Celebrate the arts and humanities with West Virginia University this year. Max Brooks, author of WVU’s inaugural Common Read book selection, World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, visits campus Tuesday, September 1.
Brooks will be participating in WVU’s fall 2015 semester Festival of Ideas lecture series. His lecture, “From World War I to World War Z,” will explore ideas he covers in World War Z and his new graphic novel, Harlem Hellfighters.
The Festival of Ideas lecture series spans the academic year and brings a diverse group of newsmakers, public figures and thought leaders—along with WVU’s own academic superstars—to engage the campus community in important issues of the day.
The free lecture takes place in the Mountainlair ballroom at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is available for 1,000 people only; there will be no overflow seating. So, be sure to get there early.
Brooks will present for about 45 minutes and then will take audience questions for 15 minutes. Afterwards, there will be a book signing and World War Z and Harlem Hellfighters will be available to purchase.
Students participating in the Common Read program this year won’t want to miss this event. Brooks will touch on the tough topics WWZ explores, such as politics, social structures, prejudice and fear. His discussion will help shed new light on old ways of thinking.
Brooks is credited with bringing zombie-lore into mainstream pop culture. He has authored three highly successful zombie-themed books – The Zombie Survival Guide, World War Z and The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks. His goal with these books is to encourage readers to think critically and to challenge entrenched behaviors.
With his new book, Harlem Hellfighters, Brooks tackles a new genre – historical fiction. This work chronicles the story of the first African-American regiment to fight in WWI. Despite struggles and overt racism, the soldiers displayed incredible valor and bravery.
Born in New York City in 1972, Brooks is the son of Hollywood legends Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft. In addition to writing best-selling novels, Brooks has written for Saturday Night Live and worked for the BBC in Great Britain and East Africa.
To learn more about the Common Read, visit http://academicsuccess.wvu.edu/common-read.
To learn more about the Festival of Ideas, contact Alexandra McConnell-Trivelli in University Events at festivalofideas@mail.wvu.edu.
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