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Consider the Lobster and Other Essays
343 pages, 2007
Do lobsters feel pain? Did Franz Kafka have a funny bone? What is John Updike's deal, anyway? And what happens when adult video starlets meet their fans in person?
David Foster Wallace answers these questions and more in essays that are also enthralling narrative adventures.
enthrallWhether covering the three-ring circus of John McCain's 2000 presidential race, plunging into the wars between dictionary writers, or confronting the World's Largest Lobster Cooker at the annual Maine Lobster Festival, Wallace projects a quality of thought that is uniquely his and a voice as powerful and distinct as any in American letters.
David Foster Wallace encourages us to question the norm. He explores the ethics of boiling a creature alive for the sake of our taste buds in the title essay 'Consider the Lobster'. It's a nudge to look beyond our habits and traditions, and to think about the impact of our choices.
Wallace shows us the power of language and how it can shape our understanding of the world. He digs into the politics of English usage in 'Authority and American Usage', making us see how language can be a tool for both inclusion and exclusion.
In his essay 'The View from Mrs. Thompson's', he takes a simple event, a neighborhood gathering to watch the 9/11 news, and unravels layers of complexity beneath it. It's a reminder that even the most ordinary moments can hold extraordinary insights.
Wallace's attention to detail is remarkable. He finds beauty and meaning in the minutiae of life, whether it's a tennis match or a lobster festival. This book encourages us to slow down, pay attention, and find joy in the details.
He challenges us to step into other people's shoes, to see the world from their perspective. Whether it's the pain of a lobster or the struggle of a radio host, Wallace reminds us that empathy is not easy, but it's essential for our humanity.
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Wallace's essays remind us to challenge our own beliefs and to question the 'normal', pushing us to think beyond our comfort zone.
Zadie Smith - Novelist, EssayistWallace's work is a testament to the power of words, a reminder that writing can change the world.
Jonathan Franzen - Contemporary American NovelistWallace's essays are a masterclass in empathy, a lesson in how to approach the world with kindness and curiosity.
George Saunders - Short-story WriterWallace's essays are a profound exploration of the human condition, a journey into the heart of what it means to be alive.
Michiko Kakutani - Literary CriticWallace's essays are a beacon of hope, a light in the darkness that reminds us of the power of the human spirit.
Mary Karr - Memoirist, Poet
