Book Review : Mostly Harmless
Although Douglas Adams is best known for writing the science fiction novels of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy he did write a none fiction book called, A Last Chance to See.
I think A Last Chance to See is some of his funniest and best work and it’s all true. The book describes his adventures with the zooligist Mark Carwardine as they travel around to see some of the most endangered creatures in the world.
They visit such places as Madagascar, Zaire, New Zealand – the South Island, Mauritius, Bali – the ugly part, not the part that David Attenborough saw – and the Island of Komodo where they have, you guessed it, Komodo Dragons.
Along the way they get to see, or hear, dolphins, gorillas, hippos, spiders, snakes, aye-ayes, kakapos, giant elands, rhrinos, hyenas and lots of other animals.
Everywhere they go there is an adventure and Douglas Adams makes even a sleepless night listening to dogs fighting sound hilarious.
I got to meet Douglas Adams at a book convention once. He read a chapter from his latest book, So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish which he was there promoting. He also read chapter eight from the The Restaurant and the end of the Universe. You know, the bit about Marvin and the tank. And then he read a part from this other book A Last Chance to See. That was one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard. It was the meeting with Dr. Struan Sutherland. If you want to know a little bit about venomous animals read this part. It’s only a few pages long but it may take a while to read. That’s only because it’s hard to read and cry with laughter at the same time.
In the end the book is much more than just a few laughs. It’s a look at how we are treating our animal kin. And as funny as the book is the last chapter is perhaps the most poignant material I have ever read. You’ll have to check it out for yourself.
In the end it’s good enough that I have bought at least five copies of the book myself because I keep giving it away to friends. You’ll have to get your own. 
