# World War Z by Max Brooks

3 Hacker News commenters recommended World War Z by Max Brooks and 2 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 3 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** People recommend it as a short, action-packed read that is easy to get through; one reader says the movie didn't live up to it.

## Why people recommend it

- Short, action-packed and easy to read (1 comments): "I loved the short action packed book which seemed like an easy translation" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48403454))
- Extended cast audiobook edition is great (1 comments): "the extended cast edition is great with a mixed cast" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46413165))
- Enjoyed it enough to re-read (1 comments): "Overall I really enjoyed it. I should re-read it…" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49242522))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski](https://hackerapproved.com/p/house-of-leaves.md): 19 recommend
- [The Terror by Dan Simmons](https://hackerapproved.com/p/terror.md): 12 recommend
- [Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons](https://hackerapproved.com/p/carrion-comfort.md): 9 recommend
- [The Shining by Stephen King](https://hackerapproved.com/p/shining.md): 4 recommend
- [Summer of Night by Dan Simmons](https://hackerapproved.com/p/summer-of-night.md): 3 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307346609?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780307346605) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "World War Z by Max Brooks", https://hackerapproved.com/p/world-war-z/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).