The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Score Classic
What it's about
One Thursday, Arthur Dent wakes up to find his house about to be demolished for a highway bypass. Then his friend Ford Prefect reveals he's an alien researcher for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and that Earth is about to be demolished for a hyperspace bypass. Ford saves Arthur moments before it happens, and the two hitch a ride across the universe, meeting a two-headed president of the galaxy, a depressed robot named Marvin, and the answer to life, the universe and everything.
Why it's worth reading
It was a pick on both the BBC's Big Read and the PBS Great American Read, and is one of the funniest books ever written. Its jokes are part of the culture: "Don't Panic," towels, and 42.
You'll love it if you liked
Guards! Guards!
Slaughterhouse-FiveGood to know
It's short and fast, and the first of five books, also sold together in one volume. It began as a BBC radio series.
By the numbers
- Readers82 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller85 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #3 of the 35 humor books we rank
- #22 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #79 of the 762 classics we rank
- #253 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Funny, Uplifting
If you like this, read next
Mort
Dungeon Crawler Carl
Wyrd Sisters
The Colour of Magic
Night Watch
Equal RitesExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy worth reading?
Yes. It was a pick on both the BBC's Big Read and the PBS Great American Read, and is one of the funniest books ever written. It ranks #253 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 82.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy about?
One Thursday, Arthur Dent wakes up to find his house about to be demolished for a highway bypass. Then his friend Ford Prefect reveals he's an alien researcher for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and that Earth is about to be demolished for a hyperspace bypass. Ford saves Arthur moments before it happens, and the two hitch a ride across the universe, meeting a two-headed president of the galaxy, a depressed robot named Marvin, and the answer to life, the universe and everything.
How long does it take to read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?
About 5 hours (199 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?
If you liked it, try Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett or Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr..