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A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments Audiobook
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Plot Summary
What do a trip on a luxury cruise ship, a tennis tournament in Canada and the Illinois State Fair have in common? They are all part of David Wallace's "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments."
While almost anyone other than a thick-lensed wearer of reading glasses wouldn't think twice about passing on a book with "essays and arguments" as its subtitle, many people have discovered that articles by David Foster Wallace are as humorous and entertaining as any comedic work out there.
In this audiobook, Wallace pulls together seven topics, including the films of David Lynch and postmodern literary theory to provide a rip-roaring ride of his own. Wallace fans used to his delightful works of fiction will not be disappointed in what he refers to as "essays and arguments" as he recalls events and fun-filled days he does not wish to repeat.
Fans are fond of Wallace's intense intellect as well as the way he combines his observations with a stark humor that takes jabs at revelers eating funnel cake and hot dogs at the Illinois State Fair as well as travelers getting away from it all by climbing aboard a ship for a week-long Caribbean cruise.
Entertainment Weekly has listed "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments" as one of its 100-best books written between 1983 and 2008. Not only are the pieces themselves cleverly written, but Wallace brings comedy to even the footnotes scattered throughout the book.
Listeners to Wallace will, in addition to being entertained, add to their vocabulary without even trying. He's that good.
David Foster Wallace is an American writer. Born in New York in 1962, he hails from a journalism background. He attended Amherst College and the University of Arizona and is well-known for his articles, short stories and novels. Wallace died in 2008.
Wallace is best known for his 1200-page novel, Infinite Jest, published in 1996.
"Revitalized essay writing as thoroughly as did Hunter S. Thompson in his day. Occasionally dated (one can tell Wallace was a young writer finding his groove as a concerned human), but still one of the best nonfiction reads I could recommend to anyone wishing to be a thoughtful, entertaining writer and/or person."
— Ben (5 out of 5 stars)
Publisher Summary
In this exuberantly praised book - a collection of seven pieces on subjects ranging from television to tennis, from the Illinois State Fair to the films of David Lynch, from postmodern literary theory to the supposed fun of traveling aboard a Caribbean luxury cruiseliner - David Foster Wallace brings to nonfiction the same curiosity, hilarity, and exhilarating verbal facility that has delighted readers of his fiction, including the bestselling Infinite Jest.
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Quotes
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“Animated by wonderfully exuberant prose…This volume reconfirms Mr. Wallace’s stature as one of his generation’s pre-eminent talents.”
— New York Times -
“Mr. Wallace’s distinctive and infectious style, an acrobatic cart-wheeling between high intellectual discourse and vernacular insouciance, makes him tremendously entertaining to read, whatever his subject.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“DFW is smart and funny, a man from whose word processor flows a torrent of brilliant observations and hysterical wit. Do your disposition and your mind a favor: Read this book.”
— Houston Chronicle -
“These intelligent, funny essays are outstanding.”
— Booklist -
“Truly rewarding.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“His writing is always intelligent, witty, and engaging.”
— Library Journal
A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again Listener Reviews
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" On the figurative re-read list. Gotta get my hands on another copy soon. "
— Joe, 2/9/2014 -
" Astonishing. There's really no measly review I could write about Wallace as an author, and every book I've read by him so far, without feeling like I'm doing him a disservice. HIs writing is mind-blowing. "
— Jenan, 2/6/2014 -
" So funny and smart. I'm constantly wanting to read out loud to whomever is sitting close to me (and they usually don't want that). But, seriously, the way DFW's mind worked blows me away. "
— Annie, 1/30/2014 -
" I'll have to agree with the author - "any fool knows Dr Pepper is no substitute for Mr. Pibb, and it's an absolute goddamned travesty, or at any rate extremely dissatisfying indeed." Really loved his observations and the footnotes didn't bother me a bit, I loved them. "
— Geri, 1/24/2014 -
" there is a wonderful footnote about andre agassi's balls. "
— dead, 1/13/2014 -
" Truly funny. I can't think of any other non-fiction quite like this: so immediate, so funny, so smart. "
— Bradt, 12/31/2013 -
" funny, sad, midwestern "
— Kelley, 12/17/2013 -
" Essays by the tragically deceased author of Infinite Jest. My son got me interested in Wallace, who had a keen, wide-ranging mind, the gift of gab and a surprisingly serious moral outlook. Maybe I'll tackle the novel some day; for now, dipping into this heterogeneous collection is enough fun. "
— Sam, 12/12/2013 -
" the whole book is awesome (the world's far one, especially), but his last short story on cruise ships rivals sedaris in completely laughing out loud, stomach hurting hilarity. "
— Carrie, 11/15/2013 -
" Have you ever wondered what really happens on those luxury cruise ships? David Foster Wallace tells all in this wonderfully snarky literary travel short. His comments on "essaymercials" and jet skis, in particular, are not to be missed. "
— Ann, 9/29/2013 -
" Both my 21 year old son and I loved this book. Smart, funny, well-thought/well-written "
— Dani, 9/15/2013 -
" More great essays and observations. "
— Kiehl, 9/14/2013 -
" Worth it for the David Lynch piece alone. "
— Karl, 6/12/2013 -
" what can i say about mr. wallace that has not already been said? not much. he had more talent in his left foot then most of us have in our entire bodies. it's a very overused word, but he was/is amazing. if you have not read him, run don't walk. get his books. get all of his books. right now!! "
— Samantha, 6/6/2013 -
" Medio de hueva los ensayos. Pretenciosos, con demasiadas notas al pie y un humor bastante... meh. El ensayo homonimo esta bueno; divertido y me trajo buenos recuerdos (decadence2012!) , los otros estan muy regulares. Overrated. "
— San, 11/23/2012 -
" DFW, always enjoyable. "
— Nathanial, 10/1/2012 -
" Love.Love.Love. Can't wait to start Infinite Jest. "
— Michelle, 9/2/2012 -
" If I could write half as well as DFW in my non-fiction essays, I can die happy. "
— Vivian, 7/20/2012 -
" Some of his best essays in here. God, I wish he was still around. "
— Charles, 2/23/2012 -
" the essays in this book that i have read have been hilarious, i just really like not finishing books "
— Marit, 2/7/2012
About David Foster Wallace
David Foster Wallace (1962–2008) was the New York Times bestselling author of Infinite Jest, The Broom of the System, and Girl with Curious Hair. His essays and stories have appeared in Harper’s, the New Yorker, Playboy, Paris Review, Conjunctions, Premiere, Tennis, the Missouri Review, and the Review of Contemporary Fiction. He received numerous awards, including the Whiting Award, the Lannan Award for Fiction, the QPB Joe Savago New Voices Award, and the O. Henry Award.
About Paul Garcia
Paul Michael Garcia, an AudioFile Earphones Award winner and former company member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, received his classical training in theater from Southern Oregon University, where he worked as an actor, director, and designer.