#233 | Morning, Boys. How’s the Water?—The Life-Changing Importance of David Foster Wallace’s 2005 Commencement Speech ‘This Is Water’

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti explores David Foster Wallace's non-fiction work "This Is Water," originally a 2005 commencement speech at Kenyon College. Vigliotti delves into Wallace's life, his literary impact, and the speech's key themes: awareness, compassion, and the power of choice, underscoring the importance of recognizing the "totally obvious" aspects of life, being open-minded, and consciously deciding what holds meaning. In short, what does 'learning how to think' really mean? This episode is sure to leave a lasting impact.✓ Sign up for the monthly newsletter at BooksforMen.org.📚 Learn more about "Aristotle for Novelists" at AristotleforNovelists.com or READ IT NOW!⚡️ Connect with the host on Instagram @douglasvigliotti or learn more about him at DouglasVigliotti.com.🎧 Listen to Douglas Vigliotti's other podcast: Slightly Crooked: Good Stories, Told Well.⭐️ Please consider sharing "Books for Men" with other men who enjoy reading, or subscribing and rating on your favorite podcast platform. Either goes a long way in helping new listeners find the show and inspire (more) men to read.💥 TOPICS COVERED IN THE EPISODE:Intro to the Episode (00:09) - Douglas Vigliotti introduces the podcast and the book "This Is Water" by David Foster Wallace.Author Background (01:17) - Discussion of David Foster Wallace's life, his major works, and his influence as a writer.Commencement Speech Context (02:28) - Overview of Wallace's commencement speech at Kenyon College that inspired "This Is Water."Key Themes of the Book (03:41) - Vigliotti explains the book's focus on awareness, compassion, and conscious living.Takeaway One: Disregard for the Obvious (05:14) - Wallace emphasizes the importance of recognizing the obvious truths in our daily lives.Takeaway Two: Be Less Sure of Yourself (08:58) - Discussion on the dangers of dogmatism and the need for open-mindedness.Takeaway Three: Choosing Meaning (10:02) - Wallace encourages listeners to consciously decide what holds meaning in their lives.Conclusion and Call to Action (12:53) - Vigliotti wraps up the episode, encouraging subscriptions and feedback for the podcast.