Zombies, Minecraft, and Dealing with Uncertainty

The Art of Manliness

In order to thrive in a world that’s constantly in flux, you have to learn to overcome your fear of the unknown and adapt yourself to whatever circumstance you find yourself in. Zombies and Minecraft can teach how to do both.

Today on the show, I talk to Max Brooks, son of famed filmmaker Mel Brooks, who is the author of books that include World War Z and a series of Minecraft novels for kids. Max and I discuss how he’s used his fiction to explore learning to be resilient in the face of change and how his work writing about the zombie apocalypse led to a gig at the Modern War Institute at West Point. Along the way, Max offers insights on overcoming your fear of the unknown and how Minecraft can help your kids learn how to thrive in a world where becoming a creative problem solver is the name of the game.

Resources Related to the Podcast

• Select books by MaxBrooks:
  • The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead
  • World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
  • Minecraft: The Island
  • Minecraft: The Mountain
  • Minecraft: The Village
• AoM Article: Survival Lessons from World War Z
• AoM Podcast #902: How to Survive Any Worst Case Scenario
• AoM Article: 5 Tools for Thriving in Uncertainty
• AoM Article: The Best Books to Read in Uncertain Times
• “In a Far Country” by Jack London

Connect With Max Brooks

• Max‘s website