Zombie Survival with Max Brooks

Max Brooks speaking at a Zombie Survival Seminar at Rutgers University in New Brunswick NJ.
10/20/11

[@arturodejesuscruzcasab9502]

Fun fact: This guy used to be a writer in SNL.

[@martin-pz6ds]

That explains a lot

[@athfcoz]

He's also the son of Mel Brooks.

[@Pinakij]

Talk about burying the lead.. wonder why he never performed like his dad

[@BumblebeeXrocks]

"... And that's your choice if you want to fight the Living Dead on crack." x'D

[@munstrumridcully]

I think the zombie mythos, beides being a threat which "comes to us", also strikes a chord with people because of the way we, as humans, have largely removed ourselves from the foodchain, thanks to our big brains and subsequent technology. Most life on this planets ends up being eaten by some other life, but not us, anymore. But we still have the ancestral memory, deep in our psyche's, of being lunch for all kinds of animals, in the distant past. Zombies *eat* us to death, and I think that plays on a primal, unconscious fear.

[@SuperSillySam]

I'm a snow creature and there actually is 34 million people up here.

[@raymondmergen3344]

Excuse me sir, i prefer the term "snowman" -fellow Canadian (if they underestimate us, they will let their guard down)

[@SuperSillySam]

Yes, "snowman" is much better than snowcreature

[@Marialla.]

SuperSilly Sam Ah, but "snow creature" is so nicely non-sexist!

[@Azuth65]

Yeah, I spent some time in Buffalo a few years back. At night, I could hear you guys sharpening your ice skates and the pounding of hockey sticks at night. This is why I don't mock/tease the Snow Creatures :p

[@mrskimtaehyung9095]

omg this guy is amazing!!!! and funny!!!!

[@brockkelly4841]

Nearly 11 years ago I found this my Freshman year of Highschool, and watched it with my friend instead of paying attention in science class. I still care about this video more than that year at school, and it is still one of my favorite videos on KZbin.

[@ScrubbyBubbles]

Wow i did not realize how good humored this guy is, he knows how to keep a room engaged for sure.

[@seymoorepoone9512]

His Dad is Mel Brooks.

[@micktomson1908]

I love this guy

[@TeslaDRay]

i came here expecting to find a survival strategist theorizing about the given scenario but find half that with a comedy routine which actually didn't turn out that bad. still logical even though a comic routine.

[@Cannibal713]

I recently heard this guy interviewed on NPR, I hadn't realized he is Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft's son. No shit.

[@lucasmoore2470]

I found this vid almost three years ago and I can finally click like

[@ngoquyen9285]

Hes doesn't want people to know where he would go. Smart move not telling them

[@Bumblebeerocks23]

I read his book, took everything to memory, and I WILL SURVIVE!!

[@Marialla.]

44:15 he missed such an opportunity - he should have said "if I've got my machete and my walking shoes on, and I'm being chased by a zombie, I ain't stopping for shit!"

[@MrSparkles539]

i am rewatching this at least 5 more times

[@JKCWvids]

I bet Max said what the hell is this crap watching WWZ

[@benmichael5338]

He should be a comedian

[@Calisonian]

He is an amazing speker... Definately more interesting than my English Class....

[@VanaeCavae]

if he ever write another zombie book, i will buy it. I love his writing.

[@fredfry5100]

I agree with almost everything other than the 'destroy the stairs' option. There is a picture of a guy walking up the stairs backward chopping up the stairs on the way up. No. It takes to much effort on short notice, espcially in multistory building where they are made of steel and cement. Just a note.

[@emperorconstantine1.361]

You realize that is for places that are pre-made for just that purpose.

[@themaker2475]

The crowd is way overzealous about anything Max says. He’ll make a semi funny joke and the crowed just eats it up. Then he’ll make a serious statement and the crowed is unsure as if to laugh but you still hear a couple of laughs…

[@Jacket-b9t]

this guy is a comedic genius.

[@simongilchrist3329]

Why is everyone getting so wound up about this? He's making a big joke. It's a comedy routine about a fictional situation. It's not about real survival, real events, or real anything. It's like getting your panties in a twist about whether or not Batman can beat up Spiderman. He's a funny guy selling an amusing tale of surviving a fictional event. Everyone just take a minute and relax.

[@NightDoge]

it's ironic because he is the exact opposite of everything you said. he is talking about real survival, real events, in real situations, but brought about by fictional causes, i.e. zombies.

[@jamesmccrea4871]

Love that he drops the name of the doctor who wrote the Zombie Autopsies.

[@iLoveBaconFACT]

What a witty and insightful man.

[@MrGearsOfWar96]

Max Brooks needs to design a zombie game

[@christiananderson6761]

hope youre still around but Project Zomboid is basically Max Brook's zombie universe in a great game

[@MrGearsOfWar96]

@@christiananderson6761 I am still around and I’ve heard of it. Don’t have a gaming PC but hope to one day with this game in mind

[@Beachead]

He's an amazing speaker!

[@sponkbonky]

Same here. This guy's a goddamn genius.

[@shexdensmore]

Wow. what a comical relief this was.

[@NFSanonymous08]

I think itll be funny when Max Brooks dies first in the zombie apocalypse because he is so confident he will survive but in reality i dont think he would be physically tough enough to be around very long

[@djpx49]

The trailor parks in america would explode In a cloud of Meth n Ted Negent music playing.. LMAO

[@kingnothing3523]

To counter the point of cars being unable to run on fear, I'm sure by now there's a car powered by crap at some university. But on guns, it's hard to pick a good primary weapon because of how many factors affect its practicality. You have to pick between power or controllability, compactness or durability, accuracy or rate of fire, and much more. My current top pick is the M1 Carbine with a sidefolding stock for semi-auto function, durability, and light weight.

[@arturodejesuscruzcasab9502]

+King Nothing I'd argue semi-auto is still a waste off ammo. You just need one shot in the head to kill a zombie, anything else is just a waste of bullest and energy.

[@kingnothing3523]

Arturo Casab Semi-auto is still controllable, though, if the shooter is patient and disciplined enough. Full-auto, on the other hand, will often use more ammo than you anticipate or need to fire. And if you get surrounded, it's best to kill as many as you can from a distance to minimize risk to yourself, which requires a fair amount of speed. And it's probably best that you wait until that kind of situation to use a firearm to avoid excess noise, because if you do get there noise should be the last of your concerns.

[@arturodejesuscruzcasab9502]

King Nothing Even when you're sorrounded, you shoot a bunch of zombies at the waist and they won't feel a thing, and they won't stop until you are dead or they are. In those scenarios, hand to hand and short range hand weapons, maybe even shotguns, are your best option.

[@kingnothing3523]

Arturo Casab When did I say anything about shooting at the waist? All I said was it might be a good idea to carry a firearm capable of firing alot of rounds very quickly to prevent being surrounded in a close proximity to the zombies, when it would be too crowded and inopportune to do anything but use your hand-to-hand weapon or possibly a handgun. And with shotguns, for me it depends. I wouldn't be comfortable with anything that doesn't use a detachable magazine or a clip. Single-loading rounds is a massive downside to the otherwise-perfect Remington 870 and similar weapons. On the other hand, auto-loading shotguns can put alot of projectiles out very quickly, destroying body parts and slowing the zombies' advance.

[@arturodejesuscruzcasab9502]

King Nothing Only, it wouldn't slow them down. Again, they don't feel pain, they aren't afraid of weapons, and their numbers would most likely protect each other from even getting a bullet, all you'd be doing is filling them up with lead but unless you got a headshot, they wouldn't stop coming.

[@martin-pz6ds]

Crackheads in the zombie apocalypse is an amazing concept

[@matthewwolf2054]

This is so applicable to many scenarios.

