Max Brooks is a well-known American author, renowned for his work in the horror and science fiction genres. He was born on May 22, 1972, in Manhattan, New York, and is the son of the famous actor, writer, director, and producer Mel Brooks, and the late actress Anne Bancroft. Growing up, Brooks attended the Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California, where he developed an early interest in history and storytelling. He is dyslexic, which made his academic journey challenging, but he persevered and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in history from Pitzer College in Claremont, California.
Brooks is perhaps best known for his novels "The Zombie Survival Guide" and "World War Z," which have both been bestsellers. His work in the zombie genre has earned him the nickname "the Studs Terkel of zombie journalism." In addition to his novels, Brooks has also written graphic novels, including "GI Joe: Hearts and Minds," "The Extinction Parade," "Germ Warfare: A Graphic History," and "The Harlem Hellfighters." His writing is not limited to print media, as he has also worked as a screenwriter and television actor.
Brooks currently resides in Venice, California, with his wife, Michelle, who is also a screenwriter, and their son, Henry. He is a dedicated writer who continues to produce high-quality work in the genres he loves. His work has earned him recognition as a fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and the Modern War Institute at West Point. These honors reflect his commitment to exploring complex issues through storytelling and his contributions to the literary world.
Standalone Novels
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Zombie Survival Guide
2003
2
World War Z
2006
3
Devolution
2020
Short Story Collections
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Closure, Limited and Other Zombie Stories
2011
Short Stories/Novellas
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Tiger Chair
2024
Graphic Novels
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks
2009
2
G.I. Joe: Hearts & Minds
2010
3
The Harlem Hellfighters
2014
4
Shadow Walk
2015
5
Shadow Walk (With: Mark Waid)
2015
Non-Fiction Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Zombie Survival Notes Mini Journal
2008
2
The Zombie Survival Guide Journal
2011
Extinction Parade Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Extinction Parade, Volume 1
2014
2
The Extinction Parade, Volume 2
2015
Minecraft Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Island
2017
2
The Crash (By: Tracey Baptiste)
2018
3
The Crash
2018
4
The Lost Journals ( By: Mur Lafferty)
2019
5
The Lost Journals
2019
6
The End
2019
7
The End (By: Catherynne M. Valente)
2019
8
The Voyage
2020
9
The Voyage (By: Jason Fry)
2020
10
The Rise of the Arch-Illager (By: Matt Forbeck)
2020
11
The Rise of the Arch-Illager
2020
12
The Shipwreck
2020
13
The Shipwreck (By: C.B. Lee)
2020
14
The Mountain
2021
15
The Dragon (By: Nicky Drayden)
2021
16
The Dragon
2021
17
Mob Squad (By: Delilah S. Dawson)
2021
18
Mob Squad
2021
19
The Haven Trials
2021
20
The Haven Trials (By: Suyi Davies)
2021
21
Never Say Nether (By: Delilah S. Dawson)
2022
22
Never Say Nether
2022
23
Zombies! (By: Nick Eliopulos)
2022
24
Zombies!
2022
25
Don't Fear the Creeper (By: Delilah S. Dawson)
2022
26
Don't Fear the Creeper
2022
27
Castle Redstone (By: Sarwat Chadda)
2022
28
Castle Redstone
2022
29
Return Of The Piglins
2023
30
Return of the Piglins ( By: Matt Forbeck)
2023
31
Zombies Return! (By: Nick Eliopulos, Mojang Studios)
2023
32
The Village
2023
33
Minecraft Journey to the Ancient City (By: Danny Lore, Mojang Studios)
2025
34
The Temple of the Charged Creeper (By: Matt Forbeck)
2025
Cinexploits! Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Tales of Frankenstein
2018
2
Death Kiss
2019
3
Automatons
2019
4
Nemesis
2021
5
Celluloid Wars
2021
The Zombie Survival Guide Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead