Usually here we review novels and comics, which are fictional and we can enclose ourselves off into another world. This review is a bit different, because Zombie Economics is both about a fantasy, but also how it intersects with reality. How we can utilize our imaginations to fix our real problems. It’s unusual for me to put on my business hat here. I have a master’s in business but usually that doesn’t matter when I’m talking about mermaids or boys killing bugs in space. It was interesting to see this intersection.

The first thing I noticed about this book was when I read it in public. When I was in Brooklyn, riding the L train with all the hipsters, inevitably I would catch people staring at the book. It was actually disconcerting a few times, as people strained their necks in order to read the back of the book across the subway car. In Midtown Manhattan on the 6 or the E trains, no one cared. They were too busy on their Blackberries and way too cool for zombies. (In Manhattan, if you’re not a vampire sucking the financial lifeblood, what good are you?) The moral? Read this book if you would like to fit in with the really cool kids.

The book itself is like a cross between a pop finance book and a choose-your-own-adventure book. Except here, the authors make all the choices for you in order to help illustrate their many points. The hero/ine (commonly known throughout the book as “You”) goes through a narrative in a zombie apocalypse and has to complete tasks before reaching the endgame. Each chapter uses the section of the story to illustrate the financial step “You” must take to become solvent. From building up your fortress to escaping traps, “You” go through adventures that make finance fun, or at least bearable.

As a parallel, I liked it until I didn’t. While the idea of comparing financial woes to flesh eating monsters out of horror was really strong in the beginning, it was stretched thinner and thinner until it was quite flimsy in the end. It was almost like I could see the two authors having a drink in a bar while getting this idea and thinking it’s the Best Idea Ever. They could have said things like, “Everyone loves zombies!” (true) or, “This book will sell faster than a zombie in 28 Days Later!” (let’s hope) But when it came down to it, the metaphor only works for awhile, and then it gets stale. Another thing was that I had a hard time putting a finger on the target audience for this book. Was it the poor under a pile of debt? Was it for the hipster just out of college? I just couldn’t tell. It’s my suspicion that the authors tried to target everyone, and by extension really targeted no one in particular.

This staleness is tempered by the fact that it’s an AWESOME book for people looking to get out of a sticky situation. With a couple of exceptions, I found the advice spot on and useful for anyone. There may be chapters that don’t apply -- you might be employed at a great job for instance -- but the advice that does apply is sound. The only thing I really didn’t like was that they were disjointed in the employment advice. At first they imply that “You” should keep “Your” job no matter what. But in another chapter they warn about being underemployed and how oftentimes that’s more detrimental than being unemployed. I agree with both those points, but they aren’t in a silo. You should get out of a job ASAP if you are underemployed, but should try to keep a job you just don’t like until you can find a better one. However, there was no caveat there. Additionally, some of the interview advice got under my skin. You shouldn’t warp yourself to a potential employer and pretend that you’re someone that you’re not just to get a job (unless you are in dire straights). Yet, the authors advocate that as a solid strategy. What it really does is lead you into a job that might be a horrible fit and make you even more miserable. It was just bad advice.

The rest of the advice was excellent. In a world full of books on how to make “You” rich through shady/illegal schemes (Rich Dad, Poor Dad, I’m looking at you) or how if “You” just think real hard “You” can become a millionaire, this book was refreshingly honest and clear. In fact, I was hoping to read more about advanced savings like 401k plans or mutual funds. But there was little to no info beyond putting money into savings accounts (which is great for an emergency cushion, but not so great for a nest egg). I think that this goes back to the question of whom they are targeting. If it’s someone victimized by the current economy, then maybe they can’t really invest: savings really are the only real option.

If “You” are looking at your budget and trying to find ways to improve it, if “You” are interested in making sure that you have financial security, and if “You” like a little flesh-eating dead people in between, then I think you should get this book. There is so much crap out there about personal finance, it is highly ironic that the book with the fantasy creatures in it is the most realistic.

   -- Sara Paige