[@HieiLover0745]

XD omg I love this guy! I really want to read his book or books ^_^

[@wallywest2038]

Hahahahaha the captions for this vid are fucking comedy gold "My very hairy past."

[@allistair61]

Day Z, the day Canada Point to the neighbours to the south and really wishes that he had built a wall

[@Teutonic__Knight]

Well, Albion is a European/American company that makes no joke fighting swords.

[@dudkun]

It's about more then being "tough". Takes a mix of ruggedness and brains. Being tough doesn't put food on the table, hauling your ass out and finding it, along with thinking of clever ways of acquiring more and sustaining it does.

[@kronosken8040]

dude this guy is brilliant!!!!

[@aBronyPlays]

Tom Imamura (from the Rot and Ruin series) is the best samurai I know. he kicks ass.

[@vxenon67]

We really need a WWZ video game with Far Cry 3,, Call of Duty, Need for Speed, Mass Effect 3, Dead Space 2 features.

[@notchris1083]

Or just play dayz

[@roblox13337]

Fuzzy Scorpion If only there were actually zombies in dayz...

[@notchris1083]

roblox13337 there are

[@roblox13337]

Fuzzy Scorpion I've seen tons of gameplay, both of the original mod and the standalone. There are literally more survivors than zombies. It's basically normal arma but with these pests that walk around like gorillas that can't get to you when you're sitting in a bush.

[@notchris1083]

roblox13337 have you played it? I do see your point. There is alot of bugs. And I mean alot but standalone is still just an alpha game and mod was just a mod not a perfect game but yes they do need alot of improvment.

[@DiamondDovahkiin]

this man writes minecraft books now

[@spazyassassin1]

"Car that runs on fear" .... hmmmmm.

[@starleighpersonal]

fred flintstones car

[@stucorbett]

Thanks for posting.

[@Americanman1187]

I've watched this so many times

[@CHEA1111]

Max, you are awesome, giving the HINT.....

[@perrybb2]

Dude, why does he remind me SO MUCH of Mac from It's Always Dunny in Philadelphia

[@TheKyleness91]

This video is amazing while drunk

[@vayneknot1]

I see where you are coming from, And you are right for the most part. My main issue is gas for a bike is a Human, And we get tired lol

[@Unclesamslair]

I don't think mosquitos bite dead stuff, someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[@hoboliccentral]

When he was talking about places to find monsters, he forgot about blockbuster

[@MrTheron96]

gta 5 with a zombie mode like undead nightmare would be the best dlc a game can ever have, imagine endless hours surviving.

[@savlort]

I agree that he is a genius. World War Z is an incredible piece of literature.

[@FrenchCountryQuilts]

His mom would have been proud.

[@robotcow28]

I think that DayZ, Dead Island and Dead Rising would be a awesome mixture. The numerous amount of weapons of Dead Rising, the great melee system of Dead Island and the realism of DayZ. That would be a game to make imo.

[@reploidv]

Most of what he's talking about is common sense and if you don't have this common sense already you're not going to survive.

[@moome1649]

thanks for posting

[@insu_na]

Epic, thanks for uploading!

[@SRosenberg203]

Hey, Harold and the Purple Crayon is like the best Children's book ever, don't hate on the name Harold lol

[@allykins018]

Me and my boyfriend read his book last year and it was amazing.

[@MrSquigglies]

It is a temporary measure in order to give you time to think of a way out

[@anadin0612]

Patient zero Jonathan Mayberry. Another good book

[@tristanmccann6838]

40:00

[@chrismhp]

Yeah I know. WWZ is a novel not a survival guide as I was referring to. lol

[@xPadge112x]

Personally I would go as far north as possible, saying that would winter conditions freeze zombies or slow them down? Cause if so an outbreak in winter would be best chance to relocate.

[@calivamp8196]

make sure u have a ladder and then send sum1 or a small group of ppl to get supplies then have them climb up the ladder if u do sumthin that extreme ull need to plan ahead for things like that

[@dylanartiz4525]

Well... he didn't say anything about tv shows. So i guess by watching the Walking Dead I am going to survive.

