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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
Enjoyable if a bit repetitive. Really sets the stage for Brooks's follow-up, World War Z.
Fun read for people who like to take genre fiction seriously.
I read World War Z last month and absolutely loved it - I feel the same way about the Survival Guide. Like many sad geeks (I'm putting myself in this category) I have many a night with friends, maybe slightly inebriated, discussing how we would survive a zombie apocalypse; where we would create our fortresses and how we would see out the invasion. Reading this guide proves that we are woefully unprepared.
The first 3/4 of the book deals with weapons, survival kits, attacking, retreating, obliterating and creating your stronghold in the event of an all out zombie infestation. Much of this sounds like survivalist advice but you can't help mentally creating checklists. The last part provides case studies throughout history where zombie outbreaks have been reported and (mostly) covered up. This will excite the conspiracy theorist in many people!
I was reading the book on my journey to and from work; I admit that I checked my escape routes and possible weapons as I went.
Don't worry - I'm not about to drag my friends and loved ones to the back and beyond, start living off the land and eschewing all that modern life gives me. However the book does entertain anyone with a sense of humour and morbid curiosity about the coming (zombie) apocalypse!
The first 3/4 of the book deals with weapons, survival kits, attacking, retreating, obliterating and creating your stronghold in the event of an all out zombie infestation. Much of this sounds like survivalist advice but you can't help mentally creating checklists. The last part provides case studies throughout history where zombie outbreaks have been reported and (mostly) covered up. This will excite the conspiracy theorist in many people!
I was reading the book on my journey to and from work; I admit that I checked my escape routes and possible weapons as I went.
Don't worry - I'm not about to drag my friends and loved ones to the back and beyond, start living off the land and eschewing all that modern life gives me. However the book does entertain anyone with a sense of humour and morbid curiosity about the coming (zombie) apocalypse!
Meine Rezension dazu findet ihr hier:
http://janasbooklook.blogspot.de/2011/07/der-zombie-survival-guide-max-brooks.html
http://janasbooklook.blogspot.de/2011/07/der-zombie-survival-guide-max-brooks.html
The Zombie Survival Guide is just what you need to help you plan out how to survive everything from a small Level One zombie outbreak up to a Level Four, full-out zombie apocalypse. That’s right, not every outbreak leads to the end of the world. There have been smaller ones that have been contained. It’s just that the governments of the world have done a good job of covering them up.
I have to say that I was disappointed with this book. I was expecting it to be humorous because come on, how could it not be? But in trying to make it sound like a real survival guide, the author has made it boring – just like a real survival guide. It is very detailed. There are sections on weapons, vehicles, clothing, etc. He also discusses the best areas to live in, what type of structures are best to live in and so on. And of course, he goes into how zombies are made, how they function and how they can be killed. Did you know they can walk on the ocean floor? That was a surprise to me.
The survival portion is about three-fourths of the book. The second part of the book is a log of all of the reported outbreaks that the author could find information on, starting with an attack in Africa in 60,000 B.C. I found this part to be dry as well – very factual and emotionless - and the incidents felt a little repetitive.
I would recommend this book to only the most die-hard zombie fans.
I have to say that I was disappointed with this book. I was expecting it to be humorous because come on, how could it not be? But in trying to make it sound like a real survival guide, the author has made it boring – just like a real survival guide. It is very detailed. There are sections on weapons, vehicles, clothing, etc. He also discusses the best areas to live in, what type of structures are best to live in and so on. And of course, he goes into how zombies are made, how they function and how they can be killed. Did you know they can walk on the ocean floor? That was a surprise to me.
The survival portion is about three-fourths of the book. The second part of the book is a log of all of the reported outbreaks that the author could find information on, starting with an attack in Africa in 60,000 B.C. I found this part to be dry as well – very factual and emotionless - and the incidents felt a little repetitive.
I would recommend this book to only the most die-hard zombie fans.
Better be prepared, you never know what could happen... but seriously, this book was so much fun, and you should definitely read it if you like zombie/apocalyps/survival novels.
I always enjoy a good zombie book. This one is full of great advice on how to prepare yourself for the next zombie uprising :)
Graphic novel following on from The Zombie Survival Guide: World War Z books. A history of zombie attacks and lessons learnt.
Writing non-fiction is its own distinct art form and it seems Max Brooks lost sight of that in trying to capture the just-so tone of a would-be dead-serious handbook on zombie infestation survival. After reading it I understand its immense popularity a little better: the precise detail in exploring all possible situations seems to get into the public's bones and provide "what would you do to prepare" conversation fodder.
But beyond that I found it to be pretty one-note and did not achieve particularly engaging levels or depth. I have never comprehended what's so compelling about zombies and Brooks doesn't seduce. It could be vampires or devils or jackalopes and it wouldn't make much of a difference.
It's a little more entertaining than an actual survival guide might be but Brooks' trick at cleverness tends to be "you'd think this would be a good place to hide/weapon to use, but actually it's totally counter-intuitive" and not much else. I rushed through at the end out of increasing boredom.
But beyond that I found it to be pretty one-note and did not achieve particularly engaging levels or depth. I have never comprehended what's so compelling about zombies and Brooks doesn't seduce. It could be vampires or devils or jackalopes and it wouldn't make much of a difference.
It's a little more entertaining than an actual survival guide might be but Brooks' trick at cleverness tends to be "you'd think this would be a good place to hide/weapon to use, but actually it's totally counter-intuitive" and not much else. I rushed through at the end out of increasing boredom.
Fun little graphical book with a "history" of the battle against the undead. It tells the story of about 8 different zombie attacks thru history, starting from pre-history through modern times. I think my favorite was the one of the French Foriegn Legion outpost getting attacked and beseiged by zombies. What happens next seems rife for its own story.
Black and white drawings are often pretty graphic. But the stories are all plausible...
Black and white drawings are often pretty graphic. But the stories are all plausible...