Battle of the Books, Book 3: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

 This one was a nostalgic reread for me. I first tackled The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy back in high school when I was competing in Battle of the Books. I remember liking it, but I also remember thinking, “Wait… what just happened,” a lot while reading it.

Fast forward a couple decades, and now it’s back on the 2025–2026 high school Battle list. Naturally, I was ready to give it another go. And wow—turns out understanding the jokes makes the book a lot funnier. Who knew?

This time around, I caught the layers. The dry British wit. The delightfully absurd tangents. The way Douglas Adams somehow turns space travel, philosophy, and bureaucracy into a chaotic masterpiece of satire. I mean, it’s still weird. That part hasn’t changed. But now the weird feels intentional—and kind of brilliant.

As someone who regularly reminds students to keep track of their folders and textbooks, I feel strangely seen by a galaxy where even the most advanced civilizations still can’t quite get their paperwork in order.

If you read Hitchhiker’s Guide in high school and felt confused or if you’ve never read it at all I highly recommend it.