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celtic67's review
4.0
This is a hard book to review. Though written chronologically it is not a biography as such. Contains plenty of pictures it is not a graphic memoir. Though I read from start to finish like a normal book the size of the print edition makes it not the ideal book to sit on your lap. It could be called a coffee table book. I glad I read the print edition as I think some of the hand written notes etc. would be hard to decipher if read electronically.
I first became aware of Douglas through the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy Trilogy, which is four or maybe more books. Anyway I've read four and really enjoyed them.
What grabbed me about this book was, through the aid of hand written notes is the growth of Douglas as comedic writer and even more importantly an inquiring mind. He wasn't afraid to challenge convention and had a willingness to think outside the box.
Another thing I didn't know Douglas had written for DR. Who and collaborated with Graham Chapman, of Monty Python fame. When Douglas died in 2001 I think we lost someone who was just reaching the peak of his powers. A book I will continue dipping in and out of, because I'm sure it will keep on offering. If you are thinking getting this book, I would recommend the print edition.
I first became aware of Douglas through the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy Trilogy, which is four or maybe more books. Anyway I've read four and really enjoyed them.
What grabbed me about this book was, through the aid of hand written notes is the growth of Douglas as comedic writer and even more importantly an inquiring mind. He wasn't afraid to challenge convention and had a willingness to think outside the box.
Another thing I didn't know Douglas had written for DR. Who and collaborated with Graham Chapman, of Monty Python fame. When Douglas died in 2001 I think we lost someone who was just reaching the peak of his powers. A book I will continue dipping in and out of, because I'm sure it will keep on offering. If you are thinking getting this book, I would recommend the print edition.
charlie548's review
Douglas Adams is great, but I don't think the people who compiled this book did a good job. They've in included all his handwritten notes, so I had to spend ages squinting and trying to decipher all this spidery handwriting with bits crossed out and rearranged. Some of it is transcribed neatly, but not all of it. And there was one point where I got through three pages of it, and then found that it was transcribed on the next page, and all that effort was wasted. They could have put the neat text first. Most of the book isn't like that though.
I also thought a lot of it was boring, like random university essays and school reports. There were some funny sketches and stuff that he wrote though.
I also thought a lot of it was boring, like random university essays and school reports. There were some funny sketches and stuff that he wrote though.
puddleglum1983's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
cal_jessamine's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
4.0
user226's review
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.5
There are some real gems here, amongst a lot of material I suspect most interesting to only hardcore fans. Still I did shed a few tears reflecting on the tragically early loss of this genius.