David Foster Wallace wrote fiction, essays, journalism, literary criticism, and philosophical work. New readers are often unsure where to begin.
Start with This Is Water
The famous commencement speech This Is Water is one of the most accessible introductions to Wallace’s ideas about attention, awareness, and modern life.
Move to Essays
Collections like Consider the Lobster and A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again showcase Wallace’s humor and intelligence without the commitment required by his massive novels.
Then Read Infinite Jest
Although intimidating, Infinite Jest becomes much more approachable once you become familiar with Wallace’s style and interests.
Explore The Pale King
Wallace’s unfinished final novel examines boredom, bureaucracy, attention, and meaning in a quieter but deeply moving way.
Before beginning the novel, many readers benefit from our Infinite Jest for Beginners guide.