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How to Survive the End of the World: A Graphic Exploration of How to (Maybe) Avoid Extinction
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Expected 31 Mar 26Win a free print copy of this book!
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5 copies available
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"Brilliant; at once terrifying and fascinating." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
In a full-color debut, a graphic novelist takes an engrossing, gleefully existential deep dive into the many ways that humanity could—and almost did—meet its end.
Since 99.9 percent of all species that have lived are extinct, it’s bound to be our turn eventually, right? So what’s most likely to kill us? A well-timed asteroid? Some new robot overlords? With wit and dry humor, debut graphic novelist Katy Doughty blends science and history to explore our chances of surviving disasters such as plagues, global warming, and alien invasion. Drawing on interviews with experts in fields like infectious diseases, AI, and interplanetary exploration, she combines cutting-edge research with compelling visuals: mugshots of the deadliest microbes, graphs of the winners and losers of mass extinction events, and a whole lot of dinosaur drawings. For apocalypse aficionados, the morbidly curious, and the just plain curious, this is your antidote to existential dread—a timely, imaginative, and ultimately hopeful take on humankind’s ability to survive the odds.
In a full-color debut, a graphic novelist takes an engrossing, gleefully existential deep dive into the many ways that humanity could—and almost did—meet its end.
Since 99.9 percent of all species that have lived are extinct, it’s bound to be our turn eventually, right? So what’s most likely to kill us? A well-timed asteroid? Some new robot overlords? With wit and dry humor, debut graphic novelist Katy Doughty blends science and history to explore our chances of surviving disasters such as plagues, global warming, and alien invasion. Drawing on interviews with experts in fields like infectious diseases, AI, and interplanetary exploration, she combines cutting-edge research with compelling visuals: mugshots of the deadliest microbes, graphs of the winners and losers of mass extinction events, and a whole lot of dinosaur drawings. For apocalypse aficionados, the morbidly curious, and the just plain curious, this is your antidote to existential dread—a timely, imaginative, and ultimately hopeful take on humankind’s ability to survive the odds.
256 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 31, 2026
8 people are currently reading
1920 people want to read
About the author
Katy Doughty
2 books8 followersI'm a California-born, Texas-bred, New-England-educated designer and illustrator living in Boston. I hold a BFA. in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design and am an MPH candidate at Boston University School of Public Health. I’m particularly interested in the intersection between visual communication, research, and healthcare. You can see some of my work in The Nib, Lily Magazine, and in anthologies.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I have mixed feelings about this book. Firstly, I don't care for graphic novels, etc. As a child I did love the comic books and the Sunday newspaper comics section. But those days are past. However, I do concede that there is a certain attention-grabbing quality to a graphic book or story, and I also acknowledge that the genre is actually "genre spanning" and can be a useful tool to get reluctant readers to read or to educate interestingly about the mundane.
So where does How to Survive the End of the World......" fit into the mold of genre, interest, educate, or entertain? This quality hardcover book begins with early Earth's existence and events that geology has preserved. A look at plagues that nearly wiped out broad swaths of mankind and onto modern man's creation of tools that could potentially destroy mankind and any form of life on Earth. So the book has a bit of history, and bit of education, a lot of caution, some encouragement, and tid-bits of "how to survive" tucked into the pages.
The comics, or should I say "illustrations," are done creatively and will forge images in the reader's mind without terrifyingly raw reality.
A product of MIT Teen Press, the intellectual quality of content promises to be worth delving into and is such that will engage children with bright, questioning minds.
Having recently experienced the Covid Pandemic and the isolation, fear, alarm that ensued, readers will appreciate the part of this book that covers pandemics and plagues throughout history and how mankind survived - often with great loss. They'll get a glimpse into solutions and pros and cons of fighting disease.
Readers will take a look at current concern many have of machines, technology, robots taking over mankind. Then there is a look at present fears and past events of when huge chunks of rock (meteors and meteorites) fall from the sky and devastate the land. These are very present fears and the book takes a reassuring look at such.
