“Why Civilizations Fall And Cannot Rise Again.” What a cheerful title. Just what I needed today, another reminder that everything is doomed. You know, there’s nothing quite like curling up with a book that screams, “We’re all screwed!” to brighten your day.

Look at this cover. We’ve got the Parthenon in ruins – like we needed a visual aid to understand that civilizations fall. Thanks, Ralph Bourne. It’s not like we’ve ever seen a crumbling ancient structure before. What’s next, a picture of the Titanic sinking on a book about disasters?

And the subtitle, “The Natural Evolution of Capital Economies and the Destructive Forces of Cultural Entropy.” Oh boy, that rolls right off the tongue, doesn’t it? It’s like Bourne thought, “How can I make this sound as pretentious as possible?” Mission accomplished, Ralph.

And let’s not ignore the design choice here. A hot pink banner with your name in it? Is this a book on the fall of civilizations or a fashion magazine from the 80s? I mean, really, who thought that was a good idea? It’s like someone said, “You know what this bleak message needs? A pop of color!”

If you’re looking for a book to remind you that everything is falling apart, wrapped up in a package that looks like a bad art project, this is it. Thanks.