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Audiobooks > Humor >  Form > A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments
A Supposedly Fun Thing Ill Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments Audiobook, by David Foster Wallace Play Audiobook Sample

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4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 (4.00) - 12,974 customer ratings
A Supposedly Fun Thing Ill Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments Audiobook, by David Foster Wallace Play Audiobook Sample
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Author: David Foster Wallace Narrator: Paul Michael Garcia Publisher: Little, Brown & Company Audio Length: Release Date: February 2012 Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download ISBN: 9781611135169
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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.

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

  • “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

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Customer Reviews

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  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " On the figurative re-read list. Gotta get my hands on another copy soon. "

    - Joe, 2/9/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " 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, 2/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " there is a wonderful footnote about andre agassi's balls. "

    - dead, 1/13/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Truly funny. I can't think of any other non-fiction quite like this: so immediate, so funny, so smart. "

    - Bradt, 12/31/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " funny, sad, midwestern "

    - Kelley, 12/17/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Both my 21 year old son and I loved this book. Smart, funny, well-thought/well-written "

    - Dani, 9/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " More great essays and observations. "

    - Kiehl, 9/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Worth it for the David Lynch piece alone. "

    - Karl, 6/12/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " DFW, always enjoyable. "

    - Nathanial, 10/1/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Love.Love.Love. Can't wait to start Infinite Jest. "

    - Michelle, 9/2/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " If I could write half as well as DFW in my non-fiction essays, I can die happy. "

    - Vivian, 7/20/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Some of his best essays in here. God, I wish he was still around. "

    - Charles, 2/23/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " the essays in this book that i have read have been hilarious, i just really like not finishing books "

    - Marit, 2/7/2012

About the Author

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 the Narrator

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.