The Gospel According to David Foster Wallace: Boredom and Addiction in an Age of Distraction

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The Gospel According to David Foster Wallace is the first book to explore key religious themes - from boredom to addiction, and distraction in the work of one of Americas most celebrated contemporary novelists. In a series of short, topic-focussed chapters, the book joins a selection of key scenes from Wallaces novels Infinite Jest and The Pale King with clear explanations of how they contribute to his overall account of what it means to be a human being in the 21st century. Adam Miller explores how Wallaces work masterfully investigates the nature of first-world boredom and shows, in the process, how easy it is to get addicted to distraction (chemical, electronic, or otherwise). Implicitly critiquing, excising, and repurposing elements of AAs Twelve Step program, Wallace suggests that the practice of prayer (regardless of belief in God), the patient application of attention to things that seem ordinary and boring, and the internalization of clichs may be the antidote to much of what ails us in the 21st century.

Reviews

Miller's Gospel is thorough ... [He presents] a close reading of the texts in light of his consistent thesis. * Review 31 *
Adam S. Miller looks at some of the favored themes despair, distraction, indifference, boredom in Wallaces writing. I will confess that Mr. Millers incantatory and gorgeous preface a discussion of why disappointment is not an obstacle to transcendence, but rather, its aim caused me to well with tears. -- Henry Alford * The New York Times *
Adam S. Miller has crafted a highly approachable, quasi-devotional, religious reading of David Foster Wallaces most popular fiction ... any student of the late-great post-ironists work will understand the value of Millers insights ... Millers project, with its workmanlike organization, will be a great reference piece for anyone studying or writing about the religious themes in Wallaces most premier work; and, with its highly intimate and personal readings, a great devotional work for believers who are interested in the intersection between faith and literature. * Christianity and Literature *

Author Bio

Adam S. Miller is Professor of Philosophy at Collin College in McKinney, Texas, USA. He is the founder of The Journal of Philosophy and Scripture and the author of a number of articles addressing the intersection of religion, ethics and politics.