David Foster Wallace ( February 21, 1962 – September 12, 2008 ) was one of the most gifted writers of his generation.
He wrote Infinite Jest (a huge 1,200-page magnum opus) in the early 1990’s — while in his early 30’s. Rolling Stone journalist David Lipsky joined DFW on the last lag of his book tour to discuss his reactions to the newly found literary prestige and what he had set out to do with such an ambitious undertaking of a novel. Lipsky presented this interview in a book called “Although of Course You End up Becoming Yourself,” on which the film “The end of the tour” film is based.
Wallace, who was severely depressed hanged himself in 2008.
I most highly recommend Infinite Jest, The Girl With Curious Hair, A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again, or Brief Interviews with Hideous Men. These are good jumping-off points of his writing.