"It takes courage to imagine the end of the world--an even more courage to try to change the ending." [pg. 224, How to Survive the End of the World: A Graphic Exploration of How to (Maybe) Avoid Extinction]
I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
So where does How to Survive the End of the World......" fit into the mold of genre, interest, educate, or entertain? This quality hardcover book begins with early Earth's existence and events that geology has preserved. A look at plagues that nearly wiped out broad swaths of mankind and onto modern man's creation of tools that could potentially destroy mankind and any form of life on Earth. So the book has a bit of history, and bit of education, a lot of caution, some encouragement, and tid-bits of "how to survive" tucked into the pages.
The comics, or should I say "illustrations," are done creatively and will forge images in the reader's mind without terrifyingly raw reality.
A product of MIT Teen Press, the intellectual quality of content promises to be worth delving into and is such that will engage children with bright, questioning minds.
Having recently experienced the Covid Pandemic and the isolation, fear, alarm that ensued, readers will appreciate the part of this book that covers pandemics and plagues throughout history and how mankind survived - often with great loss. They'll get a glimpse into solutions and pros and cons of fighting disease.
Readers will take a look at current concern many have of machines, technology, robots taking over mankind. Then there is a look at present fears and past events of when huge chunks of rock (meteors and meteorites) fall from the sky and devastate the land. These are very present fears and the book takes a reassuring look at such.
"It takes courage to imagine the end of the world--an even more courage to try to change the ending." [pg. 224, How to Survive the End of the World: A Graphic Exploration of How to (Maybe) Avoid Extinction]
I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
November 16, 2025
How to Survive the End of the World by Katy Doughty hits just the right mix of informative, panic-reducing, and call to action. Ideal if you feel a little overwhelmed at times.
What worked for me was the way she didn't downplay some of the major concerns many people have but placed them in perspective. Some of the things that can worry people excessively both have slim odds and are mostly out of our control, so be aware but don't over-stress over them. Some things (such as climate change and potential future pandemics) are more likely but are also things we can actually do something about. By helping to educate readers and offer directions for any activism and/or beneficial actions, Doughty has given us a book that can help us feel just a little less like the end of the world (as we know it) is right around the corner and a little more empowered to do what we can about the things we might actually be able to have some impact.
I also think this would be a good book for parents to discuss with their children. I won't venture a guess at what age, you know your child's stress and knowledge level better than I do, but a conversation that would help them to not be spooked when alarmists are shouting their end-of-times predictions (which seem to keep being wrong but their flocks keep buying into their lies) can only help.
Recommended for those readers who find themselves periodically overwhelmed by multiple seemingly unavoidable existential crises even though they know that even as bad as it is it isn't quite that bad (yet).
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
What worked for me was the way she didn't downplay some of the major concerns many people have but placed them in perspective. Some of the things that can worry people excessively both have slim odds and are mostly out of our control, so be aware but don't over-stress over them. Some things (such as climate change and potential future pandemics) are more likely but are also things we can actually do something about. By helping to educate readers and offer directions for any activism and/or beneficial actions, Doughty has given us a book that can help us feel just a little less like the end of the world (as we know it) is right around the corner and a little more empowered to do what we can about the things we might actually be able to have some impact.
I also think this would be a good book for parents to discuss with their children. I won't venture a guess at what age, you know your child's stress and knowledge level better than I do, but a conversation that would help them to not be spooked when alarmists are shouting their end-of-times predictions (which seem to keep being wrong but their flocks keep buying into their lies) can only help.
Recommended for those readers who find themselves periodically overwhelmed by multiple seemingly unavoidable existential crises even though they know that even as bad as it is it isn't quite that bad (yet).
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
November 30, 2025
We became a post-apocalyptic people...the post-traumatic stress disorder can become intergenerational.
Despite being eternally fascinating, there's a pretty stark truth in the fact that science is inherently extremely capable of creating existential crises. Much as I love to learn about this topic, there's a deep discomfort I feel in some of the knowledge that this topic imparts. And while I know I will be long gone by the time many of the events described as "the end of the world" occur, it's still rather terrifying to me.
