User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
My love for this book is a result of my lack of social skills. Much as I might try to generate conversation with strangers (and, occasionally, among friends) I usually just end up rambling awkwardly until uneasy silence takes over. So, at some point, I started employing zombies. As conversation topics, not servants. Though that would be cool.
"What would we do if we were attacked by zombies right now?" is an excellent way to get to know someone. Their willingness to participate in this line of thought with me is usually a pretty good indication that we can be friends. Plus, you get a sense of their attitudes, general knowledge, and strategizing capabilities. Is this someone you want on your side in a difficult situation? If not, why am I hanging around them, anyway?
One difficulty I've run into with this, though, is the question: What kind of zombie are we talking about here? The slow, shambling zombies of Romero? The fast-moving, rabid ones a la "28 Days Later"? Are they intelligent? Does their zombification come from biological, viral or demonic sources? Are they intelligent? What are their physical capabilities and/or limitations? To effectively plan, you need to know what you're up against.
Thankfully, The Zombie Survival Guide covers all of this and more: the appearance and symptoms of the Solanum virus, a history of recorded outbreaks, and information on what to do in a variety of likely scenarios. Weapons, tactics, how to prepare, even how to flee, should it become necessary.
Rating: really liked it
This is one of the most important, at the same time underrated self-help and autodidactic books that should not be missing in any good library next to survival guides about blackouts, civil unrest, the collapse of civilizations, alien invasions, parents in law, and black Fridays. Although those get less and less dangerous thanks to online shopping, especially cyber Monday, consumerism, jay!
Just imagine the following.
You wake up, everything seems cool, there is just this unusual, extreme silence, interrupted by the moaning of a very strange animal. While drinking the first cup of coffee or booze, still drowsy until the drug kicks in, zombies can be seen from where you are standing at the window. So what do you do? Believe and hope that the few zombie movies gave you enough preparation? Well, they may have laughed at you, when you memorized the whole Zombie survival guide, but now you laugh at them. Cause now you know, how:
To amputate a bitten extremity, which highly depends on which zombie film you are in.
to deal with Postzombie traumatic stress disorder.
Zombies think (if) and feel (what). That gets especially important if some kind of left intelligence is discovered in one of the walking dead and the option of finding a cure becomes possible thanks to this anomaly.
And many more very useful and important things.
Specify the kind of apocalypse
It´s especially important to check in which kind of postapocalyptic setting you found yourself in. Is cannibalism already a thing and if yes, how accepted has it become in society? Of what kind are the zombies, more like the classic, slow, moaning ones or the tweaker style mad running ones with huge powers? Are they just zombified by natural causes or is there a bad necromancer, doing his voodoo in the background? Is the government your friend and wants to help or are they just herding up all humans because they know how big the outbreak really is and how many are already infected? Which sociological, psychological, logistical, and demagogic skills are needed to rebuild society as a mad cult with you as god-emperor in the center of it, and should your way to world domination be clean from zombality or the magic or biological weapon that caused the disaster integrated into your master plan to breed immortal Übersoldiers? Anticipatory and responsible planning is highly recommended. As soon as you have brainstormed the situation, focus especially on the chapters that deal with your unique situation.
Overthinking is key
No matter what problem or technical difficulty, this great adviser knows what to do. If someone has kids, family, or just a pet, it would be extremely reckless to be unprepared, to just watch The walking dead and play Resident Evil for preparation. What if there is no more electricity and you can´t watch the episode or play the level that showed the solution for your actual problem? Such as regularly going to screenings, paying your insurance, and going to the firing range to shoot at targets that move in a zombie-like manner and speed, it´s your duty for your beloved ones and your country to be reasonably prepared for this completely likely, anytime possible danger.
PS: Because of the great progress in biowarfare with the help of more and more sophisticated genetic enhancement tools, one should stop thinking that early warners such as the prepared reviewer are (too) bonkers. We will laugh about you all in our secure shelters and plan a new society while you get zombified or eaten alive! I can already hear the annoying knocking on the door and the "We were too stupid for proper preparation, please help, please let us in" screams. Sigh facepalm
Tropes show how literature is conceived and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
Rating: really liked it
This book is only really for those hardcore zombie enthusiasts.
Your home should look like thisUnless you really, REALLY just love all things zombie, don't bother picking up this book.
I thought I loved zombies enough. I really did. Turns out I just don't cut the mustard.
This book is a detailed expose on Zombie anatomy, zombie weapons and zombie survival strategy.
