David Foster Wallace interview on Charlie Rose (1997) 

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Homeboy grapples with every single word, and every single idea, and drags it from the pit of his soul. Watching him grimace after answering questions is strangely compelling and also devastating. Wish DFW was still around.

“I could never rock the bandana, but I learned a lot while watching him wear it” - Bill Burr talking about being a student of David’s at Amherst College

Around the 19 minute mark it reminded me of this footnote that appears in a physics text book: "It could be avoided if equations could be written in three-dimensional arrays, but unfortunately publishers are as yet unable to provide such a service. A novelist, or the writer of any work for that matter, will have encountered a similar problem many times. Ideas are linked to one another in complicated patterns but in expressing them one is forced to string them out in a line, sentence by sentence." - Bryce DeWitt

This dude was like a conduit for pure thought, logic, empathy and feeling. RIP

That someone was THAT brilliant AND empathic and had genuine humility as well....very, very rare person.

Wallace seems to be so hard on himself in this interview. His facial expressions show a high degree of disgust at his answers

He's such a perfectionist.... and he thinks so fast... and layers the thoughts...

I probably have watched this 2-3 times a month. It’s incredibly hard to watch, as not a day goes by that I don’t wish David was still with us. Listening and watching him speak, is incredible. I can’t think of anyone else who was so incredibly articulate, yet chose his words so carefully with such ease. Watching him have such disdain, or what seems like disdain, or embarrassment regarding his answers, his gritting teeth, his constant doubt, apologizing, you can tell he was deeply depressed. One of the most brilliant human beings, gone way too soon. There will never be a DFW, but his work will live on forever, and Infinite Jest will forever be a highlight among the music, film and literature of Generation X, and the 1990s.

“... no apologies, but that’s an explanation.” 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

"Is that anything like an answer?!?" I've never seen someone hate on themselves so much while literally being praised

This is an amazing gem, you don’t see things like this anymore, this is intense sincereity, absolutely wonderful to watch, so present and real, genuineness in the world today like this is unseen. This kind of engage reinvigorates my life force, it’s beautiful. Rip brother, after watching this I feel a kindred sense of spirit, a strong yearning for something that matters, and that thing that matters is just a feeling in yourself that brings you to life and is mysterious but draws you forth.

Dang that last line is haunting and kinda scary

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” Marcus Tullius Cicero

3:17 A few minutes a day writing and the rest of the day worrying about not writing. Hits way too close to home

I can't even count how many times I've watched this. I find it simply mesmerizing.

This man is such a national treasure. Reading infinite jest right now. DFW is an absolute genius. This interview is amazing. Thanks for posting.

his nervousness and uncomfortable nature during the interview becomes his charm so to speak...such a fascinating person. Such tortured brilliance.

"quit worrying about how you're going to look and just be" "you confront your own vanity when you think about going on tv" they both were right

First time listening to David, I like him a lot. Rest in peace.

im just glad dfw got to see Mulholland Drive

Probably the best, most real, interview I've seen thus far.

The way he goes 'no no no' when confronted with the definition of postmodernism... I felt that!

i could listen to this man speak forever.

My best friend Billy was a mathematical genius. He taught me advanced calculus at 21. Sadly he drank himself to death at 41 . He would have gotten along great with this guy . RIP David Foster and Billy G . 🙏🏼❤️

He is my favorite artist along with Elliott Smith. They both have a way of describing the way we percieve life that is so icredibly nuanced and fascinating that I could spend hours listening to them and hear their thoughts on things. Its so incredibly tragic how it ended for both of them. I really hope they rest easy now where ever they are. Love you both Elliot and David. Edit: I know that they both obviously had a similiar tragic end to their life but beyond that I think especially Wallace was exceptional at describing how reality feels to so many of us that he transcends allot of traditional artists. Even Elliott. The reason I listed Smith besides Wallace was simply that he was a very unconventional artist who, pretty much by luck broke into the main stream just like Wallace did. Both extremely shy and without any kind of superiority in them. Hope that clears it up a bit.

I'm going to try this look at work tomorrow.

"you're seriously asking me my opinion on The English Patient?"

“The normal incentives to get out of bed don’t apply anymore.” Jesus; that hits home hard.

