AA better question would be what the simularities are. Few things featured in The Dead Zone series have something to do with the book. For example: Johnny and Sarah never had a son, Gene Purdy, Dana Bright and Bruce are characters made for this show, Walt Bannerman is a fusion between Sheriff George Bannerman and Walter Hazlett (Sarah's husband) from the book. Johnny's parents are both alive in the book even though his mother dies from a stroke (not from suicide as in the series). Some events from the series (like Johnny trying to stop a fire at a school party) are actually taken from the book.