The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead

A really good book, and a great author who really knows the subject matter and explains in good detail what to do on any situation or circumstance

Perhaps the greatest quality of this book is its ability to never slip out of its sober mask. At no point does Max Brooks entertain the notion that this is fiction. He treats his subject matter with the kind of practical seriousness one might expect from a military manual. This makes it very charming and, ironically, hysterical. The guide is filled with accurate information on basic survival and preparation. MB obviously spent a lot of time studying pre-Y2K survival manuals. It covers everything from which weapons are best suited to zombie defense, to what must be done to ensure survival in a home/school/government building/apartment. There're articles on vehicle choices, armor options, methods of defense and attack, crisis management in light of a zombie outbreak, and the "true" cause of zombies. Max Brooks even goes so far as to dispel all the misinformation provided to us by pop culture, Hollywood, and legends. There are also great bits on firearms, types of arms and armor available, and practical advice on how to start life anew. What really seals the deal, though, is the collection of incident reports at the back of the book. Fictional, of course, but if you didn't know better, you'd think MB was dead serious. This compilation of supposed "zombie encounters" are as Van Dam as the rest of the book. Plus, it comes in a nice Quality Paperback form with a rustic para-military cover design and great faded fonts. Sober, lakonic, and vastly entertaining, this one is worth buying new and reading several times. Purchase it, read it twice, then stick it in your hiking pack, 'cause you never know when zombies will shamble up to your door. You might have to make a break for it, and when you do you'll want this guide on-hand to provide you with all the necessities to stem the tide of the living dead.

Test yourself with this helpful little quiz to determine if you need to study the Zombie Survival Guide before our next outbreak: 1. Which of these weapons is the best all-purpose primary weapon to keep handy for a close quarters zombie elimination: a. Grenade, b. .22 caliber rimfire weapon, c. crossbow, d. crowbar 2. which of the following locations is the most defensible choice of "fortresses" against a long term zombie siege: a. hospital building b.military complex c. Your home's basement d. police station e. shopping mall 3. True or False: a zombie can climb up a ladder 4. True or False: a zombie can reanimate after being frozen solid 5. True or False: zombies are afraid of fire Answers: 1. d crowbar 2. b. military complex 3. False 4. True 5. False This quiz doesn't even begin to cover the topics explored in the ZSG, but my friend if you answered even one of those five questions incorrectly, it signals that you do indeed have some serious gaps in your knowledge. The ZSG is a good primer for preparing yourself for that inevitable day when the undead rise with an insatiable appetite for fresh human flesh; not a complete education by any means, but it will point you in the right direction for further educating and training yourself in the event of Class1, 2, and/or 3 outbreaks. At the very least, the ZSG outlines some indispensable plans as well as supply and equipment lists for various survival and tactical scenarios. The final section of the book contains synopses of recorded zombie attacks thoughout history. From @ 60,000 BC in Central Africa to 2002 AD U.S. Virgin Islands, the stories of more than fifty documented attacks and outbreaks are summarized here chronologically for our convenience. What we can learn from reading this section is how various people either survived or failed to eliminate their zombies. Knowing what worked (and what didn't) can give us greater understanding of our undead foe. It also underscores the importance of following the recommendations outlined in previous chapters of the ZSG to prevent the further spread of the virus (oh, you didn't even know it was a virus? Then you're really in deep without this book!). A footnote to scriptwriters here: many needless deaths - and undeaths - may have been prevented if so many Hollywood zombie movies had not spread misinformation among the world's population. IF you wish to better serve mankind, as well as write a logistically accurate zombie screenplay, you should consider using the ZSG as your production "bible". Just a thought... If you are the type of person who believes in readying for emergencies such as fires and earthquakes, then why wouldn't you safeguard yourself and your loved ones against the statistically realistic possibility of zombie attacks. Absolutely every home should have a copy the Zombie Survival Guide! -Andrea, aka Merribelle

