This is Water

by David Foster Wallace
This is Water cover
Good Books rating 4.33
Essays / Essay Collections
Technical
  • ID: 5727
  • Added: 2025-10-24
  • Updated: 2025-10-24
  • ISBN: 9780316071000
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2009-04-14
  • Reviews: 3

This Is Water is a rare glimpse into the personal philosophy of David Foster Wallace, best known for his bestselling novels. The book reprints his 2005 commencement address at Kenyon College, where he shares his unique perspective on how to live a meaningful life. Wallace's speech is a blend of casual humor, intellectual depth, and practical wisdom, encouraging readers to step out of their own perspectives and cultivate empathy./n/n Wallace's insights on daily living and the challenges of maintaining awareness in a world full of distractions have resonated deeply with readers. His advice is both renewing and thought-provoking, making this a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of human behavior and the importance of conscious living.

Reviews
Medical Health Humanities · 2021-03-27
uplifting 4.50

The book offers a beautiful reinvention of life and provides a framework for healing. It is praised for its profound impact on readers' perspectives and emotional well-being.

The reviewer finds this book to be a beautiful reinvention of life, offering a framework for healing that extends beyond the personal to the universal. It's a book that encourages readers to think differently about their existence and the world around them. The reviewer appreciates the book's ability to provide comfort and guidance, making it a valuable resource for those seeking healing and a deeper understanding of life. The book's profound impact on readers' perspectives and emotional well-being is highlighted, making it a compelling read for anyone looking to find hope and meaning in their lives.

Quick quotes

    David Foster Wallace's 'This is Water' offers a beautiful reinvention on life, a framework for healing not only for those in the throes of...

    The speech is one that stays with me and encourages me to think differently.

    I can honestly say that this speech changed my life and the way that I choose to...

The Guardian · 2016-09-12
hopeful 4.00

The book is described as a didactic parable that underscores the importance of banal platitudes in daily life. It is seen as a source of hope and a guide to navigating adult existence.

The reviewer describes this book as a didactic parable that underscores the importance of banal platitudes in daily life. It's a story that shows how seemingly trivial things can have a significant impact on our well-being. The book is seen as a source of hope and a guide to navigating the day-to-day trenches of adult existence. The reviewer appreciates the book's ability to highlight the profound within the ordinary, making it a valuable read for those seeking hope and guidance.

Quick quotes

    A 'didactic little parable-ish' story, to show how 'in the day-to-day trenches of adult existence, banal platitudes can have a life-or-death importance'.

    This is Water is the best commencement speech of all time not because it has transcended the formula, flattery, and platitudes that a graduation speech trades...

    The speech is one that stays with me and encourages me to think differently.

Goodreads · 2009-04-14
insightful 4.50

The book offers profound insights into daily living and provides advice that feels renewed with each reading. It is praised for its timeless relevance and impact.

This book is a treasure trove of wisdom that delves into the mundane yet profound aspects of everyday life. The advice offered is not just theoretical but deeply personal, making it a compelling read that resonates with readers time and again. It's a book that encourages introspection and offers a fresh perspective on how to navigate the complexities of adult existence. The reviewer highlights how the book's messages are not just theoretical but deeply personal, making it a compelling read that resonates with readers time and again.

Quick quotes

    David Foster Wallace probes the challenges of daily living and offers advice that renews us with every reading.

    The speech is one that stays with me and encourages me to think differently.

    I can honestly say that this speech changed my life and the way that I choose to...

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