The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead by Max Brooks (2003, Paperback)

Firstly, let's get some minor things outta the way...

Fer all you sad, unaware people, this book was meant to educate ignorants (normal folk, really) of zombie survival. The book takes itself seriously, and you, the reader, should more or less adhere to the rules of the guide. It gives rather detailed information on gun specs, how to use them, when to use them, what they should be used fer, what not to use (in a zombie outbreak), and where to get them. Actually, this may be a bit of a treat fer gun-lovin, gun-toatin' citizens. Now, this don't mean to go 'round shootin up a buncha people because you suspect they may be a zombie! Don't do that! In fact, the Brooks' guide advises AGAINST such actions! The guide is to prepare you fer the worst of the zombie apocalypse. All you need to know this book will tell you. If you feel that some information is wrong, or Brooks is misinformed, feel free to contact him and share yer opinions about the dreaded zombie hordes that could soon plague our beloved, and fer-granted, Mother Earth.
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The book is quite easy to read and understand. Brooks does not use complicated syntax or overly ostentatious words. There will be puns, however. It is a quick read, but vital nonetheless. The actual "guide" part of the book is about 181 pages (outta 272), and then the rest them pages are recorded zombie accounts from all over the world. Make sure you read those too! They'll tell you what people've done in the event of utter chaos, good and bad.

The table of contents in the very beginning spreads everything out fer you. The chapters are divided accordingly:
*The Undead: Myths and Realities
*Weapons and Combat Techniques
*On The Defense
*On The Run
*On The Attack
*Living In An Undead World
*Recorded Attacks
The very first chapter-section "The Undead: Myths and Realities" tells you what a real zombie IS. It also tells you about the traditional Voodoo zombies (which are real) and movie-magic zombies (which are based on, but are not actual zombies most of the time).

Each chapter-section has its own subset of topics to cover. All are full of invaluable information to get you from point A to Z in the life of a survivor. Read through all of these sections, and when yer done... DO IT AGAIN!

You'll be taught (or told advice) about staying in shape during the Zombie Apocalypse, looking fer proper shelter (but almost never a permanent home), securing a house/building/edifice against groves of the undead or bandits/gangs, scouting fer food/supplies/help/survivors, keeping zombies away as well as post-zombie-apocalyptic bandits and pirates, travelling as light as possible through day and night, riding in the right vehicles/automobiles & when they are appropriate, using weaponry to yer advantage, travelling over various terrain, surviving in the harshest climates/environments on Earth, recreating civilization after the "end of the world", possibly living as one out of the handful of survivors in an Undead World, & much more!
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I enjoy reading this book. It's a fun experience as well as an important life-saving manual. It's not that expensive either (no more than $11 or $12 on the Internet). I feel a lot safer now that I have this guide in my hand. I'll have to keep it within reach should any situation occur. No government cover-ups... yet. I will definitely be on the look-out fer any sign of the undead. In the mean time, I'll be training and preparing fer what could be a zombie outbreak. Goodluck to yall.

Peace

Let's face it: at one time or another we've all faced a zombie scare we aren't prepared for. And yes, the local constabulary usually cleans things up with a minimum of fuss, but what happens when things go wrong and the cavalry doesn't arrive? That, my friends, is the day that Max Brooks' "The Zombie Survival Guide" saves your life. With several millennia worth of field experience distilled into a manageable 254 pages, everything you need to know to survive the coming war with the undead can be found in these pages. Your life and the lives of those you love are at stake, act now and be prepared!
OK, so that paragraph was obviously tongue in cheek, but hopefully in conveys some sense of what Brooks' remarkable "The Zombie Survival Guide" is like. While obviously a parody of both the horror genre and civil defense/survivalist manuals, it maintains an "all-business" demeanor, never once cracking the façade to reveal the underlying humoristic intent. The result is a book that is, when taken as a whole, a funny, incredibly thorough work of satire. However, at the same time, page-by-page, it is a rather accomplished addition to zombie horror.

Starting with zombie physiology and then moving on to weapons, tactics, long-term strategy and history Brooks has produced a manual which has a thoroughness that belies the absurdity of its subject. Point by point he discusses the pros and cons of rifles, machetes and flamethrowers, then considers the optimal defensive positions for various types of outbreaks. After an extensive discussion of survival in a zombie doomsday scenario, he lays out zombie outbreaks through history, and what their implications are. Throughout, entries are extensively cross-referenced and alternative courses of action are always weighed for potential risks and benefits.

The remarkable thing about all this is that Brooks has managed to infuse a tension, and urgency into his manual that makes for great reading. Part post-apocalyptic fiction, part "Night of the Living Dead" and part "Saturday Night Live" sketch, this is a book that should hold appeal across a broad range of genres. Thorough without being dry, creepy without being clichéd, and funny without relying on cheap laughs, "The Zombie Survival Guide" is undoubtedly one of the most original books I have ever read, and one that I enjoyed reading immensely. If you appreciate any or all of these genres, or if you just enjoy a well executed, original idea, this is definitely a book you'll want to check out.

And remember...Tomorrow may be too late, read this book today!

-Xsjado911-

When the world succumbs to the impending zombie domination... you better have this book in your backpack. Your life may depend on it! And it will also help tickle your funny bone... you know... the one that a zombie is gnawing on!

Unless you are trying to escape another zombie attack, you won't be able to put this book down once you start reading. Author Max Brooks gives advice on how to keep your head from falling into the hands of the undead. This survival guide is a must if you want to stay one step ahead of the zombie hordes, who think you taste like chicken.

Readers will also enjoy World War Z by Max Brooks, which is slated to become a major motion picture.

Ever wonder if the world will soon be infected with a horrid disease that becomes so vile that the world becomes the walking undead? Well, Max Brooks, writer of "The Zombie Survival Guide" has written a guide on how to fight off the brain-hungered infestation.
Any rumors you've heard about zombies, will be defined by this book. All the information in this book is just so realistic, you feel like you have to protect yourself. The book informs every little imformation: zombie senses, real truth about zombies, what to have, what to wear, how to stay clear of a zombie area, etc.
IMO, Max has done himself very well with this book. Though it has been labeled as "Humor", it should fall into the "How To" books. It just seems so realistic!

My rating: 5*STARS/5*STARS

The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. What is there to say? Well for one this is a excellent read. You can easily pick it up, read a few pages, and put it down, so it makes it a great purchase for a casual reader, yet has enough content to satisfy a more hardcore reader like myself.

The book is laid out much like a guide, so literary style really is not applied much here, as its mainly a teacher teaching through written word if you understand my meaning. Grammar and flow are great, even though I tend to be lenient on any hardcore literary rules since if its enjoyable I don't care to much.

The book does include some illustrations, which help convey the almost crudeness of the zombie in the way the artist depicts various things in a complete by more rigid style I suppose I would say.

The book is a good size, and the cover is sturdy and the whole effect really feels like your reading the real deal, although of course it is purely fiction. Which brings up probably my only "complaint" in that the ideas listed only offer how to defend and defeat this specific type of "zombie". Many of the ideas are of course cross type capable, but you will sometimes think to yourself that some things seem a little stupid or whatnot, but you have to remember to take it in the context of these specific zombies, and the idea that the world has had to deal with them for thousands of years.

All in all its an excellent book. Fun, riveting, and even a little creepy at times. If you are at all a Zombie fan, you should definitely consider picking up a copy of this wonderful book.