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David Foster Wallace's 'This Is Water': Transcript, Context, and Reception

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Citations

This is Water by David Foster Wallace (Full Transcript and Audio)

https://fs.blog/david-foster-wallace-this-is-water/

This is Water by David Foster Wallace (Full Transcript and Audio)

https://fs.blog/david-foster-wallace-this-is-water/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

This is Water by David Foster Wallace (Full Transcript and Audio)

https://fs.blog/david-foster-wallace-this-is-water/

Wallace and Religious Literature by Nan Denette - The International David Foster Wallace Society

https://dfwsociety.org/wallace-and-religious-literature-by-nan-denette/

Wallace and Religious Literature by Nan Denette - The International David Foster Wallace Society

https://dfwsociety.org/wallace-and-religious-literature-by-nan-denette/

Wallace and Religious Literature by Nan Denette - The International David Foster Wallace Society

https://dfwsociety.org/wallace-and-religious-literature-by-nan-denette/

Wallace and Religious Literature by Nan Denette - The International David Foster Wallace Society

https://dfwsociety.org/wallace-and-religious-literature-by-nan-denette/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

How the Best Commencement Speech of All Time Was Bad for Literature ‹ Literary Hub

https://lithub.com/how-the-best-commencement-speech-of-all-time-was-bad-for-literature/

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

David Foster Wallace at Kenyon College, May 21, 2005 : The Best Commencement Speeches, Ever : NPR

https://apps.npr.org/commencement/speech/david-foster-wallace-kenyon-college-2005/

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

How the Best Commencement Speech of All Time Was Bad for Literature ‹ Literary Hub

https://lithub.com/how-the-best-commencement-speech-of-all-time-was-bad-for-literature/

How the Best Commencement Speech of All Time Was Bad for Literature ‹ Literary Hub

https://lithub.com/how-the-best-commencement-speech-of-all-time-was-bad-for-literature/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

How the Best Commencement Speech of All Time Was Bad for Literature ‹ Literary Hub

https://lithub.com/how-the-best-commencement-speech-of-all-time-was-bad-for-literature/

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

How the Best Commencement Speech of All Time Was Bad for Literature ‹ Literary Hub

https://lithub.com/how-the-best-commencement-speech-of-all-time-was-bad-for-literature/

How the Best Commencement Speech of All Time Was Bad for Literature ‹ Literary Hub

https://lithub.com/how-the-best-commencement-speech-of-all-time-was-bad-for-literature/

This is Water by David Foster Wallace (Full Transcript and Audio)

https://fs.blog/david-foster-wallace-this-is-water/

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

Microsoft Word - DFWKenyonAddress2005.docx

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~drkelly/DFWKenyonAddress2005.pdf

Microsoft Word - DFWKenyonAddress2005.docx

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~drkelly/DFWKenyonAddress2005.pdf

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

What the Hell is Water? | Letters to DFW

https://letterstodfw.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/what-the-hell-is-water/

What the Hell is Water? | Letters to DFW

https://letterstodfw.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/what-the-hell-is-water/

What the Hell is Water? | Letters to DFW

https://letterstodfw.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/what-the-hell-is-water/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

How the Best Commencement Speech of All Time Was Bad for Literature ‹ Literary Hub

https://lithub.com/how-the-best-commencement-speech-of-all-time-was-bad-for-literature/

How the Best Commencement Speech of All Time Was Bad for Literature ‹ Literary Hub

https://lithub.com/how-the-best-commencement-speech-of-all-time-was-bad-for-literature/

How the Best Commencement Speech of All Time Was Bad for Literature ‹ Literary Hub

https://lithub.com/how-the-best-commencement-speech-of-all-time-was-bad-for-literature/

How the Best Commencement Speech of All Time Was Bad for Literature ‹ Literary Hub

https://lithub.com/how-the-best-commencement-speech-of-all-time-was-bad-for-literature/

How the Best Commencement Speech of All Time Was Bad for Literature ‹ Literary Hub

https://lithub.com/how-the-best-commencement-speech-of-all-time-was-bad-for-literature/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

What the Hell is Water? | Letters to DFW

https://letterstodfw.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/what-the-hell-is-water/

What the Hell is Water? | Letters to DFW

https://letterstodfw.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/what-the-hell-is-water/