Max Brooks's Zombie Survival Guide is not only informative but also well written. There are a few issues that I disagree with him on. Most of those are due to interpretation, and therefore nobody would have the "correct" answers until a true outbreak occurs, but there are some traps that he falls into that many other quasi-fantasy authors do as well. The main one is excessive Japanophilia. The area this shows the most is in his "weapons and combat techniques" chapter. The first is in his dismissal of an axe as impractical. I actually agree with him on this, as it would be very hard for an untrained person to decapitate a zombie with one, but then he introduces another weapon as a superior alternative, the Shaolin spade (yes, I know, it's Chinese, so I guess I should have said Asiaophilia or something). I literally gawked for a few seconds when I first saw that heading due to the sheer stupidity of the idea. It's an obscure weapon, Google it if you aren't familiar, and I know from first-hand experience that they are quite clumsy to wield. He states that "thrusting forward with either blade will produce instant decapitation." No, no it would not. First of all, it is HARD to decapitate a human, even if the flesh is starting to rot off their neck. In medieval executions, it could take up to three swings with a two-handed executioner's axe to lop a head off (admittedly, for experienced executioners it usually only took one), and that's with their neck resting upon an execution block. In the free air, the neck will move with the swing, cutting its force by at least half (lower acceleration as it takes longer for the blade to come to a halt). That means, that even with a DEDICATED decapitation weapon, it would be quite hard to decapitate a zombie. Now think about thrusting. It would be simply impossible for a human to generate enough thrusting force to get even a third of the power they could with a swing. Ever try chopping wood by holding an axe by the shaft right behind the head and pushing it at the log? It doesn't work. So, that rules out his assertion that it would be easy to decapitate a zombie by thrusting with a Shaolin spade. Then, if you think of how swinging the spade would work, it only has a small sharpened edge on the front of the main blade, running perpendicular to the direction of a swing. This means that only one or two inches of sharpened blade would be showing on the cutting plane, which is why one can see that they were primarily used as a bludgeoning weapon. All in all, a Shaolin spade would be next to useless against zombies. The second is his love of Katanas. Don't get me wrong, I like Katanas too. Historically, not only were they better crafted than European swords, they were better in next to all situations than European swords, as both were nearly useless against heavily armored foes and Katanas were superior against lightly- or un-armored foes. However, this was because they were very, very good at creating flesh wounds. With their light, curved blade they are easy to handle and cut through flesh easily. The same does not go for bone. Due to their light weight, it would be extremely hard for one to carry enough momentum to sever a human spine, which is far tougher that one would think. Thus, the Katana is nigh useless against zombies. This is one of the only places that a heavy European sword would outshine a Katana. They still wouldn't be extremely effective, but as all combat ready swords are made with similar tempered steel nowadays, the only difference would be the curvature and weight. The curvature would not make too much of a difference, but a heavier blade would decapitate much more easily, although it would still be quite difficult to do so. Therefore, better than either of these would be a machete, preferably as heavy a one as you could get. They are designed to cut through dense foliage, and therefore are more weighty and carry an edge with a less acute angle, meaning they don't have to be sharpened religiously after every use. So don't go on the net looking for a battle-ready Katana or Claymore for $600+, just go to your local hardware store and buy the heaviest, highest quality machete you can get your hands on. Not only will it be 5% the price, it will be more effective. I would recommend the two-handed Panga or Latin machetes from Cold Steel, at $25 from Amazon with available prime/super-savers shipping. The top reviewer on the two-handed Panga machete even lauds its merit as a potential zombie-fighting weapon. Now, past the love of far-east weapons, there are another couple other misguided suggestions he makes. The first is to own a silencer, as it will allow you to dispatch zombies without attracting more of them. This is based on "movie silencers" (and video game ones as well) that quiet guns down to a whisper. This is extremely inaccurate. In real life, they are more often referred to a "suppressors," and for good reason. They only quiet the shot down a little bit, sometimes enough so that you can shoot without using ear protection. It will still make a loud report, especially if it's an automatic or semi-automatic weapon, and that's before you consider ammunition. Most of a gun's noise is the sonic boom generated by the bullet. Unless you have a massive stash of sub-sonic ammunition, this will be unavoidable in the event of a zombie outbreak. Thus, while suppressors might make shooting a little easier on your ears, it would be cheaper and less of a hassle to just use some ear plugs. (note: there are some pretty quiet silenced weapons. These are either weapons chambered in .22 LR or integrally suppressed weapons, such as the MP5SD, AMP DSR-1 [still loud, uses very large bullets, but much quieter than comparable snipers], and a variety of limited-run assault rifles. However, integrally suppressed weapons are very expensive and very hard to acquire) The final inaccuracy that is large enough to address is his hate for the M16. Now, I have never been a fan of the M-16 or the related AR-15, M4 and AR-10 (I am more of an FAL guy). They do have certain design flaws, especially in the M-16 and some AR-15 variations, need more regular maintenance than competitors and jam a little more often, but most of these have been addressed in the civilian market and in the military versions for decades. It might not be as nice as an AK-47 for a survival situation, but it's more accurate, easier to shoot and usually around 4 lbs. lighter. Thus, his statement that this weapon family is considered "second-class" can only be attributed to an irrational anti-establishment view. Given my ideal rifle, it would be chambered in 5.56 (plenty to destroy a zombie's brain, the extra kick from a 7.62x39 from an AK would just be detrimental) and be semi-auto capable. As he says, full-auto is just a waste of ammo against zombies, so it's not necessary. My personal ideal would be a IMI TAR-21, as its bullpup configuration makes it about 10 inches shorter than normal rifles with the same barrel length, and a little lighter too. However, any of modern M4 or an M416 would function very well, and would have plenty of spare parts to be found. Other than these four issues, I found the book an informative and helpful read, with plenty of common sense and every once in a while some legitimate insight. Side note: He neglects to mention red dot and holographic scopes. These are the best friends of new shooters, and will allow a newbie to shoot two times (disclaimer: results may vary) better than with iron sights. They originated in competition shooting and then special forces started snatching them up like hotcakes when they got reliable, so you would be in good company if you had one. Many have 600 hr battery lives and can use AA's, and the Trijicon RMR with the tritium lamp lasts up to 15 years. So, basically, just keep a little baggie full of batteries and you'll be good, and your life will be much easier if you come across a group of zombies. edit: I forgot that he called light machine-guns heavy machine-guns. That's just a minor, and common, error though.

