World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War | Max Brooks

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War | Max Brooks | Best Zombie Book

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World War Z: An Or...

	World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War Max Brooks Three Rivers Press, 2007 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 413 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

This would be my Number ONE recommendation for a Must Read of the summer - and perhaps the year

This is what I'd call a seminal work of Zombie literature but it is far more than that. It is a wonderful book - period. Why? Well, it takes an old premise (Zombies trying to wipe out humans) and puts a whole new spin on it.

I'm not even a huge fan of the horror genre but that makes no difference. When a writer creates a book that actually has readers being able to believe that Zombies could take over the world, overthrow governments, etc....well, that writer has a special talent. Brooks is that writer and World War Z is a "must read" because of that.

If you need ONE reason to read this, here it is: you'll be forced to think about the strengths and weaknesses of humanity, even more than you may already have done.

The plot? Well, it is no secret that this book is told by survivors of a Zombie attack but HOW they get to that point - and what they go through along the way, including personal challenges and adversity, serve as both inspiration and caution for readers.

Another point worth making: the author ties this into history, past and present. I have a soft spot for books that do that well, help us imagine how we can prevent potentially apocalyptic events from happening. This book could actually do that, could be that life-changing for some people. I hope it is.

So, yeah, on the surface it may seem to be a book about people trying to avoid being killed by Zombies. But below the story, are other, darker themes. What are people capable of doing when truly tested? What flaws come out? Can we come together and fight evil or unforeseen emergencies?

In case all of the above sounds all too SERIOUS for some readers, let me also make a case for some of the other details in this book. Ever wonder about the lifestyle of Zombies, those of you who've seen enough B movies to get a sense of Zombie stereotypes and habits? Well, this book delves into those questions, too. You'll actually be engaged by these details.

So, to sum it up: A book which focuses on Zombies trying to wipe out humans. A book which may compel readers to think about their own humanity and potential for courage in the face of adversity. A book which also educates readers about history, past, present and future (although some of that education is left up to the interpretation of the reader).

If that isn't enough to get you to read Word War Z, then get the audiotape version. World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War With people like Alan Alda and other major stars reading from the book,it might be a good alternative. I've got both versions and am buying another copy of each. Literature like this deserves to be shared!

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Best Zombie Book

This was the most enjoyable, well written zombie book I have ever read. You could fill in any pandemic or global destructive event, and it would fit, but zombies are better. The multiple perspectives gives interest and depth, I highly recommend this book.

Zombie-tastic!

I have recently read the book known as "World War Z" by Max Brooks. And I have to say it is one of the best books I've read, granted I am a huge zombie fan. But the way Max describes the events in this book about how this infectious disease spreads throughout the world and reanimates the dead, and how the zombies chase humans down like wild animals and eat them as if the world was one big buffet. I almost started to believe this book this actually happened, haha. Another thing I liked about this book is that in the story there is this "Interviewer" (which I'm still not clear who he really is)-who travels around the world and interviews people about their experiences with the undead, and the people he interviews goes from high political and military people to the average citizen. The dialogue in this book is phenomenal; the way the author has the people talk in this book makes me think I can actually hear them talking. One other thing I like was that every chapter is a different stage in this apocalyptic hell they call a "Z War." 1st chapter: Warnings, this chapter explains how the mass population could see signs of what was to come. 2nd chapter: Blame, this explains of who was responsible for this, and how the government didn't help with the problem. 3rd chapter: The Great Panic, this one tells about how the people who were interviewed survived their horrific encounters. There are more stages in the book but I will leave that up to you to read the rest of the book to find out.
Overall I thought that this book was a great and well written, so if you ever see it at your local library, I advise you to pick it up.

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A zombie story minus the cheese

Despite reading positive reviews, I was half expecting a typical cheesy b-movie plot when I purchased this book.However, what I got was a gritty piece of sci-fi literature.

The "story" in this book is actually a series of short accounts from people who witnessed the plague years first hand. The characters range from a Chinese EMT to Russian soldiers to a Japanese teenage "otaku".

Despite being a "zombie" book. The (living) people are really the focus of the story. This book is an allegory of human nature, more specifically, our repressed animal instinct. When the securities of modern civilization are swept from under us, so are the restraints that keep us human. The things that the characters resort to in order to survive is what makes this book so scary.

All in all, this book was a great read. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a more personal horror novel.

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