December 21, 2012: the end date of the sophisticated Long Count Calendar created by the ancient Maya in Central America. Countless websites, magazine articles, and newspaper headlines debate its meaning, with enthusiasts in two camps: those forecasting apocalypse--the end of time--and those who see a coming renewal--a rebirth of consciousness.

Adding fuel to the debate, some scientists see the increasing number of natural disasters in recent years as evidence of a catastrophic climax of events in 2012. How much of what we're hearing is science and how much is superstition?

Once past the gatekeepers, the carnival barkers, and the marketing hype, one finds that the fundamental concepts revolving around 2012 are among the most vital in existence. The 2012 meme boils down to the mysterious past, present, and future of the Earth and of every being upon it. It offers perspectives on how humanity chooses to relate to itself, to the Earth, and to the cosmos. How do we measure time, and how do human beings conceive of history and of personal identity? What are our values, our ideals, and our faiths?

Unique among a vast array of 2012-related literature, Alexandra Bruce sorts through the many and varied theories about what the mythic date will bring, allowing the reader to distinguish what is vital from what she terms "mythomania" in a bewildering world of 2012 products.

Bruce surveys the leading researchers, writers, and scientists in the field, who tell us exactly what this date means to them, why it's important, and what we should expect.