by D. T. Max
First published 2012
D. T. Max opens his biography with David Foster Wallace, the literary sensation who captivated readers while battling his own demons. Wallace fought depression and addiction as he struggled to establish himself as a serious novelist. Max traces how Wallace transformed his personal anguish into creative fuel, ultimately producing Infinite Jest. The author gained access to Wallace's unpublished letters, manuscripts, and audio recordings through cooperation with his family and friends. Wallace died by suicide in 2008 at age forty-six, cementing his status as more than just a talented writer. He became an icon of authenticity in a world that often feels fake. Max reveals how Wallace's approach to both writing and living influenced countless readers. The biography shows that Wallace's true impact extends beyond his novels to how he modeled sincerity and emotional honesty. Max presents an intimate portrait of extraordinary talent shadowed by mental illness.
Genres: biography, addiction, mental-illness, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: unreliable-narrator
Period: 21st-Century
356 pages · Hardcover · Viking
Content warnings: depression, mental-illness, suicide