E269: How Zombies Came to Be a Survival Metaphor

Zombies: Are they absolute nonsense or useful metaphor for modern survival? In this episode, we have a little spooky fun and wax philosophically to gain perspective on prepping and the main thing to focus on.

Roughly eight years ago a friend insisted I read World War Z by Max Brooks. At first, I was reluctant. Zombie stuff wasn’t my jam since I’m not a fan of horror flicks. After some prodding, I came around and picked up a copy.

A chapter into it and I could not put the book down; I was hooked. Soon after, I plowed through several other related titles. What really got me besotted with Zombie fiction was the similarity between real-world scenarios and what various writers like Max Brooks and JL Bourne were churning out. What was even more interesting was a simple fact that zombies presented a near perfect survival antagonist. The odds are against the survivors, but they’re not completely insurmountable.

It was then that I realized why so many people in and around survival communities had fallen in love the genre and would say goofy expressions like, “When the Zombies march.”

I then understand that for enthusiasts, Zombies had become a useful analogy and euphemism.

If you simply replace Zombie with economic collapse, pandemic, or natural disaster you could still have virtually the same survival requirements. This is why it is so compelling in modern survival, and especially Urban Survival. It does not matter if we are talking about undead hordes or rioting mobs, the basics are the basics.

A Zombie survival plan wouldn’t be much different from any other survival plan. It should be a well-considered, (but not rigid) set of guidelines taking into consideration things like communications, food production, water procurement and processing, redundancy, retreat, etc.

A Zombie survival book could give you specifics about different types of Zombies and their behaviors. But, then again, a good survival book discusses potential types of human aggressors and the situations, tactics, and strategies for dealing with them.

Surviving a Zombie attack in most ways relates directly to surviving an attack from a human aggressor. Quick wit, quick feet, and excellent skills with your hands and/or the weapons of your choice, are your best hope.

And those are merely a few examples.

So what’s the difference and what’s the most significant takeaway?

Tune in and find out.

Episode Resources:

• Book – World War Z
• Book – Day by Day Armageddon