The Zombie Survival Guide

The **Zombie Survival Guide** is a book written by Max Brooks in 2003.

The content of the book gives the reader advice on how to survive in a zombie apocalypse. Advice ranges from the weapons used to fight, the vehicles you operate for travel or escape, the shelters you find to rest in, and how to last as long as possible in a world ravaged by the undead.

The Zombie Survival Guide is followed by a sequel titled **World War Z**, a compilation of interviews from people from all across the world who have survived through the apocalyptic events of a global pandemic that decimated most of the Earth's population.

## Overview

### Introduction

*"The dead walk among us." - Brooks*

The walking dead, or zombies, are one of the largest, though quite unlikely, threats to humankind. Max Brooks highlights knowledge as mankind's greatest tool and ignorance as our quickest path to ruin. Other key points are that this book does NOT go over items such as survival skills or first aid as they are generously covered outside of this text. This book is designed and curated for the everyday citizen, you and I. The following are a set of guidelines, tips, and rules to assist you and your loved ones for when the dead start to walk amongst the living.

### The Undead: Myths and Realities

The first chapter contains all the truths and facts of the enemy. What is first explained is the origin of the zombie plague to a virus called Solanum and its symptoms, method of transmission, and treatments. After, it describes the zombies and its attributes. These include things such as their five senses, their decomposition rate, digestion, respiration, strength, speed, intelligence, memories, needs, and the severity of outbreaks in four distinct classes. The chapter also provides a section of insight for recognizing signs of a potential zombie outbreak.

### Weapons and Combat Techniques

This section of about 35 pages starts with an excerpt from a Serbian mercenary during the 1994 Zairian Civil War. The mercenary describes how various automatic weapons and eventually a flamethrower were used against a group of zombies to no avail, with light descriptions of the bullets tearing away flesh but not halting the zombies progress. A decent piece of foreshadowing for the change in techniques from man vs man combat to man vs zombie combat.

There are five general rules outlined in Brooks' Weapons and Combat Techniques section:

1. Obey the law
2. Train constantly
3. Care for your tools
4. Beware display items
5. Develop the first weapon (the human body)

Following these general guidelines are outlined sections of different armaments:

1. Close Combat
	1. Bludgeons
	2. Edged Weapons
	3. Miscellaneous Hand Weapons
		1. *The Shaolin Spade* (also known as the Monk's Spade)
	4. Power Tools
2. Slings and Arrows
	1. The Sling
	2. The Slingshot
	3. The Blowgun
	4. Shuriken
	5. Throwing Knives
	6. The Long or Compound Bow
	7. The Crossbow
	8. The Hand Bow
3. Firearms
	1. The Heavy Machine Gun
	2. The Submachine Gun
	3. The Assault Rifle
	4. The Bolt-/Lever-Action Rifle
	5. The Semiautomatic Rifle
	6. The Shotgun
	7. The Pistol
	8. .22-Caliber Rimfire Weapons
	9. Accessories
4. Explosives
5. Fire
	1. Molotov Cocktails
	2. Dousing
	3. The Blowtorch
	4. The Flamethrower
6. Other Weapons
	1. Acid
	2. Poison
	3. Biological Warfare
	4. Zoological Warfare
	5. Electrocution
	6. Radiation
	7. Genetic Warfare
	8. Nanotherapy
7. Armor
	1. Plate Mail
	2. Chain Mail
	3. The Shark Suit
	4. Helmets
	5. Bulletproof Vests
	6. Kevlar Covers
	7. Tight Clothes and Short Hair