My favourite part of zombie books, the part where people become zombie numnums, is unfortunately missing. And that's the thing. Is there anything that interesting about zombies if they're not eating your best friend and slowly breaking down your group morale? For me: no.
Another problem with this book is that it is incredibly region specific. Unless you live in Canada, North America or Mexico, a large portion of this book won't apply to you. Information about which specific guns kill zombies best is great but only for people who have ever seen a gun and can hope to do so again.
I've seen a real gun exactly once. Also, my survival options are different here in Australia then they are in America. America is a largish continent with over 200 million people in the northern part alone. Australia is a largish continent, slightly larger than North America and it has roughly 20 million people total. I'm fairly confident that I can slip off into the bush and go years without ever stumbling across a zombie.
Americans are in trouble and Japan is fucked. Royally.
Still, the lack of guns thing sucks. Though thanks to this book I went and picked up a crowbar today and I feel a lot safer.
Still, it's not a book I'd ever pick up again and for the most part it didn't have a lot of chewy flesh to keep me interested for long.
Rating: really liked it
"Yes Brooks, but what about?" is what I often found myself asking while perusing the Zombie Survival Guide. It's clear it is meant to be humorous. I first went looking for it in non-fiction, and was disappointed to find it in the Humor section. I spared the Barnes and Noble employee a lecture on the dangers of being woefully unprepared for the coming Zombiepocalypse. Brooks went to some trouble to make it appear as if he put plenty of thought and research into this, and that helps make the tongue-in-cheek tone really stick.
However, he could have done more both for humor's sake and those of us who take this so seriously our families try to medicate us. But what do they know? They'll be the first ones eaten, and I still won't take those pills... Anyway, I digress. He covers a remarkable amount of ground, but nothing really in any great detail. It reads more like an encyclopedia of random "stuff", rather than an actual useful resource. It gives me things to consider, but little usable field information beyond the initial seed idea. Some quips and pop culture references are funny, but we'll see who's laughing when facing a scenario he avoided by saying, "Science cannot explain..."
Areas which I found lacking included group composition and psychology, weaponry, viral epidemiology, and tactical organization. A Level III or higher outbreak requires tough choices I don't remember Brooks being ready to handle in regards to human group dynamics. He acknowledges the difficulties of human psychology, but really doesn't delve into any one of countless areas to address. How best do you deal with children who just slow you down and endanger the group? How do you contend with the fact that, in all likelihood given the stresses of the situation, members of the opposite sex will likely be snogging the daylights out of each other every semi-private moment? That leads to pregnant, and slower, more demanding, and more vulnerable party members. How does a party leader attempt to prevent or deal with the issue if it's too early to repopulate the world? Tough question, and one Brooks doesn't address that I remember.
Also the weaponry section is terribly lacking in specifics. Brooks does do something right in stressing hiding and stealth throughout, but when you have to fight, he only discusses a few ideas for arming yourself. What I REALLY think the book could have used was a region-specific common chambering guide. In former NATO-countries, even though the AR-15 or M-16 and variants may be lacking in reliability and zombie-clubbing prowess to the chunkier Kalashnikov and SKS variants, one hardly wants to find oneself carrying a 7.62 in a 5.56 world. Choose a regional weapon based on the ammunition you are likely to find available issued to your local police, military, and paramilitary forces. A large, convenient table would have been a nice addition. A discussion of crossbow draw-strength versus range to give people an idea what they'd have to contend with, but worth it given the excellence of the weapon as a silent, reusable option, would also have been nice.
I still feel I understand precious little about the virus itself. I wouldn't consider this an issue except for the implied knowledge Brooks has through his statements, discussion, and supposed historical outbreaks he mentions. Share more! How do we protect ourselves? Is there a practical way to intervene? What are the hazards and best ways to protect group members during what he refers to as "clean-up" following a battle? What are the possibilities and repercussions of mutation, considering this IS a virus, after all.
I won't get into the tactical sections other than to say most of his suggestions would require people so battle-hardened, cool, intelligent, and collected they would likely be able to develop better plans on the fly. This they would almost certainly have to do, given the changing nature of all battlefields, much less ones with very difficult undead enemies. Instead of trying to paint unrealistic scenarios, just cut these chapters short by saying, "Find fearless tactical geniuses, and go kill with them."
