big picture and frequently has spotted key turning points well in advance of the herd. He's an indispensable voice on financial television and a must-read observer of politics and economics."-Lawrence KudlowCNBC Television"Ask anyone in the intelligence business to name the world's most brilliant intelligence service, and we'll all give the same answer: Spengler. David P. Goldman's 'Spengler' columns provide more insight than the CIA, MI6, and the Mossad combined."-Herbert E. MeyerMeyer served during the Reagan Administration as Special Assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence and as Vice Chairman of the CIA's National Intelligence Council.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, Cultural

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 2011

About the author

David Paul ‘Spengler’ Goldman is an economist, music critic, and author, best known for his series of online essays in the Asia Times under the pseudonym Spengler. As a religious Jew, Goldman says that he writes from a Judeo-Christian perspective and often focuses on demographic and economic factors in his analyses; he says his subject matter proceeds "from the theme formulated by [Franz] Rosenzweig: the mortality of nations and its causes, Western secularism, Asian anomie, and unadaptable Islam."

Reviews

[Pieter · Rating 2 out of 5]

David P. Goldman is a man which shows a wide interest, ranging from classical music over mathematics and financial markets to demographics.

This book covers all of here above and some articles thrilled me while with others I strongly disagree.

I share the author's opinion that there is a strong correlation between fertility and religion. Next to that there must be some truth in Spengler's universal law that man and woman in a respective culture deserve each other. When islamic women are exposed to education, they turn away from brutal husbands.

Still it is unclear to me why the author is so strongly opposed to paganism and European nationalism. American and Israeli nationalism appear to be good and supportive to fertility. Why has Europe flourished for more that 1500 years under a pagan-christian belief, but only recently shows signs of a decreasing population? How about Hispanic mass-immigration? This seems to drive strong reproduction in the USA. But Hispanics are catholic, hence no part of the protestant culture that Spengler favours. And how about Palestinian population growth?

This book highlights some interesting facts and trends but leaves an unsatisfying feeling in the end.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insights. It makes me want to go have more babies.

[Aaron Kleinheksel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love minds like Mr. Goldman's. He is a polymath with backgrounds in many fields of study. In this book he draws upon religion, economics, philosophy, history, art history, music theory, popular entertainment, sociology, psychology, and demographics - and I'm leaving some out. He uses them all to guide the reader to an understanding of why (in his estimation), things are the way they are in the world - and where they are headed. This book would be a fantastic companion to books like The Wealth and Poverty of Nations, but it really is much more than that as it doesn't confine itself to only economics. In fact (SPOILER ALERT), Mr. Goldman's case revolves around his conviction that the problem is largely spiritual.

I really can't recommend this enough to ANYONE with even a passing curiosity of just what is happening in the world. Business, political, and religious leaders (esp. missionaries) would particularly benefit from the analysis, even if disagreeing with parts of it - there is just too much contained here that cannot be disputed to disagree with all of it.

There were sections (well, OK, classical music theory) where he was speaking over my head, but most of the text was written in a way that the casual reader can easily comprehend. Economic esoterics are generally explained in an understandable fashion, for example.

To any readers of this review who consider themselves a member of The West (Europe, USA, Commonwealth, Israel, etc.), this book should be required reading in first year of university and elective reading in Secondary School.

My only disappointments with the book are not the author's fault, for he is not a Christian. In my opinion there are a few instances where he does not go quite far enough in following the course of his logic, nor does he have a completely accurate understanding of what many Evangelical Christians believe (though for someone not ascribing to the faith his knowledge is quite impressive). This complaint sounds amorphous, so I will elaborate with an example:

In his conclusion, Mr. Goldman discusses the existence of Israel and fails to understand that to many Christians, it's very existence CONSTITUTES A MIRACLE and is a LITERAL fulfillment of the Biblical prophecy concerning Israels regathering to the land from the far corners of the earth to which they had been scattered as a result of their apostasy in ancient times. Israel today stands as a living, breathing testament to the world of God's faithfulness and sovereignty. No other tribe of people has endured what they have endured and survived, as the author makes clear. It is too bad he misses the forest for the trees, in a sense. He is so close to the mark. True Christians love the Jewish people, because God loves them. The New Testament (which Goldman rarely mentions), informs us that our (Jewish) Messiah, Jesus, was sent first to the Jews, and after that to the Gentiles for salvation.

Does anyone in the modern world wonder why such a small, seemingly insignificant nation in what is largely a backwater region of the earth is such a thorn in the side of world peace? Read the Bible where it is predicted to be so! The nation of Israel has a large part yet to play in the grand drama of this age, and Christians rejoice in the promises of God to them.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read. Goldman has his own cultural slant on some things (as do we all) but his arguments are sound and extremely thought-provoking. Goldman's multidisciplined mind enables him to read the signs of the times. We ignore him at our peril.

[Martin Schoffstall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Goldman book. One needs to read at least one of his books on demographics, and his estimates as to the why.

[Leandro Dutra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ðis could be ðe most important book of the IIIrd Millennium, as it is a very original and well founded analysis of ðe failure of the current civiliſation.