World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

One of the central themes of the book is the ability of humanity to triumph in the face of a perilous, extinction-level event. The very existence of the book, which is a collection of interviews with survivors published 12 years after the Zombie War, demonstrates that humans as a species are highly resilient and adaptable, even if large numbers of people are wiped out. While the narrator explains that there are now a number of problems the world faces in the aftermath, including a depleted population, rampant disease, pollution, and malnutrition, their ability to travel around the world and interview dozens of people shows that humanity’s will to survive is strong.

The stories of the many survivors generally paint a picture of courage, strength, resilience, and heroism. The zombies present an unprecedented enemy to the human race, and as General Travis D’Ambrosia of Europe’s Combat Information Center explains, they are capable of “total war” (272): It’s impossible to wear them down, they need no support or sustenance, and they cannot conscientiously object. Every zombie is a remorseless killer. Despite their relentless enemy, the interviewees have survived extreme hardship, including frigid temperatures, zombie attacks, human violence, exploitation, and mishandled military operations.