That Is All

That Is All represents the final volume in John Hodgman's trilogy of Complete World Knowledge, continuing the sequential page numbering from his previous works. This 2011 satirical almanac blends fictional facts and absurd observations into an encyclopedic collection of manufactured truths. The book features an extensive day-by-day calendar chronicling events leading to an imagined apocalypse on December 21, 2012, which Hodgman terms Ragnarök. It also contains sections on sports, wine appreciation, and an inventory of seven hundred invented deities. The format follows Hodgman's established style of presenting fabricated information with the authority and structure of a reference book. Each entry maintains a consistent deadpan tone while building an intricate mythology of improbable facts and figures. This concluding volume explores themes of authority, truth, and humanity's relationship with knowledge through its satirical manipulation of familiar almanac and encyclopedia conventions.

Readers describe That Is All as the most absurdist and apocalyptic entry in Hodgman's trilogy. The book maintains his deadpan almanac style while focusing on predictions about the end of the world. Readers appreciated: - The expanded personal stories and glimpses into Hodgman's real life - Commitment to the fake expert persona while revealing more humanity - Detailed end-times prophecies and scenarios - Integration of actual historical events with fictional elements Common criticisms: - Less accessible than previous books for new readers - Apocalyptic focus feels more scattered than earlier works - Some jokes and references run too long - Requires familiarity with prior books Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (120+ ratings) Multiple reviewers noted it works better when read in small sections rather than straight through. Several mentioned the book feels more melancholic than its predecessors, with one calling it "funny but surprisingly poignant."

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams A satirical encyclopedia of the galaxy presents manufactured facts and absurd explanations through the format of a travel guide.

Zeus Grants Stupid Wishes by Cory O'Brien The collected myths and religions of world history receive irreverent retellings through deliberately inaccurate reinterpretations.

The Areas of My Expertise by John Hodgman This first volume in Hodgman's trilogy contains lists of fabricated historical facts and improbable truths presented in almanac form.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman An apocalyptic narrative unfolds through precise documentation of prophecies and supernatural events leading to the end times.

What If? by Randall Munroe Scientific principles combine with deadpan analysis to explore impossible scenarios through the structure of academic inquiry.

♦ John Hodgman served as the "PC" in Apple's famous "Get a Mac" advertising campaign alongside Justin Long from 2006 to 2009. ♦ The book's predecessor volumes are "The Areas of My Expertise" and "More Information Than You Require," with all three forming a continuous page count spanning over 1,000 pages. ♦ December 21, 2012, the date referenced throughout the book, was significant as the end of the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, which many incorrectly interpreted as a Mayan apocalypse prediction. ♦ Before becoming an author and comedian, Hodgman worked as a literary agent, representing authors like Darin Strauss and David Grand. ♦ The term Ragnarök, which features prominently in the book, comes from Norse mythology and describes a series of events including a great battle leading to the death of numerous gods and natural disasters.