Alexander S. Heard is the author of the book “Apocalypse Pretty Soon: Travels in End-Time America,” published in 1999. In this work, Heard explores the world of American end-time and apocalyptic beliefs, delving into the lives and communities of people who were anticipating an imminent apocalypse or major transformative events at the turn of the millennium.
The book is a journey through various subcultures and groups in the United States that were centered around different apocalyptic beliefs and predictions. From UFO cults and radical technologists to religious sects expecting the Second Coming, Heard investigates a wide array of perspectives and the people who hold them. He examines why and how these individuals and groups became convinced that the end of the world, or at least a significant world-altering event, was near.
Heard’s approach in “Apocalypse Pretty Soon” is a blend of investigative journalism and cultural commentary. He offers not just descriptions of these groups and their beliefs, but also insights into the broader cultural and psychological factors that drive end-time thinking. The book provides a snapshot of the American millenarian landscape as it appeared leading up to the year 2000—a time when such beliefs were particularly pronounced due to the approach of the new millennium.