This was great, makes me want to reread all his books again.

Having expected something like Monty Python's Tunisian Holiday: My Life with Brian, which was real fun to read, I was more than slightly disappointed by this book.

Nick Webb painstakingly lists names of production people, co-authors, family members, you name it, in a neverending trickle of what one or the other has done when.

Made it to half of the book, but then decided to no longer endure this verbal Chinese water torture.

It seems to be well-researched and may be an interesting read for someone else - therefore it should get 2 stars, nevertheless.

DNA bio

Excellent overview of a splendid, too shot, life. Whets my appetite for a re-read of all his many amazing books.

Bought a second hand copy for $1. Can't wait to read it! I will probably re-read all the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy books again after reading this book.

It's more of a theme-based biography than strictly chronological & very British (I have got to start using the word "kipple"!). Mr. Webb was also an acquaintance of Douglas & as well as being the "official biographer", he was able to bring some of his personal insights to the work. I learned more about his family background that I remember reading in either the Gaiman or Simpson bios - the section of pictures (if a bit too small) was a lovely addition, as was the list of Douglas' favourite Beatles tunes. The index and List of Works would probably be useful if you were doing research. I'll be adding this book to my Amazon wish list.

FWIW - I had the great fortune to meet Adams in the mid 1990's at a book reading/signing... I thanked him for his work and its influence on getting me and my husband together & I got a rather confused "You're welcome" type of reply. It's a tossup as to which creative -mind-gone-too-soon I miss the most: Douglas or Jim Henson.

I'm a big fan of Douglas Adams.
But not obsessed enough to be able to finish this book.

It is done well enough, for sure, and I respect that.
I just cannot finish this book.
I mean, it might actually be longer then The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe...

I liked it. It did a good job of showing where the zaniness came from, but also told a lot about him that couldn't be inferred from his books. I hadn't realized he was such a bad procrastinator - it's a good measure of how valuable he was to his publisher that they'd go to the lengths they had to, to get him to write something! I'm glad they did, though, and I'll always be sorry he didn't get a chance to delay his way through more books.

I miss Douglas Adams, though I preferred his earlier work to his later (I know, this is biography, sue me). He does seem to have been quite a character.

Frankly, this was quite disappointing. The subject matter was certainly interesting, but the author's style is appalling - it reads like it was written by a schoolboy at times, with a plethora of completely pointless footnotes. It's also obvious that the author was not nearly detached enough from his subject, and it was more like someone regaling you with tales of an old friend, rather than a subjective biography.

Anyone who has enjoyed reading Douglas Adams' books should strongly consider reading this witty, intelligent, and sensitive biography of Douglas, by Nick Webb, who clearly knew the man well, and loved him for both his brilliance and his quirks. I believe Douglas would be proud to know what an amazing impression he made on so many during his life, and this biography is an excellent testimony.

La vida de un hombre extraordinario contada de forma Increíblemente aburrida.

Decent, but often reads as if it was written by a gushing fan-girl.