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kapgar's review against another edition
5.0
Whether you immediately realize it or not, you know who Douglas Adams is. He has made a name for himself in the world of science fiction as the author of the wildly popular Hitchhiker's Guide series of books. Now he finds himself venturing forth into the non-fiction realm traveling the world to view eight of the most endangered species of animal known to man. From Madagascar's aye-aye and Zaire's northern white rhino to New Zealand's kakapo and the massive dragons of Komodo and several others, Adams offers up his wry wit, keen descriptive ability, and layman's perspective on these journeys while cowriter and National Geographic zoologist Mark Carwardine fills in the more scientific details. The results of this combination are both hilarious and heartbreaking as we soon come to realize that this may be our only chance to experience these creatures that are on the verge of disappearing forever as the result of our human foibles. And you are permitted to feel, through the writing and accompanying photography, like you are right there with them... minus the bugs, heat, and legal wranglings. While this is not necessarily Adams' most popular book and, therefore, not easily obtainable, it is certainly worth the journey to pick up a copy for yourself.
madmonk3030's review against another edition
5.0
One of a kind book
I simply cannot recommend this book strongly enough. It's entertaining yet heart breaking. Adams takes his usual style and puts it to a service that is its high calling. You will know the loss we have caused as a species and know the responsibility we share for repair
I simply cannot recommend this book strongly enough. It's entertaining yet heart breaking. Adams takes his usual style and puts it to a service that is its high calling. You will know the loss we have caused as a species and know the responsibility we share for repair
andyist's review against another edition
5.0
Having not read Douglas Adams since childhood it was like discovering a great writer for the first time again. The casual yet engaging style which this books flows is a pleasure to read.
I read the book with a background awareness that 37 years had passed since it's writing. What is striking is the sense that these challenges are as apparent today as they were then. As with most things, the more we learn the more we find we have yet to discover.
I read the book with a background awareness that 37 years had passed since it's writing. What is striking is the sense that these challenges are as apparent today as they were then. As with most things, the more we learn the more we find we have yet to discover.
stray_robot's review against another edition
4.0
The final book by Douglas Adams that I kept holding off on reading, because I knew how desperate the state of endangered species was, even back in 1990, and why would I want this witty SF author's extra opinion on that? I didn't regret this though. It was excellently written, witty but (de)pressing. Still very worthwhile, even if a teensy bit dated sometimes.
starsal's review against another edition
5.0
I love Douglas Adams's science fiction. Just look at my bookshelves. So it's as a firm fan that I say: Douglas Adams was wasted--wasted--on science fiction.
The man is obviously a science writer.
His science fiction was always good. Clearly. But none of it sings like [b:Last Chance to See|8696|Last Chance to See|Douglas Adams|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327867839s/8696.jpg|525730]. This book is a passionate, loving, critical look at the human species and the influence we've had on our planet-mates. It chronicles the decline, and impending loss, of some wonderful, charismatic vertebrates. It takes us to task for the degradation of the planet, and makes us feel the tragic loss of our heritage, but it never depresses. It bounces up from the darkest moments with Adams's trademark dark humor. Of course, that humor has the effect of throwing all the rest into sharp relief, highlighting the tragedy and wounding your heart. That's what makes it such a powerful book, and one everyone should read.
The beauty is that it's also smooth and lucid enough that everyone can read it. He never preaches, and the book always keeps the tone of a story told around a campfire, among friends.
If this doesn't inspire anyone who reads it to care just a little bit more about the non-human, but still precious, species that inhabit Earth, then I will give up trying to save them tomorrow. But at the same time, Adams's courage, compassion, humility, and humor make a compelling case for humanity's continued existence as a species.
The man is obviously a science writer.
His science fiction was always good. Clearly. But none of it sings like [b:Last Chance to See|8696|Last Chance to See|Douglas Adams|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327867839s/8696.jpg|525730]. This book is a passionate, loving, critical look at the human species and the influence we've had on our planet-mates. It chronicles the decline, and impending loss, of some wonderful, charismatic vertebrates. It takes us to task for the degradation of the planet, and makes us feel the tragic loss of our heritage, but it never depresses. It bounces up from the darkest moments with Adams's trademark dark humor. Of course, that humor has the effect of throwing all the rest into sharp relief, highlighting the tragedy and wounding your heart. That's what makes it such a powerful book, and one everyone should read.
The beauty is that it's also smooth and lucid enough that everyone can read it. He never preaches, and the book always keeps the tone of a story told around a campfire, among friends.
If this doesn't inspire anyone who reads it to care just a little bit more about the non-human, but still precious, species that inhabit Earth, then I will give up trying to save them tomorrow. But at the same time, Adams's courage, compassion, humility, and humor make a compelling case for humanity's continued existence as a species.
phwoooarker's review against another edition
5.0
An unexpected problem I've encountered with living in a massive city like New York is that I periodically experience really intense cravings for nature (see: the biophilia hypothesis). When this happens, a manicured park or crowded long island beach just won't cut it for me. So whenever I get the big city blues and can't escape I try and find a book that'll make me feel like I'm camping under the stars/hiking in the Amazon/climbing Kilimanjaro. I can confidently say that this is the BEST nature replacement book I've ever come across.
Adams writes in a hilarious, engaging and entirely non judgemental way about his 1988 tour to find the most endangered species on the planet. In the thirty intervening years since it was published the book has lost none of its wit or relevancy. Along with Mark Cawardine, he went to try and find some of the rarest species on the planet in the wild.
The aye-aye in Madagascar:
(Basically what I imagined Dobby to look like before the HP films came out)
The Komodo Dragon in Indonesia
(There might be a bit of forced perspective going on in this picture)
The kakapo in New Zealand
(When Mark Cawardine returned thirty years later with Stephen Fry, one of these little fellas er... took a shine to him)
The Northern white rhino in Zaire
(There are now only three of these left in the world, all live in Kenya and are protected 24/7 by armed guards...)
Mountain gorillas in Zaire
The Yangtze river dolphin in China
(Sadly now extinct)
And the rarest bat in the world in Mauritius
I’d strongly recommend this to basically anyone and I'll definitely be reading it again, maybe to coincide with Towel Day one May 25th...
Adams writes in a hilarious, engaging and entirely non judgemental way about his 1988 tour to find the most endangered species on the planet. In the thirty intervening years since it was published the book has lost none of its wit or relevancy. Along with Mark Cawardine, he went to try and find some of the rarest species on the planet in the wild.
The aye-aye in Madagascar:
(Basically what I imagined Dobby to look like before the HP films came out)
The Komodo Dragon in Indonesia
(There might be a bit of forced perspective going on in this picture)
The kakapo in New Zealand
(When Mark Cawardine returned thirty years later with Stephen Fry, one of these little fellas er... took a shine to him)
The Northern white rhino in Zaire
(There are now only three of these left in the world, all live in Kenya and are protected 24/7 by armed guards...)
Mountain gorillas in Zaire
The Yangtze river dolphin in China
(Sadly now extinct)
And the rarest bat in the world in Mauritius
I’d strongly recommend this to basically anyone and I'll definitely be reading it again, maybe to coincide with Towel Day one May 25th...
junkyardgod's review against another edition
5.0
I only read the trilogy of five last year for the first time at 34-years-of-age, loved every moment and genuinely chuckled so many times, Douglas Adams just had such an original sense of humour and a progressive way of looking at anything.
This non-fiction is no different, although because of the subject and knowing how it goes for some of the species (if you read the edition with Stephen Fry's foreword, and with Mark's update at the end), it's actually quite an emotional one too. Douglas's awe and sadness at times are infectious, the whole book is an eye-opener too, even now. It's still relevant.
In fact, 'now' is fast becoming the most important time to read this book. All the warnings of climate change and the effects of environmental damage are there - and the disregard for both has seen the basic extinction of three species featured in the book. Mark's update and foresight on the matter is haunting.
Its easy to see why it was Douglas Adams's favourite out of all he'd written. I think he saw it as his most important. He was right.
This non-fiction is no different, although because of the subject and knowing how it goes for some of the species (if you read the edition with Stephen Fry's foreword, and with Mark's update at the end), it's actually quite an emotional one too. Douglas's awe and sadness at times are infectious, the whole book is an eye-opener too, even now. It's still relevant.
In fact, 'now' is fast becoming the most important time to read this book. All the warnings of climate change and the effects of environmental damage are there - and the disregard for both has seen the basic extinction of three species featured in the book. Mark's update and foresight on the matter is haunting.
Its easy to see why it was Douglas Adams's favourite out of all he'd written. I think he saw it as his most important. He was right.
kahn_johnson's review against another edition
5.0
There are several reasons why this is one of the saddest books you'll ever read.
For a start, Douglas Adams is no longer with us - and any book of his you read is a stark reminder of the talent that has been lost.
Secondly, and arguably more importantly, Last Chance To See is a documentation of man's ability to really fuck up the planet.
Through treks across several continents, Adams and his co-writer Mark Carwardine, look at different projects that were - at the time - fighting to save a specific species.
In all cases, the species in question needed saving because man had happened. It wasn't a situation of their making.
Obviously, this being an Adams book, there are moments of breathless hilarity, and there were at least four occasions when I had to put the book down because it's damn hard to read when you are crying with laughter.
And you need those moments.
Because without them, you're dwelling on how a dolphin is being killed because man thinks his boats are more important.
That's not to say this is a depressing book - far from it. Along with the humour there is good news from some of the projects visited. And this news gives us hope for the future.
But that hope is predicated on man actually learning from what has happened and is happening.
And as Adams himself observes, that's something we as a species are both capable of and disinclined to do so.
For a start, Douglas Adams is no longer with us - and any book of his you read is a stark reminder of the talent that has been lost.
Secondly, and arguably more importantly, Last Chance To See is a documentation of man's ability to really fuck up the planet.
Through treks across several continents, Adams and his co-writer Mark Carwardine, look at different projects that were - at the time - fighting to save a specific species.
In all cases, the species in question needed saving because man had happened. It wasn't a situation of their making.
Obviously, this being an Adams book, there are moments of breathless hilarity, and there were at least four occasions when I had to put the book down because it's damn hard to read when you are crying with laughter.
And you need those moments.
Because without them, you're dwelling on how a dolphin is being killed because man thinks his boats are more important.
That's not to say this is a depressing book - far from it. Along with the humour there is good news from some of the projects visited. And this news gives us hope for the future.
But that hope is predicated on man actually learning from what has happened and is happening.
And as Adams himself observes, that's something we as a species are both capable of and disinclined to do so.