The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead by Max Brooks Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead
Book Review: Great, then greater!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book starts off amusing. I bought this book because a friend mentioned it once. I had no idea what to expect.
After reading the first few pages, I was amused. I thought it was funny how the author was taking it so seriously - after all, it's zombies!
Then I read a bit more, and I thought hmm this is kind of a bit boring now, because it's obviously not written (directly) as a humorous book. I read a few more pages and put it down, but within an hour I was back reading it again. Eventually I simply couldn't put it down.
As soon as you mentally make the jump from realising this isn't a (directly) humorous book, to this is a very insightful and fascinating book, both chilling and at the same time exciting, you'll find compared to normal fiction it offers a unique feeling of intrigue, awe and fear. Sure, zombies are slow and easy to kill, but one nibble and you're a gonna.
Once I had finished the book, I (regrettably) gave it to a friend, after animatedly telling them some of the fascinating and unprecidented facts about defense against the living dead. I couldn't stop talking about it!
I am tempted to buy this book again because it's a great book to go back to and re-read sections of. I also bought world war Z after this, which is almost equally good reading (I'd say this book is slightly more interesting though).
This book is not a horror book. It is a practical and logical step by step guide to survival. If you like to think and analyse dangerous situations, this book is for you. If you like to be surprised and intrigued by some of the ingenious methods of survival, this book is for you. If you like zombies, this book is for you. If the thought of 'what if zombies were real, what would we do?' sounds even vaguely interesting, this book is for you.
Buy it. It's not expensive. It will provide you with plenty of entertainment.
To address the issues of some other reviewers:
I didn't find the author to repeat himself any more than was necessary. Each chapter was clearly defined and I didn't find myself skimming through later chapters to skip things that had already been mentioned.
The fact that the stories at the end of the book were believable is testament to the author's ability as a writer to predict human behaviour to the point of making his writings completely belivable. This is also apparently in World War Z, which develops the stories further.
I wouldn't say this book is a waste of money. It entertained me for many hours, and what I took away from it entertained me for many more. Afterwards I read it I often found myself thinking about it, as well as mentioning it to friends. Rare for any fiction book.
The back part of the book is apparently the best. While I have no comment about whether it's true or not, I read that peoples sheer enjoyment of that section is apparently what spawned the other book, world war Z.
I agree that this book could have been taken with irony. I was expecting it and as I wrote above, when I found it slightly boring when it didn't appear. As soon as you take the book for what it is, you can quickly begin enjoying it again.
Book Review: Bought it twice!
Summary: 5 Stars
When I was at university my housemate and I would often ponder what would we do right at that moment if a zombie outbreak occured - what weapons would we choose? where would we go and hide? and the like. This book is fantastic for any other like-minded people! It is an actual step-by-step survival guide in case of a zombie breakout and covers every eventuality which makes it really funny - the author sounds insane because it has been so seriously written - this man has gone into some serious thought about every aspect of a zombie apocolypse and it cracks me up.
Someone "borrowed" this from me and never returned it and I'm actually buying it again now - that's how good it is!
Book Review: Zombie survival
Summary: 5 Stars
Like many reviewers here I spent time in my youth discussing zombie survival with friends after another gore-fest night in front of the TV. This book captures those conversations perfectly and elaborates them with real imagination and with an unnerving touch of reality. Again, as many reviewers note, you start reading it for fun, but as you let yourself get immersed in the ideas, and you relive your own musings on the theme, you find yourself starting to seriously consider your options in the light of this comprehensive survival guide. It is funny in places, no doubt, but it is also a great addition to the Zombie genre and a new take on an old theme. Well written, great little illustrations and well thought out ideas make for an enjoyable read. Worth a go.Book Review: wow
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is perfect for anyone, like myself, who walks into a room and instantly scans for anything that could be used as a bludgeon on an undead attacker and for anyone, like myself, who has a plan for any scenario when zombies finaly do rise. This book answers all the questions you have asked yourself and even some you would have never thought of. My long term zombie plan went straight out of the window when i read this book. With the help of Max Brooks and his amazing book I have an all new plan that i am certain will hold up in any class of outbreak.
Now we just have to wait.
Book Review: A laugh on every page
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a work of pure genius! It's tongue in cheek approach is perfectly weighted, this had me giggling along with every paragraph. Remember - your crowbar is your best friend!