Consider the Lobster and Other Essays

Consider the Lobster and Other Essays collects ten pieces of nonfiction writing by David Foster Wallace. The essays span topics from the Adult Video News Awards to John McCain's 2000 presidential campaign to the ethics of boiling lobsters alive. Wallace brings his reporter's eye and analytical mind to experiences ranging from the Illinois State Fair to a Maine lobster festival. His signature footnotes and digressions create layers of context and questioning around each subject. The collection moves between journalism, memoir, and cultural criticism while maintaining Wallace's distinctive voice and style. Essays vary in length from brief magazine pieces to extensive investigations. The book raises fundamental questions about entertainment, ethics, and how humans rationalize their choices and behaviors. Through seemingly straightforward reporting assignments, Wallace explores deeper philosophical and moral territory.

Readers value Wallace's deep analysis of mundane topics and his ability to examine complex moral questions through accessible examples. Many note his thorough research and attention to detail, especially in essays about the porn industry and the Maine Lobster Festival. The footnotes receive frequent mention as adding depth rather than distraction. Common criticisms include Wallace's verbose style, with some readers finding the long sentences and frequent asides exhausting. Several reviews mention struggling with the academic tone in certain essays. A portion of readers disagree with his conclusions, particularly in "Host" and "Authority and American Usage." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (40,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (300+ ratings) Reader quote: "He makes you think deeply about things you never thought needed thinking about." -Goodreads reviewer Reader criticism: "Sometimes feels like he's showing off his vocabulary rather than making a point." -Amazon reviewer

Against Everything by Mark Greif Contemporary cultural phenomena receive the same sharp intellectual scrutiny Wallace gave to lobsters and luxury cruises.

Pulphead by John Jeremiah Sullivan Personal experiences merge with deep reporting to examine American culture through subjects ranging from reality TV to cave paintings.

The White Album by Joan Didion Cultural observations and personal narratives intertwine to create a portrait of American life during the 1960s and 1970s.

The Braindead Megaphone by George Saunders Essays combine humor with social commentary to dissect media, politics, and consumer culture.

Notes from No Man's Land by Eula Biss Personal essays explore race, identity, and American myths through a lens of historical research and critical analysis.

🦞 Despite its reputation as a luxury food today, lobster was once considered a poor man's meal in colonial America. Prison inmates complained about being fed too much lobster, and servants often had contracts limiting how frequently they could be served the crustacean. 📚 David Foster Wallace wrote "Consider the Lobster" after being assigned to cover the Maine Lobster Festival for Gourmet magazine in 2003. The editors likely didn't expect him to deliver a deep philosophical treatise on animal consciousness and the ethics of boiling creatures alive. 🎓 Wallace taught creative writing at Pomona College and Illinois State University, where he was known for wearing bandanas during lectures—a habit he developed to help control excessive sweating while teaching. 📖 The book includes an essay about the adult entertainment industry ("Big Red Son") that Wallace wrote under the pseudonym Willem R. deGroot to maintain journalistic access while reporting. 🏆 "Consider the Lobster and Other Essays" showcases Wallace's signature footnotes, which sometimes take up more space than the main text. These extensive footnotes often contain crucial information and are considered a defining feature of his writing style.