THIS IS WATER Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life

“Only once,” the blurb for this production tells us, “did David Foster Wallace give a public talk on his views on life.” In fact, this commencement address, given at Kenyon College in 2005, seems more an attempt to skirt the usual platitudes and give the youthful audience something truly novel and worthwhile to take with them on their start in life. The author, already a highly esteemed writer when at the age of 46 he took his own life, was, in short, “playing to the house” rather than revealing his innermost beliefs. Using the title metaphor of a fish totally unaware that he is surrounded by water, Wallace bestows on his listeners the gift of a terse, cogent, and indeed, deep life-guiding reflection—this with humor, stylistic simplicity, and an understated yet attractive speaking style. Y.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2011 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2011]