[@rymeax8446]

ya know if you ask me wouldnt mosquitos transfer the virus? their blood going into you like the yellow fever? or the what was that one swine flu? and the wrestnel virus or something? so ima stock up on off spray!

[@Nyx600]

'Nothing zombies can do to us that we havnt already done to each other' I agree... one word... Scaphism, Don't know what it is? You don't want to...

[@MyZombiekiller666]

He is so true

[@Skipmunk85]

have a another exit that's hard to access and use that to get more food and supplies

[@dzhellek]

If you're in a skyscraper you're right. If you're on the second story and you can get a rope out a window then you have and exit/entrance that zombies can't use.

[@MichaelClaudio13]

I want to see this guy!

[@IzzyyyWasHere]

This guy is a genuis

[@sponkbonky]

You could make a sheet rope. Better yet, if you have paracord on hand, you could make a rope ladder. Or just regular rope, for that matter.

[@wolfbite1984]

Yes common sense is a must in survival

[@georgedownswheeler]

On your own on your own on your own! On your own one your own on your oooOwn!

[@Wolfboy2012]

a zombie game that's like Dead island, DayZ, Dead Rising, The Walking Dead and Wolrd War Z combine

[@9Kiyosaki9]

Best sport to survive anything specially zombies is CROSSFIT . . yup . .

[@gurtznak]

No.. Its silent, can carry you and a bag, easy to fix, no gas needed and its small enough to get through rubble and carry over blockades. A car is super terrible, walking is terrible and flying is the worst.

[@Necros212]

He answered this in the Z survival guide. They naturally avoid Blood infected with Solomon. And even if they one drink it they would die afterwards due to the toxicity of the infected blood.

[@Mrcryptidsarereal]

Man he's saying the same things from Comic-Con. Yeah that's wisdom

[@meriatonB]

I want to smack the guy up front who's swinging the damn dog tags. >.

[@pinkfrappe_]

In all you're dors there's at least one guy growing his own weed. There's your farmer.

[@niksterfer6sir]

Grand Theft Auto 5 But with a zombie survival mode would be the absolute best...The red dead redemption zombie game. Undead nightmare was completely underrated!!!

[@Darklordkime]

yes... yes he does.

[@proudgoose]

i like how you havent included the warZ, thumbs up to you dude :)

[@ngoquyen9285]

Well you could try to jump down stairs but he said don't take risk that may hurt you XD

[@punchyou3]

I'm just saying that because it's the most realistic zombie game out there right now. If he actually made a game, I believe it would be like DayZ or The War Z.

[@ZombieChimpanzee]

"aww Cricky."

[@myleskilo6186]

So there would be NO other way of getting out from the second floor? Jumping out of a window? Why the fuck would you stay there if you were gonna run out of food?

[@seymoorepoone9512]

Ladder. Rope or Aluminum. You don’t destroy the stairs without at least 4 backup ladders. 2 rope. 2 Aluminum. Make sure you have a hatch to the roof too.

[@Sagittbrit]

well, if the zombies are the slower type and aren't really aware you're up there you'd be able to go scavenging and have a safe place to keep it if you have some way of returning, and it would be more safe from looters

[@mustard6255]

Hey! Mr Brooks I respect your work, but seriously, lay off Australia!

[@MrSparkles539]

Dude, he laid down a bunch of jokes offending multiple nations, but don't take it seriously.

[@SuperMunchkin1000]

You guys have Mad Max he's just jelly

[@MavenCree]

"Hocker!" LOL!

[@brandonmonahan2949]

Why did he pronounce Cillian as "Sillyan"? its pronounced like "Killy-an"

[@Rhonin09]

Turn on the Captions.... Its hilarious XD

[@footballfreak237]

Who knows when the movie world war z is coming out

[@wallywest2038]

Patt ???

[@aidengreene7692]

when you turn on captions here are one of the funny things you will see: we are killed by potential blockbusters is"