What an interview. The frankness with which DFW expresses not his writing process, but all the more important things that go on behind it, I find incredibly valuable as an aspiring writer myself.

Every month I come back to this interview.

this guy was such a gem, so intentional, it makes perfect sense why his works are considered genius.

I’m just imagining David Foster Wallace on Joe Rogan lol

i can listen to him for days.

Self-conscious of the fact that he's self-conscious, which he explained at one point here. Thanks for posting.

Thankful for David and the work he shared 🙏

Charlie Rose enjoyed talking to him, you can tell.

I believe we all have warmth and humor. I believe we all have intelligence and an aptitude for concision. It is a fact that it's difficult to showcase them all at once. I think, to borrow Wallace's own example of an ideal situation, it requires an evening over supper, with little time constraints and a relaxed atmosphere. Television demands this balance to be struck immediately, and sustained, in an atmosphere that is completely counter to comfort. Nearly every moment he's funny he quickly tries to rebound with intelligence. Every moment he is analytical he worries about pretension and the hurting of others feelings. He's fighting himself, to be himself, as quickly as possible. He feels he cannot explain himself accurately, whether it be through warmth or intellectual rigor, and for a person who likes choosing long-format writing with 300 footnotes to express themselves television is the worst situation to be in. He feels he doesn't have enough time. At the end of every topic you see a mind in agony, and that's when his tics are most pronounced. Clearly concision isn't my strong suit either. If you read all that I appreciate it. TL;DR I felt a very acute pain every time I saw him grimace like that.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched this, and I cry every time. God, I miss him so much.

He makes nerdiness, eloquence, deep-thought and creativity cool.

can listen to him talk for hours upon hours upon hours.....beyond special

Damn, I wish Wallace was still around. So insightful on this postmodern world and where he saw it heading

“ ‘Am I happy?’ Is a question that dictates its own answer.” - DFW.

I wish he was still here with us. One of the most interesting interviews on Charlie Rose

I have never been more captivated by an interview. Wow! How am I not aware of this extraordinary mind? Wow. Sucks knowing that he never found that brass ring.

I just want to hear dfw's opinion on everything

His depression was so clear and palpable.

23:07 David being highly self aware he knows he is the interviewee, he checks Charlie making sure David is being understood, and not simply being glossed over to the next subject. Amazing.

My god what an original genuine genius! I have often had this daydream of DFW and John Kennedy Toole hanging out and having these frenetic exchanges filled with wit and profound insight….

his brain is gorgeous, his mouth is fast, his hair is the best! we miss you so much DFW! (weeping)

“If that was going on it was going on at a level of awareness I do not want to have access to”

This man's dedication to telling the truth and drive to say something unique, coupled with his self awareness of his base cultural ambitions and shear brilliance, is amazing to watch.

Really helpful and entertaining interview. He is really honest and clear.

Highly intelligent with obsessive compulsive - a dangerous combination because nothing ever feels right/complete.

I’ve watched this interview so many times, but it’s still so sad.

Wallace was a highly under appreciated genius. It hurt me to see his inner turmoil rise to the surface in this interview.

When the imposter complex renders genius insecure. Humility and insecurity is a less successful base for creativity, but it allows a more empathic one

I like how Rose takes on this almost fatherly role with DFW. "Stop worrying about what you look like!" He seems to have a lot of affection, as well as respect, for DFW.

I rewatch this interview often for self reflection more than anything. DFW is one of the Greats.

never met you but i miss you, wish you were still here david.

David Foster Wallace: Show me somebody who doesn't like to be respected...I am not more hungry for respect than the average person. Super response.

I am not an intellectual by any means and would have been intimidated to be in the same room as David Foster Wallace, never mind talk to him. This man was an extraordinary person who left a huge void in my world when he chose to leave it. I remember crying when I heard that he committed suicide. Infinite Jest is an astounding novel, and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have read it if not for the fact I was living abroad and feeling alone and bit homesick. I shared an apartment with four expats and spent entire nights reading Infinite Jest in the bathroom while trying to stifle laughter. Despite what DFW says, the novel is fucking hilarious. We get that it's sad, DFW, but don't try to say it isn't funny.

I love this man, I can't find better words

Thanx for this post!