Very interesting book.

This book is hilarious and eye-opening at the same time. It has a permanent spot on my bookshelf! Have you ever wondered what you should do if and when the zombie apocalypse occurs? What is the best transportation? What about weapons? Well, I have asked myself these things many times, and this book has finally given me the answers! I can sleep better at night knowing I have a viable escape and survival plan for when the inevitable happens. Knowing the enemy is half the battle, and Max Brooks does a fantastic job of describing our future enemy - the zombie - from the first recorded instance of a solanum outbreak to today. He rounds out the book with a detailing the ins and outs of zombie physiology and psychology (or lack thereof). Every chapter is delivered with a heavy dose of wit, making the book both informative and fun to read over and over. I am now properly prepared to save myself and my family when Z-Day hits, completely thanks to this essential guide.

Judging from the subject matter of this book, I was expecting it to be a lot of fun to read and it was. Where I was let down though was that the book could be contradictory of itself. It would tell you never to do one thing in chapter x and then in the next chapter say that the same thing was just what you needed to do. There was also some opinions expressed about weapon systems that the author didn't research enough. Of course this is one of those books that is not meant to be taken seriously and it just in good fun, and I took it as such, but the main reason I gave it 3 stars is the contradictions. Even in fiction, it's possible to keep things linear. All that being said; It was a fun book to read and if zombies are your thing, this book might supply some entertainment for you.

