David Foster Wallace on Infinite Jest

This is David Foster Wallace talking about the role of individuality and entertainment in Infinite Jest.

[@TheGoodMD]

My attempt to live harder started at a young age. I was 16 when I got arrested for selling meth. Then I went to juvie, got into a lot of fights- ended up homeless. Eating out of a dumpster, smoking crack, and working at daily labor places taught me a lot about life. Then I forgot it all because of my worsening alcoholism. LOL. Some years passed and I started boxing, then getting into street fights and just getting the shit beat out of me added a depth to me. Now I’m sober. Writing this from my truck. Currently reading The Brothers Karamazov & The Doubting Disease by Ioseph Ciarrocchi. So many so-called intellectuals have forgotten how to be normal people. Happy to have found you, Ian. Thanks for being a person.

[@MultiTacotuesday]

God bless brother. Your perspective is your greatest stength. Most haven’t ventured down into such a deep pit. You’ve done the hard work already. Just remember there are even higher feelings left

[@user-xd1xf9rp5p]

I also lived in my car while working a $55k management job to pay off my debt. 18 months later I was debt free and moved back into an apartment. That experience taught me a lot about people and life and I got hassled by cops and homeless drug fiends and I was hiding it from my employer which was tough because my clothes were difficult to keep unwrinkled. But I did it. Now I got perspective.

[@asiwas]

people are still getting caught up on all the insights this enormous book illustrates. glad your page found me.

[@WriteConscious]

Thanks!

[@kaiorozco1070]

Thanks for another banger

[@WriteConscious]

Thanks for being here brotha!

[@Draxtor]

Awesome work dude. Greetings from Germany. Through my 2nd reread of IJ and it gets better everytime. Will do a livestream with some IJ translators in December

[@WriteConscious]

Nice!

[@seanmalczewski7866]

Huh, cool, im reading through Infinite Jest for the first time rn. About 200 pages in

[@WriteConscious]

Boom! Shit is about to get real and more confusing for you lol!

[@kevinhopkins3587]

Do you think you will do a live show anytime soon? I was on your last live program and it was very good

[@WriteConscious]

I always plan on them but they take lower priority to other Cormac projects if I'm behind. And, I'm behind with the Outer Dark course right now lmao.

[@gregory_bloomfield]

Bro, what is the book beside INFINITE JEST on your shelf?

[@WriteConscious]

The Plague by Albert Camus. Don't think it really deserves to be up there as a GOATED book though. Just looks cool and I have another copy on the shelf lol.

[@gregory_bloomfield]

@@WriteConscious okay. Awesome and thanks for the reply. I really enjoy your videos and especially the ones on Cormac McCarthy. I love his books. I just got the book A BLOODY AND BARBAROUS GOD. It’s a fascinating read about the metaphysics of McCarthy. I love the Gnostic aspect of his works.

[@samlastname1252]

Where is the Wallace Playlist?

[@jasonschuck6510]

I've tried to read this book three times. Never made it further than 200 pages. I want to read it, but man, it ain't easy.

[@WriteConscious]

Damn, it actually opens up right after 200 pages lol. Don't quit next time

[@jungastein3952]

Kool

[@WriteConscious]

Yeah!

[@patchtchouliheavn]

shadow amherst king

[@isaiahbasaldua924]

a great take but its sad how many countercultural types became conservatives to gain control of their lives. David Foster Wallace was a romantic prophet who was disillusioned by the modern world. I think the individuation process is messy unfortunately .Very enlightening as always but also very complicated too

[@WriteConscious]

Exactly. We lose too many great minds to religion and politics as they recover from trauma or are individuating.

[@xn9333]

Lol, people are human, nothing wrong with being conservative nevermind growing up and getting a fxckin grip

[@militaryhistoryguy827]

Now conservatives ARE the counterculture. And it’s kinda fun.

[@bathcat3759]

I love you, Ian. But I would highly recommend brushing up on some economics. It feels like your analysis suffers just a little on this one because of it. Keep it up tho!

[@WriteConscious]

Lol, I don't remember exactly what I was saying, but I'm not the enemy, brotha! I am very pro-capitalism but like to explore the idea of dark capital and the damage that it can do with an uneducated body of individuals fueling it. My dad was actually a professor of economics but

[@1992heb]

I feel like you're a bit dismissive when it comes to psychedelics. They are great medicines and tools when used appropriately. But just like with any powerful tool, they can be used for ill and harm when paired with bad intent. And they could also be considred dangerous when used without proper knowledge about them, but that moreso comes from naiveté or straight up recklessness. Enjoy your videos though, keep it up!

[@WriteConscious]

I hear you! Psychedelics created a massive change in my life. Top 3 things for me in terms of personal development and will use them for decades to come.

[@ItsJaseShawty]

I’m seriously confused as to what your political views are