World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

Read Time:2 Minute, 11 Second

Like most other people, I pay my taxes and change the oil in my car every 4000 miles. Reading a book about a zombie apocalypse is not a typical part of my weekly schedule.


Last week I made an exception. After ten years of voraciously reading non-fiction only (blame my parents for that addiction), I opened up a copy of World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks. I never would have known that the book even existed had it not been for a student who had left a copy of The Zombie Survival Guide (also by Max Brooks) in my office. I am thankful to that student for his forgetfulness — here’s why.

World War Z is an easy read compared to other books I’ve consumed, but it’s also one of the most creative and entertaining I could ever imagine. Written from the perspective of a journalist, the narrator interviews dozens of war survivors around the world.

Their stories range from generals to housewives and span every emotional range. The stories are detailed and engaging, inventive and unpredictable. Less expensive than a movie ticket, popcorn and soda, World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War is a book worth your time and enjoyment.

NOTE – An abridged audiobook was published in 2007 by Random House, directed by John McElroy, produced by Dan Zitt, with sound editing by Charles De Montebello. The book is read by author Max Brooks, but includes many other actors taking on the roles of the many individual characters who are interviewed in the novel. Brooks, thanks to his first career doing voice-over work and cartoons, was able to recommend a large number of the cast members. Cast includes: Alan Alda, Carl Reiner and John Tutorro.

ANOTHER NOTE – After a bidding war with Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company Appian Way, Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment secured the screen rights to the novel in 2007. The screenplay was written by Babylon 5 and Rising Stars creator J. Michael Straczynski, who identified the challenge in adapting the work as “creating a main character out of a book that reads as a UN Report on the zombie wars”. Marc Forster signed on to direct, and described the film as reminiscent of 1970s conspiracy thrillers like All the President’s Men. Straczynski, however, identified 2002 spy film The Bourne Identity as an appropriate comparison, and noted that the film will have a large international scope which maintains the political emphasis.

Originally published March 24, 2011.

Follow MadMikesAmerica on Facebook and Twitter, and don’t forget to visit our HOME PAGE.

About Post Author

Guest Contributor

Guest contributors are those who provide commentary, advice, or other food for thought designed to entertain and enlighten our readers.
Happy
Happy
0 %
Sad
Sad
0 %
Excited
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
Angry
0 %
Surprise
Surprise
0 %
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of

15 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
10 years ago

If Zombies start running fast instead of wobbling along with their arms dropping off we are all, clearly, fucked.

Anyroad, it’s Brad Pitt so it can’t be all that good! 😉

Rachael
10 years ago

I’m with you Mike! Been looking forward to this movie for years and it’s almost here, but not this weekend. Too many noisy, bratty kids. How come just a PG-13? That concerns me.

Admin
10 years ago

I can’t wait for this movie, but I won’t go opening weekend. Too many teeny-boppers.

Jess
Reply to  Professor Mike
10 years ago

Hey now. I don’t consider myself a teenybopper and I have my tickets already to go see it this weekend.

Peter Prokes
12 years ago

The best thing about books is that you use your imaginations and not someone else’s.
50 people can read the same book and come up with 50 different scenarios.
You just have to love books and the amazingly talented writers.
Jan Peter Prokes

Anonymous
12 years ago

This is a very good book for people who enjoy zombies or the horror genre. I recommend it for anybody looking for a good book.

Robert E. Lee
13 years ago

Everything that is Zombie means my beating heart for me. ZOMBIE!!

Michael John Scott
13 years ago

I have 8 acres of grass to cut and it takes me about five hours. Does anyone think I can listen to this book on my iPod in that time? Thanks for your feedback 🙂

Reply to  Michael John Scott
13 years ago

It is in podcast installments. I listened to a few of them. I prefer reading of course, but if I had to mow that much grass, I’d rather veg out listening to zombie tales, that is for sure.

Michael John Scott
Reply to  Mother Hen
13 years ago

I just plugged in my iPod. I love all things Apple 🙂

Glenn Quinn
13 years ago

The main challenge of moving World War Z into a movie will be the many, many different sections of the book that all contribute to the larger picture. There are a lot of ways that the movie could be made, but my only hope is that it retains the creative nature that made World War Z such a readable novel. Hire a really good producer and screenwriter.

13 years ago

Ahhh WWZ. The best zombie novel I have read, apart from the Walking Dead series which is a graphic novel, so not sure if that counts.

Even if you are not a fan of the genre, zombies, horror, or war, this is an excellent, well-researched read. I have been waiting for 3 years for that damn movie to come out. (I’m a bit of a zombie geek)

Michael John Scott
Reply to  Mother Hen
13 years ago

I am also a zombulator Mother of Hens 🙂

BigHarryH
13 years ago

I have read this book, highly recommended.

13 years ago

I am really looking forward to the movie version, not many books transfer well to the big screen, but I think World War Z will be an exception.

Previous post How Developing Countries are Using the Internet for Growth and Prosperity
Next post House Republicans Pass Bill Banning Abortion After 20 Weeks
15
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x