The zombie survival guide provides much of the information that a normal survival guide would, commenting frequently about the dangers of humans in a post-apocalyptic or at least lawless world, as well as the dangers of the environment itself. The zombie information is in fact interwoven with this, rather than standing alone, which I find refreshing and helpfully immersive. The sections about the book that are specifically about zombies aren't bad either, though I found the "science" behind zombies to be painful to read. As most zombie stories start without a cause, I almost feel as if the book would have benefited without that section. Besides that little quibble though, I'm impressed at how much knowledge is packed into this little volume. The author went above and beyond the call of normal research in writing the book, accurately representing many professions from the military to language interpretation services. The author also represents different environments well, and has a decent grasp of different cultures in the world when he portrays them in the recorded zombie outbreaks. This is a definite winning companion to World War Z. Gifters should consider getting the two as a set, because they truly do complete each other, the guide supporting the stories of World War Z with much-needed tactical information, while the stories of World War Z allow the reader to see what sacrifices and advances allowed the guide to come to fruition. As far as alternative histories go, the two books together create a far more immersive experience than any book I've read, and beat out all zombie films/games I've seen as well. A note: while basing normal survival on the Zombie Survival Guide may get you further than common sense would, it is no replacement for a real survival guide. As accurate and well-researched as it is, you should not depend on your zombie-obsessed family member for survival information from this book in a real-life crisis such as a hurricane or an earthquake.

Max Brooks, der Sohn von Mel Brooks, hat ein sonderbares Buch verfasst. Zunächst: es handelt sich nicht um einen Roman sondern um ein Überlebenshandbuch. Es wird keine fiktive Geschichte erzählt. Hier geht es um die Frage, wie man sich im Falle eines Falles zu verhalten hat. Max Brooks ist offenbar ganz der Sohn seines Vaters, der ja auch immer eine wabernde Grenze zwischen Fiktion und Realität aufbaute. Am besten kam das wohl in "Höhenkoller" zum Vorschein. Brooks erklärt uns, wie wir uns im Falle einer Zombieapokalypse zu verhalten haben - nicht mehr und nicht weniger. Mehr oder weniger ausführlich beschreibt er, welche Territorien ein Überleben wahrscheinlicher machen als andere, was der Vorteil einer Armbrust gegenüber einem Bogen ist, warum SUV`s weit hinter einem Pferd zurück stehen, warum man Kirchen meiden sollte aber ein Baumhaus keine schlechte Idee ist etc. Das alles ist so denkbar unsinnig, dass man sich als Leser wundert, wieso man plötzlich über eine Zombiebedrohung nachzudenken beginnt. Warum beginnt man plötzlich zu überlegen, ob man die nötige Ausrüstung hat? Warum beginnt man zu überlegen, ob man sich auf die richtige Weise fit hält? Warum beginnt man zu überlegen, wohin man gehen würde? Weil es Max Brooks einfach gelingt, den Gedanken an die Zombieapokalypse real werden zu lassen. Oft wird in Rezensionen die Frage gestellt,ob Brooks tatsächlich glaubt, was er da scheibt. Nunja, wenn man das mal nüchtern sieht, dann ist sein Survival Guide auch nichts anderes als der von anderen, die ebenso unwahrscheinlich sind. Andere erklären es eben auf anderem Wege, warum man immer nen gepackten Rucksack haben sollte und wie man sich am besten versteckt. Brooks schickt die Zombies vor. Egal wie realistisch das alles ist - es ist ein spannendes Gedankenexperiment. Besonders witzig ist es, wenn Brooks von Leuten schreibt, die zum Beispiel ein Schiff erkletterten, weil sie glaubten dort in Sicherheit zu sein, während die Zombies schon warteten. Solche Formulierungen bringt er andauernd, immer nach dem Motto: " .... und man hat schon oft genug den Fehler gemacht, zu denken, dass ... wurde dann aber eines besseren belehrt." Wenn man also den Guide liest und sich darauf einlässt, erwischt man sich dabei, dass man seine Optionen prüft. Hätte jemand einen solchen Guide geschrieben, in dem es um Vampire oder Werwölfe ginge, wären solche Überlegungen völlig absurd. Der Gedanke der Zombieapokalypse scheint also nicht ganz so abwegig zu sein, und gerade das ist spannend. Zombies begreift man als eine Bedrohung, die zumindest entfernt denkbar ist, Werwölfe oder Vampire allerdings nicht. Einen Werwolf- , Gespenster- oder Vampirguide hätte sicher fast niemand gekauft. Die Zombiebedrohung wird offenbar für deutlich realer gehalten. Auf ein solches Gedankenexperiment lassen sich auch gebildete Leser ein. Sie lesen es, checken ihre Optionen, diskutieren diese mit ihrer Frau und ihren Freunden, lachen über den Spaß, den sie dabei haben aber halten Zombies für nicht ganz unrealistisch - im Gegensatz zu Gespenstern, Vampiren oder Werwölfen. So erklärt uns dann Max Brooks, wohin wir gehen sollten, wenn es soweit ist, auf welche Waffen wir uns verlassen können, wie groß die Gruppen sein sollten, denen wir uns anschließen etc. Ich halte das Buch für sehr gelungen!

