Field Guide to the Apocalypse: Movie Survival Skills for the End of the World

by Meghann Marco, Dominic Bugatto (Illustrator)

Incorporating information based on a host of films about global apocalypse, an offbeat field guide furnishes "practical" advice on how to deal with some of the complex situations that might arise during the catastrophe, ranging from how to cope with the "last-woman-on-earth" survivor guilt to how to synthesize a species-saving vaccine from one's own mucus. Original. 35,000 first printing.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, How To

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. I really did. On the surface it sounded right up my alley. And it did start pretty well, referencing all the right movies, providing some actually useful information on generators and biodiesel car conversion (plus it's the perfect size to fit in your go-bag). And it is humorous--not laugh-out-loud humorous, at least not for me, or at least not until the very last page. Unfortunately she lost me in Part III: The Advanced Technological Dystopia, when the tone changed from helpful hints on what to look for and how to survive to lists of characters, alien and robot types, costuming, and CitySpeak vocabulary, and devolved further into a litany of monster movie tropes in Part IV: Apocalypse Then: Tips for Saving the World. And though the Epilogue's last page guffaw definitely counts in the books favor, I would have liked a little more concrete information (like the generator and biodiesel stuff) with my fantasy and a little less deadpan humor. I also would have loved a list of all the movies and TV shows mentioned or described so I could expand my t0-watch list. It could have been great--more informative, more fun, more useful--but for me it just wasn't.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I shall no longer be afraid of the apocalypse for I now know what to do and how to behave in all possible situations, thanks to this handy little book. This was really entertaining and much-needed light reading material after tackling a 800-page novel about Cromwell! Well, these were apocalyptic times as well in more ways than one so I can see a pattern emerging there;)

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite sure what I was expecting but in the end I was kinda disappointed. Instead of developing themes and exploring the humor side of using movies to prepare for the apocalypse, the author just creates minuscule chapters with bullet point narration in between short paragraphs that real don't convey much.

By the end of the book, it was almost feeling a bit rushed like the author was trying to figure out how to wrap it all up.

The book does have a many humorous quips and sideways references but I think she fell short of what could have been such a much better written humor guide to apocalyptic survival.

[Thee_ron_clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading my copy of the Zombie Survival Guide numerous times, I happened to see this on the book shelf. I figured perhaps I should check it out in case something strange happened and flesh-eating cadavers were not the end of civilization as we know it. Well, that and it sounded entertaining.

From start to finish, this book is an entertaining read that covers a number of Hollywood's predicted futures. Perhaps we're not looking at Nostrodamus here, but one prediction has to be pretty close to another or something like that.

Anyway, it was a fun and amusing read. It was well thought out and I would definitely enjoy reading more works from this author.

[Violet_violence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was part of a four part purchase I recently made on Amazon.com. Two of the books were post-apocalyptic survival books and the others were zombie books. Go figure. I'm on a kick. Anyway.........
This book was sharp and fun and funny AND actually practical. I learned a lot of apocalyptical things I didn't know, plus I laughed a lot. With chapters like "My Food is People," and topics like how to be able to tell if you are a replicant or a clone, this book rocked the world-or the end of it.

[Darren Humphries · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're up on your science fiction and disaster movie knowledge then this little romp through the dos and don'ts of post apocalyptic survival is a fun read. If you don't know your Blade Runners from your Matrix Revolutions then it might all seem a little bit opaque.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happened upon this book in a totally random way, and I almost died laughing. It's great, I love it, as silly as it is.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious book combined with good advice. Definitely will be in my backpack if the apocalypse arrives.

[Brian Clulow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I know what to do when shit hits the fan.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious!

From start to finish I was entertained. I dont know if its sad or funny that I knew virtually every movie reference. anyone preparing for the zombie apocalypse should read this book!

[G.R.S. Hjelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a funny book and informative as well.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know the author, and it's funny, so it gets a five.