Rating: 
Summary: His best work, definitely...
Review: This was the book that meant the most to Douglas Adams himself, because unlike the Hitchiker or the Dirk Gently series, "Last Chance to See" is a true story. It is the story of Douglas Adams and Marc Carwardine, a zoologist, travelling around the world to experience species of animals that are close to extinction. One of the animals, the kakapo, a parrot in New Zealand, is reduced to only 40. His journey opens your eyes what it means when something is gone forever, when there is no more chance to see it in real life. You experience different cultures and customs through the eyes of a writer who has written about them all along, but by using alien worlds as metaphors, this time it is real. I have read this book many many times, but sadly have to say that the event that really opened my eyes about what it means that you missed your last chance to see is Douglas Adams's death, with it, I missed my last chance to see. Because of this book, I developed an interest in evolution and a thirst for knowledge about the way this world works. I think it is essential reading for everyone who is remotely interested in anthropology, zoology, wildlife preservation or simply a good book.
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Summary: LCTS Review
Review: Last Chance to See, by Douglas Adams, is a very entertaining book. Adams, the author of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series, delivers another hit in the non-fiction stories of his adventures searching for endangered animals. While this book is not his normal style of sci-fi comedy it is still a very good read. When a person thinks of such endangered animals as the Aye-Aye, Mountain Gorilla, White Rhino, Kakapo, Yangtze-River dolphin, and the Rodriguez fruit bat they don't usually think that a whole book about them could be interesting.
But the book doesn't just talk about the animals, it tells of the difficulties involved in traveling through foreign countries and the language barriers produced. It is these experiences that provide humor to a dull subject. An example of this humor is when, in China, Adams and his comrades wish to waterproof a microphone so that they may record the YangtzeRiver dolphin in its natural habitat. Let it be known that to waterproof a microphone all you need to do is put a condom over mic and secure it tightly. The fun really begins when the group of guys try to explain that they wish to buy condoms to Chinese women who do not speak English. This would be where the art of gesturing comes into play.
Humor, although a very good element tohave in a book about endangered animals cannot be the only one. Writing and style of interpretation is the most important because with humor alone all you have is a comic book. A great point in the book where Adams shows his inventive writing ability is his first impression of seeing a silverback gorilla. The descriptions and adjectives he uses allow the reader to feel as if they are right there next to him seeing everything for themselves. Adams ability to capture such awesome moments onto paper is the true reason this book is so fascinating.
The book is good but it isn't perfect. The gaps between seeing the animals and trying to communicate with the locals the book can drag a little. Although this can cause a loss in momentum these dull moments are few and short. But just
because they are boring they do serve a purpose, and sometimes set up the humor that comes later.
In all this book is very good and interesting and should be read not only for its creative writing and humor but because of the message it brings to the
forefront.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent mix of fact and humor
Review: Douglas Adams brings the dreadful statistics to life with humor and an approach that makes it easier to understand why people care - and what we can do. Even if you don't care about extinctions, this is a good read.
Rating: 
Summary: Bittersweet
Review: We lost Mr. Adams not long ago, so it was painful for me to read this. But I must say, the man knew his stuff. He approached his subject from a layman's point of view--the best approach one could choose, because most of us seem to have lost touch with the aliens that inhabit our own world. Aliens who have for much too long been ignored and endangered by all of us.
Suddenly we find ourselves contemplating the blind baiji dolphins of China--as though we ourselves had seen such fragile, wonderful beasts. We find ourselves searching the night for heavy-weight parrots in New Zealand who have forgotten how to fly and what's worse, how to mate. We are at last made aware of the lovely island of Maruritus where dodos died and where many other birds are in danger as well.
It is disheartening. But it is enlightening.
And, actually, Douglas makes us laugh--especially at human beings, who, he reminds us, are animals, too.
How are they doing, all these creatures, 12 years after this slender book was written?
Give this book to the animal lover in your life. It is a Hitchhiker's Guide to hope.
Rating:
Summary: Conservation lessons couched in humor
Review: I received my first copy of Adams and Cawardine's LAST CHANCE TO SEE from one of my roommates in college. I say "first" because I am now working on my fourth copy -- people I loaned it to kept keeping it!In LAST CHANCE TO SEE, Adams does for the non-fiction natural world what he did for science fiction: he tells an entertaining story that brings each character to vivid life for a reader. The fact that his characters this time 'round are not space aliens and a beleaguered human being, but rather the most endangered of the endangered animals on the planet makes no difference. The aye-aye, kakapo, mountain gorilla, Chinese river dolphin, Komodo dragon, and even the Rodriguez fruit bat ("...there are hundreds of them!") live on vividly in my memory, despite the fact that I have only seen the dragon and the bat in person. The lessons to be learned in this book are most profoundly related in Cawardine's parable at the end: by losing these animals, and others like them, we are losing integral parts of the universe, important pieces to the puzzle of life. Once they are lost, there is no regaining them, and the world can never the same. I would recommend this book to any nature lover (but don't ask to borrow my copy, I'm not losing another one!). I howled with laughter and retained the deeper meaning -- and from reading the other reviews, I can see others did the same. LAST CHANCE TO SEE tops the list of my recommended, life-changing books. I believe nothing will ever knock it off the top. Read it!
