Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
This novel is a complex, multi-layered narrative that explores themes of addiction, recovery, and the human condition in a near-future society. The story is set in a tennis academy and a halfway house for recovering addicts, and it intertwines the lives of its numerous characters, including a gifted but troubled teenage tennis prodigy, his filmmaker father, and a group of Quebecois separatists. The book is known for its length, intricate plot, and extensive use of footnotes.
The 170th greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 1560
This book was first published in 1996
17 Lists
- score: 150 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 150)
- score: 134 -- The Ideal Library - 2024 (Weight: 129)
- score: 96 -- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers - 2024 (Weight: 96)
- score: 96 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 96)
- score: 94 -- Quintessential American Fiction, According to the Rest of the World - 2015 (Weight: 90)
- score: 93 -- 20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction - 1999 (Weight: 93)
- score: 90 -- Harvard Book Store Staff's Favorite 100 Books - 2011 (Weight: 90)
- score: 87 -- A Century of Reading - 2018 (Weight: 87)
- score: 84 -- The Great American Novels - 2024 (Weight: 84)
- score: 82 -- Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels - 2013 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- The 100 Greatest Novels - 2007 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- From Zero to Well-Read in 100 Books - 2013 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels - 2005 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- The Graphic Canon - 2012 (Weight: 81)
- score: 78 -- The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users - 2008 (Weight: 78)
- score: 75 -- The 50 Books Everyone Needs to Read, 1963-2013 - 2013 (Weight: 75)
- score: 74 -- As if You Don't Have Enough to Read, Fiction Edition - 2011 (Weight: 72)