This is my first time reading DFW, may he rest in peace. I have to say, I’m impressed. The essays in this collection are jaw-dropping. He has such a conversational, warm tone that’s difficult to pinpoint politically. The defining tension in the collection is between cynicism and authenticity. Because of that tension, the best essays in here are his reflections are 9/11, the long piece on the John McCain campaign, and the concluding review on Dostoevsky’s biography. The essay on tennis also fits this category, but to lesser extent.

I suppose the difficulty to pin him down is the point: he doesn’t want to be defined by such categories like political affiliation, school of thought, or anything to that effect. Instead, the main aim is to push through his cynical, jaded worldview and find something more profound.

Even so, there are a number of essays that defy this categorization. Both the essay on the politics of the English language and the titular “Consider the Lobster” are examples of this; the main point in these is to urge us to think more deeply about our own preconceptions, views, and philosophical foundations. I don’t know what exactly to make of the essay on pornography, but I couldn’t help laughing all the way through: it’s a case of insane gonzo journalism.

I’m definitely going to read more DFW after this. The threads he pulls resonate strongly with me (although my prose would probably lead me to flunk his classes), and there’s a sort of deep self-reflection and sincerity that I wish I could find more often.