Only Dead on the Inside
A Parent's Guide to Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse
by James Breakwell
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app
1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Oct 10 2017 | Archive Date Sep 10 2017
Description
There are plenty of guides out there about how to survive the zombie apocalypse. All of them assume readers are young, fit, and unencumbered by children. In that scenario, the only living humans left will be smug, outdoorsy Millennials. That's hell on earth, even without the zombies.
Only Dead on the Inside is the answer for the rest of us.
Written by professional comedy writer and amateur father-of-four James Breakwell (@XplodingUnicorn), Only Dead on the Inside blends traditional parenting advice with zombie survival tips, bringing together two totally unrelated genres in a book no one asked for but everyone needs.
This step-by-step manual teaches you how to raise happy, healthy children in a world overrun by the undead. Motivated moms and dads want it all, and that won't change at the end of the world. There's no reason you can't be a zombie killing machine AND parent of the year, but you have to work for it.
If you want to make sure your family is apocalypse-ready, Only Dead on the Inside is your best―and only―chance at survival. No pressure, but if you don't read this book, your children will die.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
"I never laugh out loud, and this book is so funny I stopped reading to drag my family members in to read paragraphs to them, but I'd do a terrible job of reading because I kept giggling about what I was reading. It's kind of about zombies, more about parenting, but mostly a reason to write one hilarious sentence after the next. James Breakwell is so good at being funny that it kind of makes me angry, but then I'd read another page and laugh like an idiot again. You need this book." —Quinn Cummings, author of Notes from the Underwire and The Year of Learning Dangerously
Marketing Plan
Author James Breakwell will be speaking as part of the ALA's "The Laugh's On Us" event on June 25, 2017, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. More info via the links section.
Author James Breakwell will be speaking as part of the ALA's "The Laugh's On Us" event on June 25, 2017, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. More info via the links section.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781944648633 |
| PRICE | $16.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 240 |
Featured Reviews
Victoria S, Educator
*Thanks to NetGalley and BenBella Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* Fans of James Breakwell will be familiar with his quirky take on fatherhood from his regular tweets as @XplodingUnicorn. Breakwell is a husband, father of four daughters and a pig. 'Only Dead on the Inside' is, I believe, his first venture into the world of book publishing. Ostensibly, Only Dead is a how-to guide for parents wishing to survive the eminent zombie apocalypse. The novel, like Breakwell's tweets are a mix of humour, original cartoons and a fair sprinkling of truth. To give you an idea, chapter titles include 'Kamikaze Kids' and 'Hide and Go Weep', to give one and idea of the content. Breakwell's guide, whilst on the outside masquerades as a zombie survival guide, it actually has a lot more insight to offer about the world of parenting, rather than the undead. I am not usually a fan of post-apocalyptic novels, but this work of non-fiction and humour certainly grabbed my attention. A quick and enjoyable read.
Denise M, Reviewer
Pretty funny book about how us parents can use our skills to survive the zombie apocalypse in spite of our kids. Comes with helpful tips such as using kids toys scattered about the floor as a zombie intruder defense and a passionate argument for why the Minivan is the ultimate survival vehicle.
This is geared toward parents with elementary school aged kids, but would probably make a good gift for a new dad who is a fan of The Walking Dead.
Meghan D, Reviewer
5 STARS!! I have read a lot of humorous parenting books, and also zombie books/guides..but not one ever made me laugh as hard as James Breakwells "Only Dead on the Inside". I feel like someone else finally understands what parenting is like and can make light of it in an intellectual, funny and entertaining way! This is my favorite book of 2017!' It has zombies, comics, parenting, and satire rolled into one! I just can't gush enough about this book! I literally highlighted probably 80% of the book because I thought it was funny or just like I feel raising my sons! I could share quotes of the whole book..but that would give it away. Everything was relevant to an apocalypse and I think the book in general was presented in the best possible format for my laughing pleasure! I also discovered http://explodingunicorn.com James Breakwells website and he is on twitter. I had no idea he had so many followers and was featured all over the place! I am so grateful for being selected to review this ray of sunshine! I also hope that he writes more in the future because right now.. I would buy all his work!! I am going to share willingly and because it is actually fun.. with all my friends and social media. This is how it actually should be! It doesn't feel like a chore! I'm inspired, happy and eager to spread the news about this fantastic Zombie Parenting Skills Humorous Book!! Thank you so much! Best book I've ever picked from Netgalley (nobody get jealous now.. it made me laugh and that is really important to me especially since I'm in a bit of a rut in my life.)
