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 204th greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 1700
This book was first published in 1996
25 Lists
- score: 190 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 180)
- score: 190 -- 'The perfect library': the 196 books selected by 133 personalities - 2020 (Weight: 190)
- score: 180 -- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers - 2024 (Weight: 170)
- score: 175 -- The Great American Novels - 2024 (Weight: 166)
- score: 148 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 140)
- score: 145 -- The Ideal Library - 2024 (Weight: 120)
- score: 121 -- As if You Don't Have Enough to Read, Fiction Edition - 2011 (Weight: 100)
- score: 116 -- 100 Books, 100 Companions - 2023 (Weight: 110)
- score: 105 -- 200 Books That Shaped 200 Years of Literature - 2021 (Weight: 105)
- score: 92 -- TrueLit's Top 100 Favorite Books (2023) - 2023 (Weight: 80)
- score: 73 -- Quintessential American Fiction, According to the Rest of the World - 2015 (Weight: 60)
- score: 60 -- 4chan’s Literature Board’s Aggregate Top 100 Books for the Decade 2014 - 2024 - 2024 (Weight: 50)
- score: 33 -- Harvard Book Store Staff's Favorite 100 Books - 2011 (Weight: 33)
- score: 21 -- The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users - 2008 (Weight: 20)
- score: 16 -- TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels - 2005 (Weight: 16)
- score: 10 -- 25 Books to Read Before You Die - 2023 (Weight: 10)
- score: 10 -- The 100 Greatest Novels - 2007 (Weight: 10)
- score: 1 -- Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- A Century of Reading - 2018 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Graphic Canon - 2012 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- From Zero to Well-Read in 100 Books - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 50 Books Everyone Needs to Read, 1963-2013 - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 500 Must Read Books - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction - 1999 (Weight: 1)