World War Z, you should read it this weekend!

Everyone should read World War Z or at least listen to it on tape as soon as possible!

The World War Z is the story of the great zombie war told through the words of dozens of individuals throughout the globe, and in the end, you get a fantastic book, excitingly action-filled and forebodingly satirical. I just finished World War Z, and I am completely in awe at how engaging and evocative the experience was!

The story begins in rural China with a doctor witnessing Case Zero, the first documented case of the living dead. From there the story takes off across the globe crafting the stories of different nations: from how they become aware of the zombie epidemic to their progression of reactions including denial, concern, panic, retreat, and finally, regrouping and offensive.

Each of the characters had unique stories to tell, and each of them had unique mannerisms and culture backing them up. The military figures have a broad command of weapon and strategy terminology. The Israeli scholars speak methodically yet conversationally. The businessmen seem to swagger and strut.

Of course interesting characters are nothing without action and conflict and with millions of zombies hungry for human flesh, there was plenty of decapitation, skull-busting, disembowelment, and cannibalism (on both ends of the fence). Even before the Great Panic, international tensions are high. Palestinians fear that offers to take asylum in voluntarily quarantined territory may just be Israelis trying to lure their enemies in for enslavement. Without diplomatic relationships, misunderstandings lead to nuclear war. Celebrities become torn off their pedestals by the very people that initially instated them. Civilians flee in all directions, and everyone falls under the category of refugee.

Above the action and the impeccably crafted characters, is the satire. Every character that told a personal story in World War Z had some keen insight into our modern world, without being corny. The book was rampant with topical themes such as community vs. isolation, selfishness vs. cooperation, practical vs. prodigal.

The setting in time added tremendously to the book's allure as well. The author constantly references the Cold War and pop figures so that you know exactly when this story took place. In short, if World War Z was a prophetic book, zombies will be taking over the globe in something like 2 to 5 years from right now! Keeping within the frame of reference of the reader only enhances the illusion of World War Z.


The audio version of this book is like listening to a movie! Its only 6 hours long, and whereas many audiobooks are done by one reader playing voices for each individual character, World War Z featured a new reader for each character. readers included, among more than 12 others, John Turturro, Mark Hamill, and Alan Alda.

Download it from audible.com, listen to it on your way to work next week or while you're at the gym, and you won't be sorry.