Tara S, Reviewer
As a parent I absolutely loved this book and will cherish its wisdom in the event of a zombie crisis so I can keep my kids safe, lol. I plan to stock up on legos and jacks to sprinkle around the floor so they really can be used as a defense mechanism but I draw the line at getting a minivan. I have REFUSED for years to be a Minivan Mom, I’ll stick to my SUV.
It really is very tongue in cheek while providing survival tips but it somehow still came off as a good parenting book which I didn’t expect. I laughed so hard I had to stop snacking on the Pringles I was eating while reading this because I choked at one point and felt like I cut my throat on a damn chip!
I think this should be the Must Buy gift this Christmas season for all the parents you know.
Vikki P, Reviewer
I'm a little partial to this book because I've been following Xploding Unicorn for so long! I love his tweets and I was so excited when I got this ARC - and it did not disappoint one bit! I honestly think it isn't possible for me to hate anything written by him. Full review to be posted later on my blog
Valerie C, Librarian
Such a fun take on the zombie mania sweeping pop culture. And very relatable to parents in general, even without the zombie threat. Awesome read.
Alice T, Reviewer
Hilarious tongue-in-cheek guide to surviving the zombie apocalypse while attempting to raise the hope for the future. This made me laugh out loud because as a mom I could see all of this happening! Fans of The Walking Dead and Family Circus will love this.
I was given this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Shandy S, Reviewer
This was a hilarious read. As a mom and fan of the zombie genre this was a no brainer to read. Mr Breakwell's tongue-in-cheek humor paired with the zombie survival guide is wonderful. Some of the tips in here might actually work too. I mean it's true everyone falls over baby gates, using them as zombie deturtants makes sense. I have to disagree with the diapers becoming the new world currency though. On the other hand, I agree that mini-vans are dead sexy.
Mr Breakwell takes many everyday situation that most parents deal with and turns them into zombie fighting scenarios. I think most parents will find his take on apocalyptic child rearing amusing.
Jennifer F, Reviewer
I love reading James Breakwell's tweets. When I found out he was writing a book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Thanks to NetGalley, I didn't have to wait long. Zombies have become the in thing, which I find a little weird, but, pair that with incredible humor, and suddenly I'm okay with the whole zombie thing.
This isn't your normal zombie book. There's a twist. How do you survive the zombie apocalypse when you have kids that you should really try to keep alive. Suddenly, all the things you have to deal with as a parent become tools to help you survive one more day.
The only people that wouldn't like this book are zombies, people that want to become zombies, and people with absolutely no sense of humor. Even if you have a small sense of humor, you will find something enjoyable about this book.
As a side note, I'm now going to stock up on diapers and umbrella strollers.
Gabriella L, Reviewer
This book is very funny. I love it!! I have no kids but now I know what to do if zombie attack us. May be in the futur I think on this book and he save me. It's like Guide de survie en territoire zombie de Max Brooks but in funny mood.
Cassie D, Reviewer
It certainly isn't easy being a parent and I do feel like a zombie most days! Great book !
Librarian 104533
This book was full of fun, funny, yet realistic survival advice. "Fields will turn into giant, unkempt yards full of tall grasses, weeds, and hidden zombies. Avoid these at all costs. They’re the perfect place to lose a child or a Frisbee." Great for those who believe the zombie apocalypse may happen some day, but funny enough for anyone who has ever known a child to understand. I highly recommend this book!
Eustacia T, Reviewer
If you don't follow James Breakwell on Twitter, you should go do so. He's hilarious and I really love reading his tweets - I don't go on twitter often so I kinda "binge read" when I'm there which is often. So when I saw that he had a book on NetGalley I immediately requested it and put it on the front of my TBR list.
And luckily, it lived up to expectations!
I mean, a book is a lot longer than 140 characters. I wouldn't have been surprised if it ran out of steam halfway. But Breakwell did an excellent job of pacing the jokes and I laughed during every chapter.
Written in a pseudo-serious tone, Only Dead on the Inside is a handbook to help parents survive a zombie attack while keeping their kids alive. Illustrated with very crudely drawn Microsoft Paint-style comics (the comics were probably the weakest point of the book but I laughed at quite a few of them so it's not like they are complete failures), topics include:
- How to convince your kids to hide
- Food during a zombie apocalypse
- Why minivans are awesome (and what else you can use as a weapon against zombies)
- Why a zombie apocalypse means you never have to clean your house
- And what to do if you need to amputate your arm.
I would definitely recommend this to everyone and I would pick up a copy if I ever found it in a bookshop. It's funny and I really enjoyed reading it. If you've had experiences with kids (and everyone has, since you either were one or know one), you'll probably enjoy this. And his Twitter account. You should definitely check that out!
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
Readers who liked this book also liked:
Bill McKibben; Jaime Green
Essays & Collections, Outdoors & Nature, Science