英語の勉強としても内容が面白いので飽きることなく最後まで読み通せます。冒険小説とも違った滑稽さと著者のイマジネーションは頭の体操にも良いです。

What do you do when the zombies come for you. It is too late by then but buy the book now to avoid being zombie lunch. A great fun read, I had a whale of a time reading it.

Beautifully blurring the line between fiction and non-fiction, this book is an absolute must. I say this because I could barely bring myself to put it down for the entire time I was reading it. Reinventing the zombie origins, Brooks ascribes the cause of the 'undead plague' to a virulent virus named Solanum, which attacks the brain and allows it to keep functioning even after the organs have shut down and the body begins to decompose. Feeling no pain, and having no awareness of the world around them except for the food on offer, Brooks' zombies are a modern evolution of the zombies on display in Romero's 1968 cult classic, Night of the Living Dead. Brooks breaks down all the elements that you'll need to survive should a zombie outbreak occur near you. Covering how to stock your house in case of attack, defending it should it become your besieged fortress, going on the run if it all goes wrong, to going on the offensive to take out the undead, he's incredibly thorough about everything from weapons to transport, locations and worse-case scenarios. He even includes a section on how you can survive in the face of a full-scale Zombie Apocalypse. Ray Mears would be proud. At the end of the book, Brooks points to apparent 'historical' occurrences of zombie outbreaks as a way of showing how the growing threat is being covered up or mishandled. It's testament to his skill as a writer that you can almost believe that they're completely true. It's an unlikely premise but at least having read this book, you can feel confident that you'll know what to do if the dead ever begin to rise. After all, as the good books says - use your head, and cut off theirs.

Este es un libro que te compras con la idea de reírte un poco, pero terminas leyendo con genuino interés por aprender de los que saben. En pocas páginas comprendes que sólo aprendiendo tendrás más oportunidades de sobrevivir. Te lo digo claro desde ya: esta obra no es para pasar el rato en la playa mientras por el rabillo del ojo vislumbras bikinis o chicos musculados de gimnasio. Que no te distraigan. Esto un tratado de protección civil en toda regla por si sucediera lo impensable. Tú sabes que la gente está muy "para allá" y que al fin y al cabo hay poca diferencia entre vivir en una sociedad que se te antoja alienada y vivir en una apocalipsis zombie. La pregunta clave: ¿te puede enseñar este libro a sobrevivir entre los insensatos, los fanáticos, los que no comprenden tu forma de vivir --sea la que sea-- y quieren comerse tu cerebro figurativa o literalmente? De ti depende. Ponte a prueba, abre los ojos... ¡y sobrevive! ¡Saludos!