How to Survive the End of the World is one of those books that promotes intense exploration of thought, calculated interest in different types of analysis. It's also extremely depressing, as far as I'm concerned. I think there are a lot of people who can look at this information and find it unceasingly beautiful and fascinating—and to some extent, I can definitely agree—but I cannot help feeling some form of despair at all the endings.
Even with this personal feeling of mine, though, I find the information in this book to be incredibly important. And while, perhaps, it may not be important to my generation in the sense of it all having an integral impact on us, but the knowledge we gain today is the knowledge that may one day help those of the future. I think this is definitely a book worth picking up.
It takes humility to admit when you can't control the ending. It takes resolve to try to understand it anyway, even if the end is very far off.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less." - M. Curie
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for the sharing the digital ARC of this title for an unbiased review.
In How to Survive the End of the World, Doughty patiently lays out the entire human tapestry of scientific discovery to answer the question of how things can end (whether it be human civilization, the planet, or the universe itself). And sometimes she talk about how we can skirt it (if it is not already too late).
Definetly for fans of Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, however I will say not as comical as I expected such a book to be based on the description (I was expecting Allie Brosh levels of humor to accompany the Allie Brosh artistry)
One thing I appreciated about how Katy Doughty presented her argument is the use of 'talking head' sections of people currently in the field - it definetly contributed to my list of authors to look for in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for the sharing the digital ARC of this title for an unbiased review.
In How to Survive the End of the World, Doughty patiently lays out the entire human tapestry of scientific discovery to answer the question of how things can end (whether it be human civilization, the planet, or the universe itself). And sometimes she talk about how we can skirt it (if it is not already too late).
Definetly for fans of Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, however I will say not as comical as I expected such a book to be based on the description (I was expecting Allie Brosh levels of humor to accompany the Allie Brosh artistry)
One thing I appreciated about how Katy Doughty presented her argument is the use of 'talking head' sections of people currently in the field - it definetly contributed to my list of authors to look for in the future.
November 25, 2025
This is a graphic novel that discusses the end of the world and the various ways this can happen. It blends facts, history, and future scenarios to give you a general overview of what might happen. So while a bit depressing at times, this gives a great overview of the state of the world and its future, without overwhelming the reader too much.
I found this book informative, easy to read, nicely illustrated, and it had just the right amount of panic-inducing information without causing a panic-attack from what might happen. The author does a great job at placing all concerns in perspective of the reader's control. Some things are completely out of our control but are a possibility but others are within our control and we can fight for change to happen in those areas. It was just a great blend of scientific facts and calls to action to get the reader motivated to do something to save our future.
Overall, this book is the perfect mixture of upsetting information about the potential ends of the world, history, mitigation steps, and a call to action.
*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I found this book informative, easy to read, nicely illustrated, and it had just the right amount of panic-inducing information without causing a panic-attack from what might happen. The author does a great job at placing all concerns in perspective of the reader's control. Some things are completely out of our control but are a possibility but others are within our control and we can fight for change to happen in those areas. It was just a great blend of scientific facts and calls to action to get the reader motivated to do something to save our future.
Overall, this book is the perfect mixture of upsetting information about the potential ends of the world, history, mitigation steps, and a call to action.
*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
November 29, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press | MITeen Press for the digital ARC for review.
This was a fantastic resource for learning about the past and present of humanity. It had an interesting premise and title, that immediately drew me in and inspired me to request the ARC. It is written and illustrated in a way that is interesting and also easy to follow. I learned so much that I never knew and have a different perspective on many ideas.
I love how this book uses language in a way that I never thought of before. A perfect example of that is the use of the word “apocalypse.” Apocalypse is typically used in a way to describe the end of the world as a whole by some terrible means. I love the way it was used in this book as the end of a people and not all of humanity. Examples of this are the colonization of Native Americans and the Japanese citizens affected by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Scariest things: Cosmic collapse & climate change
Most interesting: killer machines and space travel & colonization
I highly recommend you pick this up if the title sounds interesting to you, as this was way better than I could have ever expected.