At 16:19 you can see him start to genuinely smile and then he catches himself smiling and his facial expression does a complete 180, almost as if he was disgusted at himself for allowing himself to smile and be happy, if for a brief moment.

This interviewer was brilliant. I wish that DFW had had some peace and had been able to receive the praise he was being given. The old man and the young man motif was here in full force, and really DFW needed to hear what was being said. I don't think he understood how much people loved him. I was ten years old when DFW killed himself. I'll never know what the world was like, the world that he was writing about when he composed Infinite Jest. But I am desperately covetous for those of you who got to. The world pre-9/11, and the world that gave us Apple and Microsoft, a new international, global economy with every new horizon and opportunity available. The twilight between the advent of the internet and the invention of social media seems particularly romantic and infinite. Hearing DFW talk and watching these old interviews takes me back to some nostalgia for something I never got to know. I'm just perennially devastated that I no longer live on a planet with such a brilliant and insightful mind.

Fantastic man. I like people who use their brains to think deep and healthy thoughts. This man seemed to do it. Humble about his talent. It is rare to see people like this in public these days because stupidity is now a priority.

“Quit worrying how you’re gonna look and just be”

A blessing and a curse. Keen insight and the eloquence to be able to express it however no off switch for the mind running a mile a minute.

Fran Lebowitz & David Foster Wallace & nothing else! Thank you.

I could listen to him talk about films for hours

Wallace is the man - forever missed

21:15 This is the minute everybody is looking for... Talking about postmodernism and the necesity to overcome it

Wallace's piece on tennis in the "Fun Thing" book is the greatest thing I've ever read about tennis.

wish I could give him a hug. What a wonderful human

I love growing with this film.

I picked up Infinite Jest not long ago without knowing anything about who he was, and just out of curiosity stumbled upon this interview. What a fascinating human. It's a shame our brightest minds are sometimes so tormented.

Really interesting how he explains the structural intent behind his infamous end notes.

“Where do you wanna go?” “Not exploding.”

God damn I love this interview, I cannot express how sad it makes me that we cannot hear what this person has to say about the development of society, his unbelievably predictive ideas of the world are more relevant today than ever before. I can say with confidence that he is our modern George Orwell, in a more developed manner than possible to describe in a YT comment. This man is responsible for helping me understand that I am not alone in this world, that other people share my opinions, and that there is hope that eventually more people will understand then take action against whatever abstract seemingly undefeatable unnecessary nonsense we're all subject to. I know he's just another human being, but metaphorically speaking if someone wanted to pretend to be a time traveler for attention, David Foster Wallace could have pulled it off better than anyone else I'm aware of.

A pure soul, fragmented fragile heart.

W/r/t the endnotes: I read somewhere an observation that having flip back to reference the endnotes, then back to the text, then back to the endnotes, &c, over and over again while reading IJ simulates a kind of literary version of playing tennis.

this makes me so sad. and so happy

I loved this so much.

I so miss interesting interviews with interesting people conducted by an informed individual.

As time goes on, I can't help but feel that David would be more and more appalled with the state of all things. As much as I know we miss him and all that is lost by not having his mind in this world, he probably got out at the right time.

Watching again after finishing Ghost Story / Love Story. Very remarkable individual. Wish he had stayed longer to create more work. Very dedicated to the craft.

wonderful. just wonderful.

Wow. Jason Segal's impression was really good. Subtleties.

This was magnificent, one of the most fascinating characters I've come across, what a dreadful loss, RIP DFW x

That part at the end with the brass ring, and getting up in the morning. 😭

I think there's a lot to unpack about how irony and dissociation combined with narcissism ruined our lives

The voice of an angel

Forever you, i love you !

DFW is so good by the end of this interview. Charlie Rose really gets it there. One of the best interviews ever.

You can see the moments where he cringes at himself. Where he feels that he didn't quite say what he wanted to say. It's like a painful wince. He expected so much of himself, but he was more than any of us could have asked for. Wish he was still here.

DFW was, clearly, an absolute genius. All of his essay books are quite interesting.

Smart guy....but that does not excuse his wearing of bandanas.

Love DFW. We could certainly use his humanity and perspective today.

„Quit worrying about how you’re gonna look, and just BE…“ What a beautiful thing to say to someone. We all need to hear that. Wish DFW was still with us…