World War Z

An Oral History of the Zombie War

By: Max Brooks

Narrated by: Max Brooks, Alan Alda, John Turturro, Rob Reiner

Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. Max Brooks, driven by the urgency of preserving the acid-etched first-hand experiences of the survivors from those apocalyptic years, traveled across the United States of America and throughout the world, from decimated cities that once teemed with upwards of 30 million souls, to the most remote and inhospitable areas of the planet.

He recorded the testimony of men, women, and sometimes children who came face-to-face with the living, or at least the undead, hell of that dreadful time. World War Z is the result. Never before have we had access to a document that so powerfully conveys the depth of fear and horror, and also the ineradicable spirit of resistance, that gripped human society through the plague years.

Ranging from the now infamous village of New Dachang in the United Federation of China, where the epidemiological trail began with the 12-year-old Patient Zero, to the unnamed northern forests where untold numbers sought a terrible and temporary refuge in the cold, to the United States of Southern Africa, where the Redeker Plan provided hope for humanity at an unspeakable price, to the west-of-the-Rockies redoubt where the North American tide finally started to turn, this invaluable chronicle reflects the full scope and duration of the Zombie War.

Note: Some of the numerical and factual material contained in this edition was previously published under the auspices of the United Nations Postwar Commission.

©2006 Max Brooks (P)2006 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Winner of Audio Publishers Association 2007 Audie Award, Multi-Voiced Performance
• Audie Award Finalist, Audiobook of the Year, 2007

"Hard to put down." (Publishers Weekly)

"A literate, ironic, strangely tasty treat." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Horror fans won't be disappointed: like George Romero's Dead trilogy, World War Z is another milestone in the zombie mythos." (Booklist)

Loved this Book!!

Such a creative way to tell a story. I really enjoyed the vignettes, and the tie-ins later on from each of the different perspectives. I had heard about this book for years, but never got around to picking it up. So glad I was able to spend the time. I was honestly a little disappointed that the audio seemed so short (close to 6 + hours). I realized that only the abridged version is available, but would honestly listen to the whole thing over if the unabridged version became available.

The performances were spectacular!! I loved the honesty behind every reader. I sometimes felt as though I was listening to an interview on the radio and not a book about a zombie apocalypse!

I enjoyed every section and was disappointed when it ended. I can't wait to see how it translates onto the screen next summer.

Exciting!!!

Would you listen to World War Z again? Why?

Due to my Loud job occupation I would listen to again, just to feel in the parts i've missed and to fully understand the book better.

Who was your favorite character and why?

There was few parts and characters that really grabbed me and as I said will have to listen to again.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Spoke very clear, had passion in what the situation called for.

If you could rename World War Z, what would you call it?

I would not.

Any additional comments?

Great audio book. Just wish it was longer. At first it is hard to grasp that we were almost annihilated. To pick up where the stories start and run with it. To me some were easier than others and can visually see myself in a couple circumstances. Great audio book and hope to listen to again soon.

Unique performance and story.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes, I would recommend this if my friend was a zombi or war book fan.

Would you be willing to try another book from Max Brooks? Why or why not?

I would like to try an unabridged book that would allow for less fragmentation.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

They did a great job of making me feel like I was there.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Maybe, it depends on who's in it.

Absolutely impressed

I listened to this audiobook at least once a day for three weeks. It was the most impressive audiobook that I have ever heard. The different characters will draw you into the story and your imagination will propel you into another world. I would recommend this story to any "zombie" fan. It is true to form and I hope that someday it is a full length movie. I would buy the DVD.

Great book, but...

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The performances in this book are great. I really felt the characters had personalities, as well as individual voices.

Any additional comments?

The only thing keeping this from a five star rating is the fact that this is abridged. I have read on Max Brooks' website that they are in the process of adding the rest of the stories to this for a complete version. As soon as they do, that will get a five star review from me.

Unabridged?

Great story. Now I wonder what "the rest of the story" is. Wish the unabridged version was available.

awesome!!!!

was great to listen to. loved that there were different narrators. was deff too short left me wanting to hear more.

more than a zombie book

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Every interview is done with a different voice. It's the first audiobook with multiple voices I listened to, and it turned out to work very well.

Any additional comments?

I don't like zombies, I only bought this book because a friend recommended it. I turned out to like the book, because essentially it is not about zombies. It's about how society deals with unexpected change, so you can make good comparisons with current global politics.

really good

my parents told me I needed to start reading more so I got this book on audio. money well spent!

Too much swearing

Other than the almost constant f-bomb in parts, this was a good book that I enjoyed listening to. I have wanted to read this book for a while and started it I don’t know how many times but never had the time to finish. I am glad I was finally able to. I would give 5-stars if it wasn’t for the swearing.