How To Be Smarter Than A Computer And Live Forever

Douglas Adams once visualized a computer and presented it with finding the ultimate answer to the question of life. The result? 42. Then he wrote about it and made millions of dollars. So obviously, computers are pretty useful. God, I love this intro. Anyway, the questions remain--how useful, can we compete, why do donkeys matter, what does an extraterrestrial race have to do with Medusa, and do we live forever?