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Rating: 
Summary: Synergy of Trends
Review: "Brevity is the soul of wit." Hamlet, Act II, scene 2, 100."When a false theory has to be maintained, it requires to be set forth with much care; it requires study, and learning, and cunning sophistry to gild over a falsehood and give it the semblance of truth, and make it plausible and congenial to the feelings of the people; but the most simple and unlearned person can tell you the truth. A child can tell you the truth, in child-like language, while falsehood requires the lawyer and the priest to tell it to make it at all plausible; it requires a scholastic education to make falsehood pass for truth." Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, p.330 - p.331. This is an arresting book. In simple and plain language, Dr. Swensen makes the case that we are heading towards disaster. He proves his point in ten chapters and 139 pages, so this is not complex, overwhelming or mysterious. And, although the good doctor IS a Christian, there is no theological jargon or spiritual cant and mumble here. The only idea that is religious per ser is the falleness factor discussed in chapter Five. But you don't need to believe in the Bible to realize that things go wrong. You just need to believe in Murphy's Law and the Second Law of Thermodynamics-entropy. So what is Dr. Swensen's point? His is a voice of warning that several factors or tends are working together to cause serious havoc on the world-system. These trends are: 1)PROFUSION: More and more of everything. And he means EVERYTHING!
2)IRREVERSABILITY: We cannot undo what we have done-you can't unscramble eggs.
3)EXPONENTIAL GROWTH: This more and more of everything is happening faster and faster, so we are getting more and more of the original "more and more." This is on an exponential J-curve.
4)FALLENESS FACTOR: Things go wrong, or can be misused.
5)With all of these factors working together, we not only have a profusion of good (i.e. More educated people, more TVs and CT-scan machines), but he also have an EXPONENTIAL PROFUSIONOF EVIL
6)At some point this EXPONTIAL PROFUSION OF EVIL can overwhelm the world. Sobering. Quite sobering. But this is not a "date setting" book for doomsday, nor is it a pessimistic book. It is a voice of warning about the process that may lead to doomsday. Dr. Swenson takes the stand that this process is irreversible. That is an interesting debate. As a human I have hope, and as a Christian I believe in repentance, but many voices disagree with me. Pat Buchanan in his book "The Death of the West," agrees with Dr. Swenson that these trends are irreversible, although Toffler in "The Third Wave" says, though the trends unstoppable, we can survive. On the other hand, other men say that we can change this Armageddon process. C. S. Lewis speaks of a type of scientific repentance in "Abolition of Man." Robert Bork speculates in "Slouching towards Gomorrah" that a religious revival, more public discourse on morals, a cataclysmic war, or a sever depression may reverse trends. . Fukuyama in "End of History and the Last Man" says that expanding democracy can solve the problem. Dr. Peter Kreeft advocates Charity--AGAPE--the Pure Love of Christ should be our weapon against the culture. FYI, Unabomber Ted Kazcinski in his manifesto advocated terrorism against the means of industry-basically wholesale luddite-ism. This, of course, violates the principle of irreversibility, and is basically the ostrich approach to the world's problems. Even Mr. Kazcinski admits that this solution would not be permanent-see "Unibomber Manifesto," paragraph 212. Weather we can stop it or not, some action on our part may lesson any blow, be it inevitable or not. So take heed!
Rating:
Summary: Exponentially Intriguing
Review: As with his other works, Dr. Swenson has challenged the reader to consider things both marvelous and weighty. The great distinction of this book is that it presents Biblical truth concerning the end of the age with little reference to the Bible, eschatology, or theology. He had me scrambling for my calculator at times (because I couldn't believe his "exponential assertions"), only to discover that he was right on target. This entire book is a quick read which would make great fodder for discussion in a secular classroom.
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Summary: We should've seen it coming...
Review: I first heard Dr. Swenson discuss this book about 4 months prior to 9/11/2001 on a Focus on the Family radio broadcast, but I only heard the first day of the two-day broadcast. I thought at the time that his reasoning was very compelling. After the events of 9/11, this broadcast came to mind, and I contacted FOF for a tape copy of the broadcast. I heard the second day broadcast for the first time, and his discussion on terrorism, in which he talked specifically about bin Laden and the previous bombing of the WTC. I had to get the book. I believe Dr. Swenson's analysis of trends inevitably lead to the conclusion in the title. That being said, what is amazing is that the book is not a depressing read...not, that is, if you know Who is ultimately in control of all of history. If you are not a Christian, I think you will find this a fascinating read. If you are a Christian, I think you will find this a fascinating and uplifting book with some very practical applications on how to live in the here and now.
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Summary: Convincing and why.
Review: I think one of the most important aspects of what makes a good book is that it must be convincing to the reader. The reason why this book is-Uses real world facts, Common sense, Science, and what many believe, the Bible. Many God fearing persons would disagree as some only accept the Bible, I for one accept this book since I live in reality, the world around me that I have to accept. This is a well planned out write, not in the least inventive or weak, rather solid and supported. I am happy I bought it. I want to recommend another Spiritual, Scientific book very much like this, which also predicted the terror come to us, general prophecy as well as Armageddon in high detail. SB 1 or God by Karl Mark Maddox
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Summary: Empirical research for the reality-minded
Review: In Hurtling Toward Oblivion, Richard Swenson presents undeniable trends apparent in the world and carefully, chapter by chapter, weaves them into a conclusion that is somber, yet hopeful. If you are someone who is content in this world and into enjoying the good life, Swenson's writing will disturb you and perhaps move you to reconsider what is truly "important" in life given that our time here is limited. If the world's shaky and volitle environment strikes fear in you, Swenson offers reassurance that this world is not eternal and we have hope that God will create a new earth where there is no more suffering, no more threats of nuclear war, and no more death. In conclusion, I appreciated Swenson's effort to separate himself from the multitudes of authors who subscribe to "apocalyptic fever" and attempt to de-code the book of Revelation, set dates for the end, and the like. Swenson, in a scientific way (he is a medical doctor) states what is true and undeniable, not hype.
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Summary: DeskTopDetective reviews Hurtling Toward Oblivion...
Review: The other reviews listed here have pretty much covered this great book quite well, so I can only add that the graphs, which are simple, and seemingly accurate, show his points exceedingly well! They demonstrate exponentiality, and include: life expectancy, health care expenditures, Gross Domestic Product, Gross Federal Debt, Air Miles Traveled, Volume of Advertising, Third Class Junk Mail, Total Mail-Surface & E-mail, World Population, Explosive Power of Weapons, Data Transfer During War, One Soldier/Defensible Area, and more. Graphs such as these speak a thousand words! A very thought-provoking book!
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