Don't get me wrong, I liked the book. He raises and discusses an issue few people are taking seriously enough. He glances over some good points. And he's somewhat funny in parts. He tries to deliver a compact but useful guide covering an entire world's worth of issues. However, the most damning thing I can say about the Guide is that, when the undead rise, the book is not something that will be in my pack when I start running. I would much rather save the valuable weight and space for a region-specific weapons guide, field first-aid manual, resource for local flora and fauna, or even just an extra few iodine tablets or strips of beef jerky.
P.S.- Yes, I get the joke. Do you get mine?
Rating: really liked it
Max Brooks is a crazy man.
On the surface, this book functions as humor. What to do when zombies take over, that's fun, right?
What becomes obvious once you start reading it is that Brooks spent a lot of time thinking very seriously about this. And that's funny too. Part of what makes this book great is how humorless it is, even though you will find it in the humor section at the book store.
The more you read, the more you realize that Brooks has a very specific agenda in mind. He doesn't waste time comparing the different types of zombies from movies (i.e. fast zombies vs. romero zombies). He defines the threat in very specific terms with clearly defined rules. Through his no-nonsense shop talk and "historical" references, he hints at a parallel reality where zombies are a legitimate threat and you, the reader, should beware.
This is where you begin to doubt his sanity. His instructions are so specific and his accounts are so detailed that you become convinced that he takes his writing very seriously. He has created a authentic feeling, fictional world and you begin to wonder if he thinks he actually lives there.
As a humor book, it misses the mark. It’s just not that funny, at least not in the way other humor books are meant to be. ( take your Jeff Foxworthy, your Dilbert) If it is humor, it is way too dry or ironic to register with most people whose sense of irony is not as keenly developed as my own.
In order for this book to make sense, you should read it in one of two ways: either as a novel, or as I prefer, the ravings of a paranoid psychopath.
Rating: really liked it
It's a funny coincidence that I'm probably going to get killed by an angry, mindless mob for saying this, but allow me to be the only one with the guts to say that
The Zombie Survival Guide is hugely overrated. As others have suggested, the angle is supposed to be that this is a fact-based, real-world take on what to do when the dead finally rise, but Brooks breaks out the "science still can't explain" card way too often for his premise to really work. Which is problematic because while the central concept is that it's all about bringing zombies into the real world and throwing out the silly notions hoisted on us by works of fiction, Brooks has, in all honesty, just created another zombie universe with its own silly inconsistencies. Likewise, the repetitive structure and obsession with ridiculous minutiae ("Shaolin spade," anybody?) both strain the authors credibility and push the limits of what's bearable to sift through outside of an owner's manual. Do I
really need to know the difference between how to run from zombies in an SUV versus a Truck? No. The answer is no, I don't. The best, most readable part of the book is the chapter on recorded attacks, but that's because it reads much more like zombie fiction and that's exactly
not what this is supposed to be.
TZSG scores plenty of points for concept, attitude and design (the outbreak journal in the appendix is especially inspired), but as an actual book it borders on annoying and I couldn't wait for it to be over.
Rating: really liked it
What can I say this book gives my life complete and utter meaning. It's so informative and precise. The illustrations are freaking amazing.
Max Brooks is a truly incredible author and he isn't afraid to go ... there.
The books makes me wanna get fit and buy all the equipment I need, and you know what I will. I mean we will never ever know what could happen in the future will we?
In one sense because of the movies, books and TV shows I really want a zombie outbreak, but on the other hand I am really a huge fan of The Walking Dead (I call them munchers). What I'm saying is I've seen Maggie's reaction to (MAJOR TWD SPOILERS!!!) Glenn's death and Rick's reaction to Lori's death and I could go on but then the entire 8 seasons will be spoilt for you guys. Yes in fantasy a zombie apocalypse would be awesome but in reality all the loss and pain would be too unbearable for anybody really. Any kind of apocalypse would be unbearable.
Anyway back to the book I find that a prison based camp would keep you safe for a while even so it's a pretty secure base. Personally I would set up base in a prison considering how secure it is or maybe an abandoned town where lots of people can come and stay safe (and unlike the walking dead there would be no cannibalism or governors) - I've got to stop with the walking dead.
If there was ever to be a zombie outbreak I'd rather have a full blown crew and struggle for food and resources than be on my own. I would man the bow and arrows of course.
I know it's fictional what I'm about to say but a book like this for vampires would be super.
What bothers me is the animals that would get killed, knowing my luck I'd be the first to die. Anyway this book is an incredible read and whether you are into zombies or possible dystopian futures you still need to read this book. It may save your life one day.
On a side note I am so buying this book.
