Consider the Lobster (2004) [pdf]

#1

Post by mahathu » Thu, Dec 02, 2021, 11:08 AM UTC

Consider the Lobster (2004) [pdf]
columbia.edu

Re: Consider the Lobster (2004) [pdf]

#2

Post by atorodius » Sun, Dec 05, 2021, 3:41 PM UTC

Great essay, I think this text started what eventually led to me reading infinite jest :)

Re: Consider the Lobster (2004) [pdf]

#3

Post by spenczar5 » Sun, Dec 05, 2021, 4:02 PM UTC

atorodius wrote: post #2

Great essay, I think this text started what eventually led to me reading infinite jest :)

If you get a chance, A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again is really terrific too. I love Infinite Jest, but I think I love DFW’s essays even more. They are just the right length.

Re: Consider the Lobster (2004) [pdf]

#4

Post by sofard » Sun, Dec 05, 2021, 4:18 PM UTC

The whole book of essays is incredible. He wrote this just a few weeks after 9/11. I'm amazed it was published at the time. https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/david-foster-wallace-on...

Re: Consider the Lobster (2004) [pdf]

#5

Post by eckmLJE » Sun, Dec 05, 2021, 4:19 PM UTC

spenczar5 wrote: post #3

atorodius wrote: post #2

Great essay, I think this text started what eventually led to me reading infinite jest :)

If you get a chance, A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again is really terrific too. I love Infinite Jest, but I think I love DFW’s essays even more. They are just the right length.

Agreed, there is an essay collection named after Consider the Lobster that has some great ones. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consider_the_Lobster

Re: Consider the Lobster (2004) [pdf]

#6

Post by 65 » Sun, Dec 05, 2021, 4:25 PM UTC

One of my favorite DFW stories is Good Old Neon in Oblivion.

Re: Consider the Lobster (2004) [pdf]

#7

Post by pauldavis » Sun, Dec 05, 2021, 4:28 PM UTC

65 wrote: post #6

One of my favorite DFW stories is Good Old Neon in Oblivion.

OMG that is such genius. Chilling. Love it.

Re: Consider the Lobster (2004) [pdf]

#8

Post by adamgordonbell » Sun, Dec 05, 2021, 4:40 PM UTC

It's crazy that he wrote this for a food magazine. I think when they sent him on this assignment that this was not at all what they were expecting to get back.

Re: Consider the Lobster (2004) [pdf]

#9

Post by kcrx » Sun, Dec 05, 2021, 5:00 PM UTC

adamgordonbell wrote: post #8

It's crazy that he wrote this for a food magazine. I think when they sent him on this assignment that this was not at all what they were expecting to get back.

The tiny chef’s hat icon signaling the end of the essay really makes it great.

Re: Consider the Lobster (2004) [pdf]

#10

Post by jeffbee » Sun, Dec 05, 2021, 5:03 PM UTC

eckmLJE wrote: post #5

spenczar5 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you get a chance, A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again is really terrific too. I love Infinite Jest, but I think I love DFW’s essays even more. They are just the right length.

Agreed, there is an essay collection named after Consider the Lobster that has some great ones. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consider_the_Lobster

The David Foster Wallace Reader has these and more including the brilliant “Both Flesh and Not” and some trivia like his course syllabi and correspondence.