Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Surprise
Review: Although I'm a huge Douglas Adams fan, I didn't touch his 1990 book "Last Chance To See" for 14 years because it wasn't a "proper" Adams novel. This isn't a fictional, funny book about the exploits of Arthur Dent & friends as they roam throughout the galaxy, or a fictional, funny book about the exploits of detective Dirk Gently. Instead, "Last Chance To See" is a non-fictional travelogue book that Adams co-wrote with zoologist Mark Carwardine, chronicling their year-long trek around the world in search of endangered species. While I appreciated what Adams was trying to do with this book, I just didn't care to read it. Now, 14 years later, I realise what an ignorant fool I'd been. "Last Chance To See" is a wonderful, funny, *important* book, and Adams has written it with the same wit & flair that he used for his best "Hitchhiker's" and "Dirk Gently" books. It is also very powerful and sad at times, in it's depiction of the grave circumstances that many of these endangered animals are in. But Adams never jumps on a soapbox and he doesn't lecture. He simply tells you of his travels and he gives you his very clever insights about these very precious animals and their situations, while mixing in some very good information & quotes about these creatures supplied by Carwardine (who also wrote the book's epilogue). And the travels of these two men is very funny at times, such as their problems at an African airport, Adams' battle with mosquitos, their search for condoms in China (though NOT for the reason you think), and the hilarious, hair-raising episode with a reckless Land Rover driver. And all the while, the reader learns about the plight of such animals as the Komodo dragon, the Kakapo, the blind river dolphins of China, the white rhino, and the silverback gorilla (and excellent photos of each are also included). And although Adams never preaches, he succeeds in making the reader aware---and saddened---of how thoughtless the human race has been in the past in the treatment of these animals. And finally, Adams concludes the book with a very powerful story he heard when he was young about the 12 books of knowledge that puts the whole thing in perspective.Whether you're a Douglas Adams fan, or simply interested in endangered species, this book is an absolutely essential purchase. Sorry, Douglas, that it took me so long to get to it! But I'm very glad that I finally read it. "Last Chance To See" is a funny, touching, thought-provoking book.
Rating:
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.
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