In recent years the media has jumped onboard the Doomsday train, giving us a plethora of books, television programs, and movies built on the premise that, "The End is Near."  It’s the interpretation of an ancient Mayan calendar that spawned all this prophetic profit. Many believe that the Mayans foretold the end of a cycle on December 21, 2012. Bunkers are filling up with ammo and food, solemn farewell ceremonies are planned, and the savvy sages are lining their pockets with love offerings made in exchange for their advice about how to survive the end of the world.

The 2012 Guide Book, subtitled How to Make the End of the World Fun!, takes a far more sensible approach to the impending cataclysm. Radio personality and possible anarchist (he’s selling the book on Amazon but also giving away the free ebook version of The 2012 Guide Book!) Corey Deitz doesn’t take much of anything seriously and he has pulled together a book full of really useful information about how our world might end: global warming, asteroid impact, the Anti-Santa, to name a few. He even dares to address those questions that we’re all afraid to ask: Doomsday taxes, alien bloggers, and how to interact with Bunker people.

He thoughtfully includes in an appendix a few of the possible Doomsday scenarios not covered in the book. Deitz has the advantage here, I should think; if his light-hearted refusal to take December 21, 2012 seriously is wrong, no one will be around the next day to scoff.

Deitz was obviously over-caffeinated while writing this book, which is a good thing, I suspect, when pondering such an onerous topic. Aren’t we all sick and tired of those gloomy Guses who make us feel that the destruction of our planet and our species is inevitable? Corey Deitz’s refreshing and irreverent approach makes fun of every theory and every believer or non-believer on either side of any belief. He also makes fun of politicians and pseudo-journalists, plus a whole lot of other agitators. If you have misplaced your sense of humor, avoid this book. He’ll probably offend you, but he’ll certainly entertain you.