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David Foster Wallace: In His Own Words

By: David Foster Wallace
Narrated by: David Foster Wallace
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Summary

"[DFW's] delivery is dead-on and fresh, the words often springing from his mouth as if conceived on the spot.... an audible confirmation that modern American writing continues to gain strength." (Publishers Weekly on Consider the Lobster)

Collected here for the first time are the stories and speeches of David Foster Wallace as read by the author himself. Over the course of his career, David Foster Wallace recorded a variety of his work in diverse circumstances - from studio recordings to live performances - that are finally compiled in this unique collection. Some of the pieces collected here are: "Another Pioneer", recorded at The University of Arizona Poetry Center; stories from Brief Interviews with Hideous Men and Consider the Lobster, recorded in the studio; and the unforgettable "This Is Water", his 2005 commencement address given at Kenyon College. Also included are two interviews and a 2005 conversation with Rick Moody at Herbst Theater in San Francisco. This collection has a special introduction written and read by acclaimed writer and editor John Jeremiah Sullivan.

For fans of David Foster Wallace who have read everything he ever wrote as well as those looking to familiarize themselves with his work, David Foster Wallace: In His Own Words is a special, unique collection unavailable anywhere else.

©2014 David Foster Wallace (P)2014 Hachette Audio
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What listeners say about David Foster Wallace: In His Own Words

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Brilliant

A wonderful collection read by the great DFW himself. Some incredibly moving pieces and overall, for me, a very important audio experience. Would highly recommend.

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Great writer, important voice

This is water and David Foster Wallace dissolved back into us. Great writer, important voice.

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Essential DFW

This collection simply evinces Wallace's power to radically change a worldview with his writing; less a port- or starboard "turn" in worldview, but rather a plunging to new depths. And what glorious things await down there. This is essential for any DFW fan.

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A bit scrappy

This is a grab bag of various DFW interviews and readings. They vary a lot in quality (material not audio). Some of it makes for enjoyable listening and some of it (un?)intentionally uncomfortable such as his story about a woman defeating her rapist by pretending to enjoy the attack. Oh, and as others have said, chapter titles would be very useful for context here.

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