This was a fantastic resource for learning about the past and present of humanity. It had an interesting premise and title, that immediately drew me in and inspired me to request the ARC. It is written and illustrated in a way that is interesting and also easy to follow. I learned so much that I never knew and have a different perspective on many ideas.
I love how this book uses language in a way that I never thought of before. A perfect example of that is the use of the word “apocalypse.” Apocalypse is typically used in a way to describe the end of the world as a whole by some terrible means. I love the way it was used in this book as the end of a people and not all of humanity. Examples of this are the colonization of Native Americans and the Japanese citizens affected by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Scariest things: Cosmic collapse & climate change
Most interesting: killer machines and space travel & colonization
I highly recommend you pick this up if the title sounds interesting to you, as this was way better than I could have ever expected.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley and Candlewick Press for the ARC!
A wonderfully written graphic novel that examines the many possible ways the world could end. It explores both scenarios beyond human control and those influenced by human actions. While the subject matter could easily feel overwhelming, the author presents it with care, clearly outlining the realistic likelihood of each scenario without minimizing the seriousness of the concerns.
As a history major, I found the book's initial exploration of plagues and pandemics particularly compelling. It provided a chilling look at how rapidly silent killers can devastate entire populations. While I have always been fascinated by the history of disease and it's deadly effects on communities, this narrative shifted my perspective on how such outbreaks possess the potential to end the world.
A must read for teens seeking a compelling and easy to digest read on how the world could end.
A wonderfully written graphic novel that examines the many possible ways the world could end. It explores both scenarios beyond human control and those influenced by human actions. While the subject matter could easily feel overwhelming, the author presents it with care, clearly outlining the realistic likelihood of each scenario without minimizing the seriousness of the concerns.
As a history major, I found the book's initial exploration of plagues and pandemics particularly compelling. It provided a chilling look at how rapidly silent killers can devastate entire populations. While I have always been fascinated by the history of disease and it's deadly effects on communities, this narrative shifted my perspective on how such outbreaks possess the potential to end the world.
A must read for teens seeking a compelling and easy to digest read on how the world could end.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved this graphic novel!
Thank you to NetGalley for access to a digital arc.
Katy Doughty goes through a few different ways the world might end, sharing the science behind them and interviewing experts. Because of the various methods of possible destruction, Doughty delves into sociology, anthropology, biology, ecology, physics, and more. The text and illustrations are really accessible and easy to understand while also being entertaining and hopeful. (I will probably not be book talking this text to our ELL or remedial reading students, but freshmen will definitely be able to enjoy this.) She even includes suggested reading for further inquiry, source notes, and an extensive bibliography. The characters depicted are of diverse skin tones and ages.
We will be putting this on our school's summer reading list.
Thank you to NetGalley for access to a digital arc.
Katy Doughty goes through a few different ways the world might end, sharing the science behind them and interviewing experts. Because of the various methods of possible destruction, Doughty delves into sociology, anthropology, biology, ecology, physics, and more. The text and illustrations are really accessible and easy to understand while also being entertaining and hopeful. (I will probably not be book talking this text to our ELL or remedial reading students, but freshmen will definitely be able to enjoy this.) She even includes suggested reading for further inquiry, source notes, and an extensive bibliography. The characters depicted are of diverse skin tones and ages.
We will be putting this on our school's summer reading list.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
How to Survive the End of the World is a wonderfully illustrated graphic novel of the various ways the world could potentially end. It is informative, and explains the likelihood of each scenario happening.
I personally found the first half of the book more intriguing. Learning about a potential pandemic or world ending war was more interesting than extinction via space phenomenon.
The book being produced in a graphic novel format was perfect. The subject matter is a bit depressing and anxiety inducing, so the possible world ending scenarios being put forth in a comic strip style gave it less of a Doomsday feeling.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
I personally found the first half of the book more intriguing. Learning about a potential pandemic or world ending war was more interesting than extinction via space phenomenon.
The book being produced in a graphic novel format was perfect. The subject matter is a bit depressing and anxiety inducing, so the possible world ending scenarios being put forth in a comic strip style gave it less of a Doomsday feeling.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for the arc.
