World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

What does the state of the world seem to be at the onset of the zombie outbreak? Do you think it reflects a world similar to our own in 2006, when the book was published, or are there major differences? If so, what are they?

Although a precise cause of the virus that turns people into zombies is never given, are there any hints as to what that cause might be? If not, why do you think that’s the case?

Do you think the narrator is an effective interviewer? Do you see any examples of where they might be influencing their subjects’ responses?

Given the state of the world at the onset of the outbreak, do you think the zombies serve as a metaphor for human behavior? If so, what aspects specifically? Explain your response using examples.

What role does religion play in the book? Does the sudden presence of zombies influence people’s faith in any profound way? Do you see the zombies themselves as a sign of an apocalyptic religious event?

Are there any traits common to the survivors of the war, other than the fact that they all made it out alive? If not, why do you think they all managed to survive? Discuss your response using examples.

Do you agree that the Redeker plan was the best course of action for humanity’s survival? If not, what do you think a more successful strategy might have been?

Why do you think America decided to take an offensive stance against the zombies? What does it say about America’s role in the war and in global affairs? Do you believe it was the right course of action?