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World War Z cover art

World War Z

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

What the critics say

  • 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)

What listeners say about World War Z

Average Customer Ratings
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    4 out of 5 stars

great, full version is even better

the full version is better (obviously) so if you are trying to decide which one to get, go with the full version.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Didn't Realize This was Abridged

Love this story and the performances, but I'm not happy I wasted a credit on an abridged version.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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It was good

Took me a few tries to get the ball rolling on this one but I'm glad I did. I don't think I'd be forcing any one to get on this IMMEDIATELY but I would most definitely put it on the 'to read sometime' list.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great book, audio mediocre

The audio quality was great, but the readers skip portions of the book which can be quiet annoying if you’re reading along.
Overall good though

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

interesting story, the style somewhat takes away

I enjoyed the story and found it interesting though I found that the postdated interview style took away from the tension and description I might have enjoyed about the actual encounters.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

HOLY CRAP THIS WAS GREAT!!!!

This was an amazing book. I was told that as a fan of zombie films and stories, this was one of the best. I was not disappointed!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great Book

All the different voice actors made this a really interesting listen. It's a different spin on zombie stories not as much as action as you'd think from a zombie book. It was great going through the perspectives of different people affected and had they dealt with the zombies. Focuses on army and politic issues with a zombie war.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Cool story

Very well thought out story. Felt like a non-fiction recount of an actual event. Very well performed by all parties

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Awesome. Addicting

I read this paperback previously and was curious how the audio version would be. I was readdicted to it. awesome

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A stellar audio production of a great book

World War Z has been one of my favorite books for a long time. I read my old paperback multiple times over the years, until it met an untimely end thanks to a bags trip into the ocean. Seeking a new copy, I thought to try the audiobook. I have never enjoyed these stories as much as I did listening to them portrayed by an amazing cast. I'm sure I will listen to this many times, as I read it many times, and continue to enjoy them. I can honestly say I enjoyed this production more than the theatrical adaptation.

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