I did enjoy this overall but it's weird to say that when the book covers extremely terrifying topics that already plague my mind right now especially the chapters on AI and Climate Change. The book is titled "How to Survive the End of the World" but I didn't really get any how to survives, just here's the inevitable ending to those possibilities. There wasn't a lot of guidance on what we can do to avert those endings so I was left feeling less optimistic and more weighted in my already tiresome dread for what the future holds. The art was great but as a book to actually help avoid extinction, i don't think it actually does what the title describes.
I did enjoy this overall but it's weird to say that when the book covers extremely terrifying topics that already plague my mind right now especially the chapters on AI and Climate Change. The book is titled "How to Survive the End of the World" but I didn't really get any how to survives, just here's the inevitable ending to those possibilities. There wasn't a lot of guidance on what we can do to avert those endings so I was left feeling less optimistic and more weighted in my already tiresome dread for what the future holds. The art was great but as a book to actually help avoid extinction, i don't think it actually does what the title describes.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This graphic novel is, expectedly, very bleak. As the book explores different ways life on earth might end, it leaves us with one certainty - nothing lasts forever. But still, there is an element of hope and optimism in saying that even when humanity ends, there is stuff to remember in humanity. I will say, though, this bleak, long book is pretty dense. Casual reader will have a hard time reading this book start to finish, but the way the book is designed with sections encourages readers to pop in and out of the story, and that will help.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This graphic nonfiction is great for my high school readers!
Doughty explores how plagues and pandemics, deadly blasts, a climate meltdown, killer machines, falling skies, and a cosmic collapse could be what causes humanity's extinction. Interspersed with the narrative are "ask the expert" sections which lends fantastic credibility to what could be seen as a too-lighthearted book. I especially love how Doughty includes that the colonization (and diseases from European settlers) decimated the North American indigenous peoples in the plagues and pandemics chapter.
Doughty explores how plagues and pandemics, deadly blasts, a climate meltdown, killer machines, falling skies, and a cosmic collapse could be what causes humanity's extinction. Interspersed with the narrative are "ask the expert" sections which lends fantastic credibility to what could be seen as a too-lighthearted book. I especially love how Doughty includes that the colonization (and diseases from European settlers) decimated the North American indigenous peoples in the plagues and pandemics chapter.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Received an ARC courtesy of the publisher via Edelweiss
I am trying to read a bit more nonfiction. The format made the information seem more digestible to me. I thought this would be really depressing, but the author managed to make it hopeful and included some ways the reader could possibly help prevent extinction.
I am trying to read a bit more nonfiction. The format made the information seem more digestible to me. I thought this would be really depressing, but the author managed to make it hopeful and included some ways the reader could possibly help prevent extinction.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Though the art was not my style, this graphic novel nicely delved into various events that could cause humanity to die off, and did so in a way that never made me panic. It takes care to explain from multiple perspectives, often involving voices of expertise other than the author. Overall, a good pick, and I'll be recommending to teens.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
An informative deep dive into 6 possible ways for the world, as you know it, to end. It was at times a very stressful read, if only because we can see the effects of climate change or resource exploitation impacting our world right now. But I appreciated the author’s point of view and ultimately positive spin on the future of humanity.
September 6, 2025
The best way to combat fear is with information. Though this book was terrifying at times, my worries were always quelled with the information that followed. Incredibly informative and even inspiring! Very well done.
February 21, 2026
The art style was amazing, the education was amazing. I’m seriously tempted to buy about a million copies of this book and drop them off at every high school and middle school. So informative and well researched all while show casing it off perfectly.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for my Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.
I loved this book! Will it actually help you survive the end of the world? That is unlikely. But will you enjoy reading it as the world burns? Absolutely! 4.5 stars
I loved this book! Will it actually help you survive the end of the world? That is unlikely. But will you enjoy reading it as the world burns? Absolutely! 4.5 stars
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November 26, 2025Booklist review pending
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
My 15-year-old self cowering in fear of the 2012 apocalypse really could have used this book.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews