In 'This Is Water,' David Foster Wallace challenges readers to recognize the unconscious routines that shape their daily lives. Through profound insights and a captivating speech, he urges us to discover the beauty in the mundane and to consciously choose our thoughts. Wallace's reflections reveal how awareness can transform our perceptions and foster a sense of connection in a seemingly indifferent world. This book is a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy and the choices we make every day. Dive into this thought-provoking exploration and awaken to the true essence of existence.
By David Foster Wallace
Published: 2009
"The most obvious, important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see and talk about."
Only once did David Foster Wallace give a public talk on his views on life, during a commencement address given in 2005 at Kenyon College. The speech is reprinted for the first time in book form in THIS IS WATER. How does one keep from going through their comfortable, prosperous adult life unconsciously? How do we get ourselves out of the foreground of our thoughts and achieve compassion? The speech captures Wallace's electric intellect as well as his grace in attention to others. After his death, it became a treasured piece of writing reprinted in The Wall Street Journal and the London Times, commented on endlessly in blogs, and emailed from friend to friend. Writing with his one-of-a-kind blend of causal humor, exacting intellect, and practical philosophy, David Foster Wallace probes the challenges of daily living and offers advice that renews us with every reading.
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“The most obvious, important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see and talk about.”
This Is Water
By David Foster Wallace
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
David Foster Wallace was an acclaimed American writer, born in 1962 and best known for his innovative and challenging literary style. His most notable works include the groundbreaking novel "Infinite Jest," which explores themes of addiction, entertainment, and the complexities of modern life, and the collection of essays entitled "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again." Wallace's writing is characterized by its dense prose, footnotes, and deep philosophical insights, often blending humor and tragedy to reflect the human experience. He received numerous awards throughout his career, cementing his legacy as a key figure in contemporary literature.
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