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

Microsoft Word - DFWKenyonAddress2005.docx

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~drkelly/DFWKenyonAddress2005.pdf

Microsoft Word - DFWKenyonAddress2005.docx

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~drkelly/DFWKenyonAddress2005.pdf

Microsoft Word - DFWKenyonAddress2005.docx

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~drkelly/DFWKenyonAddress2005.pdf

Microsoft Word - DFWKenyonAddress2005.docx

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~drkelly/DFWKenyonAddress2005.pdf

Wallace and Religious Literature by Nan Denette - The International David Foster Wallace Society

https://dfwsociety.org/wallace-and-religious-literature-by-nan-denette/

Microsoft Word - DFWKenyonAddress2005.docx

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~drkelly/DFWKenyonAddress2005.pdf

Microsoft Word - DFWKenyonAddress2005.docx

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~drkelly/DFWKenyonAddress2005.pdf

Microsoft Word - DFWKenyonAddress2005.docx

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~drkelly/DFWKenyonAddress2005.pdf

Microsoft Word - DFWKenyonAddress2005.docx

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~drkelly/DFWKenyonAddress2005.pdf

Microsoft Word - DFWKenyonAddress2005.docx

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~drkelly/DFWKenyonAddress2005.pdf

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

How the Best Commencement Speech of All Time Was Bad for Literature ‹ Literary Hub

https://lithub.com/how-the-best-commencement-speech-of-all-time-was-bad-for-literature/

How the Best Commencement Speech of All Time Was Bad for Literature ‹ Literary Hub

https://lithub.com/how-the-best-commencement-speech-of-all-time-was-bad-for-literature/

How the Best Commencement Speech of All Time Was Bad for Literature ‹ Literary Hub

https://lithub.com/how-the-best-commencement-speech-of-all-time-was-bad-for-literature/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

This is Water by David Foster Wallace (Full Transcript and Audio)

https://fs.blog/david-foster-wallace-this-is-water/

How the Best Commencement Speech of All Time Was Bad for Literature ‹ Literary Hub

https://lithub.com/how-the-best-commencement-speech-of-all-time-was-bad-for-literature/

Microsoft Word - DFWKenyonAddress2005.docx

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~drkelly/DFWKenyonAddress2005.pdf

Microsoft Word - DFWKenyonAddress2005.docx

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~drkelly/DFWKenyonAddress2005.pdf

From the Archives: Everlasting Speech - Kenyon Alumni Magazine

https://bulletin.kenyon.edu/article/from-the-archives-everlasting-speech/

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

Microsoft Word - DFWKenyonAddress2005.docx

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~drkelly/DFWKenyonAddress2005.pdf

Microsoft Word - DFWKenyonAddress2005.docx

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~drkelly/DFWKenyonAddress2005.pdf

A graduation diploma: “The Eviction Notice Written in Latin”

https://sites.utexas.edu/ransomcentermagazine/2014/05/16/commencement/

Wallace and Religious Literature by Nan Denette - The International David Foster Wallace Society

https://dfwsociety.org/wallace-and-religious-literature-by-nan-denette/

What the Hell is Water? | Letters to DFW

https://letterstodfw.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/what-the-hell-is-water/

This is Water by David Foster Wallace (Full Transcript and Audio)

https://fs.blog/david-foster-wallace-this-is-water/

Wallace and Religious Literature by Nan Denette - The International David Foster Wallace Society

https://dfwsociety.org/wallace-and-religious-literature-by-nan-denette/

What the Hell is Water? | Letters to DFW

https://letterstodfw.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/what-the-hell-is-water/

What the Hell is Water? | Letters to DFW

https://letterstodfw.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/what-the-hell-is-water/

This is Water by David Foster Wallace (Full Transcript and Audio)

https://fs.blog/david-foster-wallace-this-is-water/

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE -- THIS IS WATER

https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2025/5/15/the-grad-speech-that-said-it-all

David Foster Wallace at Kenyon College, May 21, 2005 : The Best Commencement Speeches, Ever : NPR

https://apps.npr.org/commencement/speech/david-foster-wallace-kenyon-college-2005/

What the Hell is Water? | Letters to DFW - WordPress.com

https://letterstodfw.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/what-the-hell-is-water/

All Sources