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Summary: Douglas Adams best book......And it still holds up well
Review: I have not read all 147+ reviews of this book, but I am sure that at least one other person has mentioned that this book was Mr. Adams's favorite of all his books. Anyone who enjoys (even vaguely) The Hitchhiker's Guide series will see why Adams was so proud of this book. This is much more than a book on ecology. This is not a book on how awful humans are, and if the reader had one shred of social conscious, the reader would immediately do him/herself if for the good of the planet. In writing this book, Mr. Adams knew that there were already forests of trees chopped up for numerous retelling of Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring." Mr. Adams, then, needed to produce the book on ecology one would expect from a science fiction comedy writer. And he does. "Last Chance to See" reads like an adventure story of Douglas the city kid, heading out into the wild to look at animals that are on the brink of extinction, and the efforts and personalities of the few who are trying to prevent that extinction. See Douglas Adams lose his mind while his small helicopter flies within inches of sheer faces. Listen to Douglas Adams explain why he doesn't care for birds in general, but feels a special affinity for birds that can't fly (It all relates back an emu running lose in a zoo. Adams stared the emu in its eye, and realized the strain of not flying made it "barking mad"). Empathize with Adams in 1988 Beijing (when western tourists were still a novelty), trying to explain to clerks who do not quite speak english that he wants to buy condoms (I am not making that up). If you have ever enjoyed anything by Douglas Adams, you will not be disappointed by this book--But you will once again be heartbroken that such a fun and gifted author died so young.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, Sad... witty yet regretful
Review: A race to document a dying species... Adams' wit and humor make an enjoyable read out of what could only otherwise be called a depressing topic. Still, through Adams' intelligent yet non-zoological eyes, we are shown areas of the world we will otherwise never see. The portrayal of the Kimono dragons, early in the book, is a shocking representation of what a a majestic reptile has been reduced to, and at the same time a morbid reminder of how wretched humans can be. Yet, due to Adams' skill we are able to feel his wonder and his fascination. We are able to get past the uncomfortable aspects of animal extinction, so that we can look it square in the eye and learn from it. As much value on a humanitarian, ecological and zoological level as on a literary one. Adams' himself calls it his most prized and significant writing (I'm paraphrasing, read "Salmon of Doubt" to get his words). I'd give it three thumbs up, but I only have two.
Rating:
Summary: entertaining and interesting
Review: This book took me by surprise. If you expect the usual twisted science fiction that Douglas Adams normally is associated with, you will be surprised as well. It is fascinating how someone can make a book on the subject "animals under threat of extermination" that not only is interesting and informative, but also highly entertaining. This book is just as funny as his other books, but in a completely different way.
Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking
Review: I read somewhere that Douglas Adams was most proud of this book. I can see why. It has the Douglas Adams wit and humor. Also, it makes one think about how people are destroying the earth and its resources. Of all his books this is the one I like best.
Rating:
Summary: First Chance to See
Review: In reading the book, Last Chance to See I have come to understand that not even the most remote places are remote anymore. In this book, author and narrator Douglas Adams travels around the world doing "biographies" about animals. He writes about white rhinos, Rodriguez fruit bats, kakapos, and others that are rarely seen and admired. While reading this book I found that every where humans are often ruining the world and then desperately trying to fix it only to cause more harm to the land and resources in an attempt to save theses animals. Reading this book has made my life different because I now think more about that which has been forgotten and it has made me want to do what I can to help, wherever I can help, now more than ever.
Adams talks about how it's new to him and he doesn't have much an opinion; he just writes what he sees. As the book goes on, he starts to form an opinion and expresses himself. I enjoy the large range of animals that he treks the world to see and take pictures of rare animals. He also describes what he sees and the nature of people in their home town.
On a scale of one to five stars I would rate this book a definite five stars. It has all the things a five star book should have, in my opinion. It has adventure, anticipation, sadness, joy-- all theses things and more in a book is what makes it great. That is why I enjoyed this book. Personally I like animals and a book about endangered animals and all about the things they do and how they live is right up my alley. I think that if there are people out there who want to change the world, then reading this book might even give them good ideas on how to do so. It gives you the look of life that you can't get sitting at home. You won't be able to put it down. I had the hardest time putting it down, especially during the parts when he was describing the trails he had to walk and what he has to go through to get to where he was trying to go.
This book is excellent. And I would highly recommend everyone to read it. Even if people don't care, learning something new will open their eyes to more than they can imagine. I would recommend that those read it that care about animals. I would recommend that those read it who need an adventure.
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