Rating: really liked it
I wasn't sure what to expect from this, at first. Certain genres, like zombies, are so overdone these days, that I figured it was going to be just a fun read, but nothing special. I was not at all prepared for the depth of each section. It was informative, innovative and a very enjoyable read. And nothing was overkill (No pun intended), but everything had a nice flow. I no longer am afraid of a zombie apocalypse, thanks to this book. Highly recommend!
Rating: really liked it
*updated 01 Nov 2011*raaar GGRRR UURRRG roooorrr RAAAAAAAR uurrg OOOOOR oooor ggrrrr RAAAAR GGRRR oor UUUGGG uugg aahhhhh!!!
Yes! I’m mastering the zombie language! If you don’t know what that means you’re in deep sh*t. You might want to get some books and start learning a few things..
Every person on the planet should own this book; you can never know when the next attack is going to be.
To do list:• buy a machete
• buy an M1 Carbine
• buy leather suit
• cut hair short
• buy supplies
• buy a dirtbike or horse, whichever is available
• create a voodoo zombie
• become a professional zombie hunter
Here are some personal results from my research.
Stay safe! And in case you turn into a zombie stay out of my way or eat lead!
Rating: really liked it
I did not finish this one sadly :( While I enjoyed World War Z, this one was too bogged down in the weapons section. Perhaps I just wasn't in the mood for it. Great for detailed information on types of weapons and their uses though. I mean hell, I know an aluminum baseball bat isn't the greatest weapon now against a zombie after a couple of attacks.
Rating: really liked it
You ever find yourself thinking what you would do if a zombie suddenly came up the hill in front of you. Would you run and try to tell the world? Would you think its already too late and fend for yourself? Would you just go take care of the ghoul yourself?
These are the questions I kept asking myself, especially while listening to The Zombie Survival Guide late at night while driving up the hill to my apartment. Not a good idea if you don't want to really creep yourself out.
I figured zombies would be a good follow up to the vampires from Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. It was actually kind of funny since each book described historical events from the perspective of their particular ghoul. Both actually describe the disappearance of the colony at Roanoke Island to be from zombies/vampires respectively.
The Zombie Survival Guide is a manual for people to use to prepare for a zombie uprising. The premise of the book is that zombies are already common or at least known, but have yet to overrun humanity. Plus, they've been around for ages, it's just been a cover-up.
The Zombie Survival Guide is an insanely well thought out book. Brooks really mapped out all the possibilities of a zombie uprising and prepares the reader for every contingency. Here's just a taste (from the blurb):
Top 10 Lessons for Surviving a Zombie Attack
1. Organize before they rise!
2. They feel no fear, why should you?
3. Use your head: cut off theirs.
4. Blades don’t need reloading.
5. Ideal protection = tight clothes, short hair.
6. Get up the staircase, then destroy it.
7. Get out of the car, get onto the bike.
8. Keep moving, keep low, keep quiet, keep alert!
9. No place is safe, only safer.
10. The zombie may be gone, but the threat lives on.
The book is divided into different sections that detail everything from what to do on the run to how to organize and attack. There's even a section on recorded attacks throughout history (as described a bit above).
One of my favorite sections was about weapons use. He describes a large array of weapons detailing which work well against zombies. The problem is that they can only be "killed" by head shots so he'll often go into popular movies and say why those instruments will or will not work.
For instance, he says that a chainsaw that you always see in the movies is one of the worst weapons because it's not only extremely heavy, but it's gas-powered. This means it probably won't last you very long especially if you're trying to survive for more than a couple days. On the other hand, a Shaolin Spade is one of the best weapons you can use because it is light and long enough to keep you safe.
When Should You Read The Zombie Survival Guide?
While The Zombie Survival Guide was entertaining and fun, it's still a guidebook. There's no story arc and there are plenty of lists, but of course this is exactly what's promised. If anything, The Zombie Survival Guide was a really good set up for Brooks' World War Z and I'm really excited to see how that plays out, especially in light of what I've learned about Zombie survival.
3 out of 5 Stars (Liked it)
Rating: really liked it
If prepping and zombies are your vibe, this book is for you. I feel thoroughly prepared to tackle anything The Real Life Walking Dead throws my way now.
Be warned, this book reads
like a survival guide. This is not a quippy title for a plot driven work of fiction. Therefore, some of the material starts to feel a little list-like and repetitive. Reading this book is likely better in doses for most people rather than a one-sit approach. Aaaand sometimes Brooks can contradict himself a smidge, but that was few and far between.
