Consider the Lobster

By: David Foster Wallace

Narrated by: David Foster Wallace, Robert Petkoff

Length: 15 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's Summary

Do lobsters feel pain? Did Franz Kafka have a funny bone? What is John Updike's deal, anyway? And what happens when adult video starlets meet their fans in person? David Foster Wallace answers these questions and more in essays that are also enthralling narrative adventures. Whether covering the three-ring circus of a vicious presidential race, plunging into the wars between dictionary writers, or confronting the World's Largest Lobster Cooker at the annual Maine Lobster Festival, Wallace projects a quality of thought that is uniquely his and a voice as powerful and distinct as any in American letters.

©2017 David Foster Wallace (P)2017 Hachette Audio

How this differs from the other version

This version includes the entire 343 page book, with many of the essays being narrated after the authors death. The other version only includes Wallace’s own narration of a few of the essays. Those narrations are included in this one as well so it is best to get this version.

A list of the essays included can be seen on the Wikipedia page of this book.

32 people found this helpful

Two extremes of writing

Petkoff gives a poor performance compared to Wallace. Wallace reads they way he writes, petkoff reads some areas so fast that you lose so much information that you can’t keep up and end up having to rewind.

3 people found this helpful

The audio quality is absolutely grating and I couldn’t even listen to it.

The whole thing sounds like it’s being played through slightly blown it speakers. I couldn’t listen.

11 people found this helpful

Perfect.

This is a great pick if you like to pop in and out on an audiobook. Entertaining essays on everything from the adult film industry to grammar.

1 person found this helpful

An odd beginning but an enjoyable ride.

Excellent narration! and overall enjoy experience with each essay. Do I found myself hooked to the inner workings of the authors mind.

1 person found this helpful

Consider The Wallace

Narrator mislabeled: DFW with Robert Petkoff. Still a great collection. Rest In Peace Dave Wallace

7 people found this helpful

So well written, but easy to get lost

The author’s style is to meander to a mind blowing point. In which case it’s often tough to hang in there for the payoff. I only got through this because it was an audio book.

4 people found this helpful

Intriguing and thought-provoking

DFW is a much-missed treasure, a true genius whose compelling language and unmatched humor will never be replicated, never be forgotten. These thought-provoking essays range in topic and scope, useful reading and musing for all.

A great way to experience the genius of DFW!

As much as I admired and enjoyed Infinite Jest, I could not make it through. It was just too dense and hard to follow. Especially in audio form where you cannot just flip back pages to remind yourself of characters and things.

But I feel like this book has lots of the wisdom and humor that you get in Infite Jest while being much more accessible.

Ill admit setting this aside for a bit during the very long MCCain piece but I am so glad I went back to it.

The Consider the Lobster piece alone is worth the time investment. Wow, what a great essay, or whatever it is.

I Know Crustaceans and this was no Lobster

There is nothing in this book really to review, other than before reading down Energy Drinks and Espresso by the mug full.
Wallace was a product from Acedemia meant for that world only, as it is a world full off, Well, I forgot.
I nodded off 32 times, and know that from counting the times I woke up..
I did the book in two days, and that has made me feel like I just had 100mg of Demoral in the Emergency Room, and I have no memory of listening to Acedemia ³, and never found that Lobster, in fact I do not believe there was a Lobster mentioned in the book, but then again, I nodded off 32 times, and could have missed that little guy.
The absolute worst book I have listened to on Audible and should return it for 3 Credits, but I just will probably forget. I am sure I would have liked him as a person, but he would have been uncomfortable with me, as I am a Tradesman and we deal daily with building structures, and I am not sure if Wallace could change a tire, but probably could play a good game of Monopoly, but surely not Jeopardy, as he surety seems so very one dimensional, and really mean that. He did use drugs, so thats a plus and especially so, if you hit bottom, and have six or seven relapses.
There was one part of the book that I enjoyed, and that was his take on the pornagraphic like festival he attended. That one part showed me that at least on one topic, we would have mirrored each others thoughts.
I guess we could have been the best of friends, as my weaknesses were his strengths, and and my strengths were surely his weaknesses.
I did not know he was dead though, and hope he knew Jesus Christ, and if he did not, I could call a mormon friend and they baptize the dead.