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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Infinite Jest summary
Dive Into the Mind-Bending Labyrinth of This Modern Classic
19 mins
Brief summary
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace is a complex and intricate novel that explores addiction, entertainment, and the human condition. It challenges readers with its unconventional structure and thought-provoking themes.
Table of Contents
Infinite Jest
Summary of 3 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 3
The setting and entertainment
The story is set in a somewhat dystopian, near-future version of North America. The continent has been unified under the Organization of North American Nations or O.N.A.N. This dramatic change has shifted the regional maps of the continent as well as the political landscape.
To begin with, an entire area of what used to be the northeast of the United States has been gifted to Canada. This area includes what used to be Maine, as well as much of New Hampshire, Vermont, and upstate New York. The region is referred to as “the Great Concavity” as it’s mostly a gigantic, toxic garbage dump, rumored to be inhabited by rabid hamsters. But former Canadians refer to it as the Great Convexity.
The entertainment industry has changed as well. People can now watch whatever movie or television show they want, whenever they want. They just order up the film cartridge and load it onto their Teleputer, or TP. You can queue up days’ worth of content all at once if you like.
Another strange development is that the calendar years are now commercially sponsored. So, rather than numerical years like 2023 and 2024, you have the Year of the Whopper and the Year of the Tucks Medicated Pad. Most of the present action in the book takes place in the Year of the Depend Adult Undergarment.
As far as the physical location goes, the majority of the story happens in and around the city of Boston. Just outside the city, next to the neighborhood of Allston, is an area known as Enfield, Massachusetts. Here, two neighboring facilities serve as the primary settings: the Enfield Tennis Academy and the Ennet House Drug and Alcohol Recovery House – and yes, the second house might be redundant. From a social status perspective, you could say that the tennis academy is at the top of the hill and the rehab facility is at the bottom of the hill. But as we’ll see, there’s more in common to these programs than you might think.
ANALYSIS
The vision of North America’s future in Infinite Jest is quite different from today, yet, for all the changes to the geopolitical landscape, the day-to-day concerns of the characters seem quite familiar.
Even some of the more outlandish ideas seem like a logical extension of what was happening in the late twentieth century. With every arena and sports stadium being sponsored by seemingly random companies that change just about every year, how far-fetched is the idea of sponsored calendar years?
Also, in the 1990s, after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was a popular theory that we’d witnessed the “end of history.” The idea was that liberal democracy, capitalism, and consumerism had won. So, by having North America change away from the old Gregorian calendar years to a more modern, consumer-friendly way of tracking time, Wallace may very well have been commenting on this popular line of thinking.
As for the technological changes, Wallace uses this primarily to comment on our relationship with movies, television, and home entertainment in general. One of the more prophetic elements of this vision of the future is its representation of Telecomputers. Everything is available at home, on-demand, and ready to binge-watch. Yes, you could say David Foster Wallace predicted the streaming revolution.
He’s not exactly painting a rosy picture, though. One character explains that binge-watching cartridges is a big part of his elaborate plan when he goes on his week-long marijuana sessions. In this world, stocking up on cartridges isn’t unlike stocking up on drugs. Telecomputers have also driven people apart. Aside from not going to movie theaters, people are working from home more and ordering goods to be delivered. All of this lends a sense of increased loneliness to this world, which will likely resonate even more now, in a post-pandemic world.
This isolation and disconnect sets the stage for what Wallace is really interested in, which is addiction, in all its various forms. Most of the characters in Infinite Jest are in an unhealthy relationship with drugs, alcohol, sex, or other mind-numbing distractions. Throughout its many pages, the different reasons for how this came to be are unraveled. There’s child abuse, sexual abuse, a disfiguring accident, the pressure of academics and athletics, the feeling of being too smart or too dumb …
It’s worth pointing out that Wallace was a junior tennis player himself and subsequently struggled with substance abuse and addiction. If Infinite Jest is about three things, it’s about tennis, drugs, and depression. Given the level of detail throughout, you get the sense that there’s a lot of writing-what-you-know going on.
It should also be noted that Infinite Jest doesn’t have a gripping, propulsive narrative. Instead, it creates an immersive world with over 100 characters, many of them drawn with great detail and given very elaborate backstories. In the next section, we’ll get into some of those memorable details.
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What is Infinite Jest about?
Infinite Jest (1996) is considered a classic of postmodern literature. It weaves together a dizzying story of dozens of characters who are struggling to get by in a lonely, technologically oversaturated world. It also deals with the subjects of substance abuse and recovery in a deep and meaningful way.
Infinite Jest Review
Infinite Jest (1996) by David Foster Wallace is a complex and thought-provoking novel that is definitely worth reading. Here's why this book is special:
- With its multilayered plot and intricate storytelling, it challenges readers to delve deep into the interconnected lives of its characters, keeping them engaged and intrigued.
- The book explores themes of addiction, entertainment, and the search for meaning, offering profound insights into the human condition and society's obsession with pleasure.
- Through its use of footnotes and unconventional narrative structure, Infinite Jest pushes the boundaries of traditional storytelling, creating an immersive reading experience that is anything but boring.
Who should read Infinite Jest?
- Fans of modern literature
- Anyone interested in dystopian futures
- People who feel isolated by technology
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Infinite Jest FAQs
What is the main message of Infinite Jest?
The main message of Infinite Jest is a complex exploration of addiction, entertainment, and the elusive quest for meaning.
How long does it take to read Infinite Jest?
The reading time for Infinite Jest varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes a substantial amount of time. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Infinite Jest a good book? Is it worth reading?
Infinite Jest is a thought-provoking and ambitious novel that challenges readers with its complexity and depth. It is definitely worth reading for those seeking a unique literary experience.
Who is the author of Infinite Jest?
The author of Infinite Jest is David Foster Wallace.
What to read after Infinite Jest?
If you're wondering what to read next after Infinite Jest, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty by Dan Ariely
- How to Read Lacan by Slavoj Žižek
- The Negativity Fast by Anthony Iannarino
- Building a Non-Anxious Life by John Delony
- Don't Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen
- The Art of Positive Thinking by Elizabeth R. Brown
- Psychological Types by Carl Jung
- Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
- Rewire by Nicole Vignola
- The Burnout Society by Byung-Chul Han