One more interesting tidbit, if you're thinking about writing a zombie novel, you may want to grab this one and read it! Some of the ideas in it are thought-provoking creatively.
I'd rate this a PG-13 for mention of gore and violence.
Rating: really liked it
I started this book because I read World War Z and enjoyed it, for some value of enjoyed which also includes being seriously freaked out. This book further cemented my freaked-outedness. I now recognise that my home is inadequate protection against the zombie menace, that not only do I not have any sort of weapon handy which could decapitate without putting me in harm's way but even if I did I would have no skills to use it, and that I am not fully prepared for even a level-1 situation were it to occur near me.
Plus I thought I saw a zombie the other day. This guy was walking down the street and I swear he looked like one. Damn you, Max Brooks. Damn you.
Rating: really liked it
If you’ve ever fantasized about being the last person on Earth, barricaded in some remote makeshift fortress against an unnamable evil that even now encroaches your perimeter … well, maybe you’re the kind of person that should keep this book on their nightstand.
The
Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks (yes, son of Mel Brooks and Ann Bancroft) is strangely informative and darkly satirical. Brooks writes with his tongue planted so firmly in his check that he risks a nasty bruise. I hesitate to even call the book a satire, since nowhere between the covers is a single joke. Not once while reading is there a hint of laughter. It takes itself deadly serious – and that’s what’s so funny.
But to explain why
The Zombie Survival Guide is more to me than merely a plotless procedural on the dos and don’ts of undead apocalypse, I’ll have to tell you a bit about my own experience with these flesh-eating corpses.
The first time I saw a zombie was probably around the age of ten, when I accompanied my dad to a poker game. As the adults played, we kids were cordoned off into the TV room where we usually popped in a video and zoned out until our parents were broke enough to want to head home. On this particular night the movie was Return of the Living Dead. I honestly don’t recall being so scared in my entire life. The experience lingered with me for years. Now older and wiser, I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I may have been emotionally scarred by such a silly, campy flick, but I was already something of a twitchy kid, and thereafter, the dark corners of our house grew a little darker, feelings of being watched a little more intense, and the eyes printed on the covers of magazines would watch me from their racks as I passed by. If the zombies’ goal was to get my brain, they certainly succeeded.
As with most childhood fears, I grew out of it. But years later, around the time I graduated college, the Zombie took on a whole new meaning for me. For some reason I’ve yet to pin down, flesh-eating ghouls began invading my dreams. Before, my stress induced REM involved having my ability to run or lift or push impeded by an unseen force - typical Freudian stuff – but now I found myself hunted by throngs of the dead.
It’s a lot like that classic nightmare of delivering an important speech in front of a large audience of peers only to realize you’re naked … and that your audience is trying to eat you.
Terrifying though the dreams may be, upon waking up I think they’re fantastic. I’ve come up with story scenarios in my sleep I would never have imagined while awake. Just the same, some weeks the dreams make sleep difficult. (In fact, what prompted me to write this review so long after having read the book was a dream last night where I was trapped in a barn while the reanimated bodies of the farmer and his family banged on the doors outside).
Since drawn to Zombie fiction, I picked up a copy of
The Zombie Survival Guide and was enthralled by the academic delivery on what weapons to use, what environments to seek or avoid, and the history of the walking dead. The dreams, surprisingly, started to subside or, when they did occur, were more controllable.
While the idea of fighting zombies is an enticing fantasy to most of us, we still know that they do not exist. At night, however, these creatures are as real to me as anything else. In these situations,
The Zombie Survival Guide is more than a fun exercise in what-ifs, it becomes practical, useful information.
Thanks, Max.
Rating: really liked it
I didn't like this book from the beginning, which is sad because I was so optimistic about the humor of it. The major problem is that the premises the author puts forth fall to pieces when given even the smallest amount of critical analysis. Why does the book hold a rating just under 4? Because too many fans can recognize an exciting concept, but can't see past that to the poor implementation. Yes, it's a zombie survival guide. Whoopdedoo. It's also boring as anything to read, needlessly filled with under-researched "facts", and a poor attempt at humor. Yes, I understand that it is supposed to be a joke, but jokes are supposed to be funny and this book misses the mark. Much like the novel "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" (published after this book by a different author), the joke lies in the title and as such is amusing. However, the humor ends shortly thereafter and leaves the reader with a 200+ page book trying to prolong a joke that has already gotten it's laughs. And yes, I think way too highly of myself and my opinions.
