David Foster Wallace is one of the most influential and acclaimed authors of our time. His essays, both long-form and short, have been widely praised for their commitment to exploring challenging topics in an accessible, witty and often humorous way. From his expansive collections of essays, such as A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again, to his more focused works, like Consider the Lobster, Wallace's essays highlight the complexity and confusion of modern life.
Wallace's essays are widely admired for their ability to explore complex philosophical and ethical issues in a highly relatable style. His writing often blends seemingly disparate elements together such as pop culture, literature and philosophy, in order to make his points more vivid and engaging. His brilliant and often witty writing style allows him to tackle serious topics without seeming heavy-handed or didactic. Wallace often referred to himself as a "fiction writer who uses non-fiction techniques", as evidenced in his essay, "Federer Both Flesh and Not".
Wallace was also known for his engaging and thought-provoking lectures, which were sometimes adapted into essays that were published in periodicals such as Harper's Magazine and The Atlantic. In addition to his writings, Wallace also gained notoriety for his inclusion of footnotes and endnotes in many of his essays, which often contained elaborate digressions on the topics at hand. This inventive use of footnotes allowed readers to gain further insight into the themes of the essay and made Wallace's pieces more enjoyable to read.
The breadth and depth of Wallace's essay collections have cemented him as one of the most important authors of our time, as well as an influence on many emerging essayists. In each of his works, Wallace was able to explore complex topics with intelligence, wit and insight. His essays will continue to be read and studied for generations to come.