What Is The Meaning Of Life, The Universe, And Everything?

It is a short novel by the author, Douglas Adams.  In his other novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the computer Deep Thought produces the number 42 as the answer to this question.  You need to know the ultimate question before you will understand the meaning of the ultimate answer.  Pick up the ultimate edition of the Guide and it has 6 stories together... Excellent read.  You will laugh out loud in public places while you read it and people will think you are CRAZY!  Also, watch the movie.  It does a good job putting an image and voice to each character.