Arthur Dent is trying to stop his home from being destroyed to make way for a highway when his friend, Ford Prefect, whisks him away into outer space, saving his life before the earth is destroyed to make way for an intergalactic interstate...which, of course, does nothing to save Arthur's house.

And that kind of irony, mixed with sci-fi absurdism, wordplay, depressed robots, and sundry other hijinks, is the whole book. We won't describe any more of the plot or set-ups in this hilarious and episodic novel, for your own good. It's the kind of book where just describing what happens is pretty funny and if you haven't read it you don't want it spoiled.

Any downside? None. It's short. It's funny. If you don't think it's funny (idiot), once again, it's short.

Worth my time? 100%. It's a fun read and you also gain membership into a large group of fans with whom you'll be able to trade quotes and towels (it'll make sense after you read it). This one and its direct sequel, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, both deserve a place on your shelf. Mileage may vary with the other sequels after that, but they've all got something to recommend them, even if there's diminishing returns.