September 1, 2014
This collection of essays, speeches, and interviews is a colorful reflection of the late authorâs work in the last 15 years of his life. It includes some of his most famous later essays, such as âConsider the Lobsterâ and âThis Is the Water,â and the interviews often provide some nuggets of insight about Wallace, despite the fact that they sometimes are of a promotional nature. The entire collection, except for the introduction, is as the title suggests, spoken by Wallace himself. Some pieces were captured in a studio and provide crisp and clear sound that makes for an intimate experience compared to the pieces that were recorded in front of an audience or with an interviewing reporter. The studio recordings are enjoyable because the focus is often the written work of Foster, but the interviews are equally compelling since they flesh out the author in ways that the writing cannot. Taken together, they provide the listener with a unique and endearing understanding of Wallace. A Hachette Audio original.