#31 in Science fiction
Infinite Jest
- 1,104
- Pages
- about 20 h
- Reading time
- 20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction
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About the book
Infinite Jest is a 1996 novel by American writer David Foster Wallace. Often considered Wallace’s magnum opus, the book has been categorized as an encyclopedic novel due to its unconventional narrative structure and hundreds of extensive endnotes, some with footnotes of their own.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 8.5 across 453 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 71% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Science fiction average of 7.8. That is how 8.3 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Library | 8.4 | 28 | 6% |
| Hardcover | 8.5 | 425 | 94% |
Reader voices
The most-liked reviews on Hardcover (credited to their authors).
“1860onwards challenge - Book 2 - Infinite Jest (1996) Each chapter like it's own vignette. The book and the writing feels intimately connected to the author. Really strong and unique feeling as you read. Interesting O.N.A.N. world and the plot, while a macguffin, is very interesting. Footnotes break up the text almost in a deliberately challenging way. Characters ***** Atmosphere ***** Plot ***** Emotion ***** Style ***** 5.0”
“I did have some moments when my resolve faltered, but overall this book met my "made-me-think, would re-read-if-I-had-the-time" criteria for 4⭐️. Chilling descriptions of addiction and depression. Loved the irony/sarcasm, and the prose (albeit often showy). Occasional sexism, racism, ableism etc, not always ascribable to the characters. Erudite, encyclopedic. Learned of many online resources about the book, at least one podcast and an entire community of enthusiasts. ”
Frequently asked
What is Infinite Jest rated?
8.3 out of 10, from 453 reader ratings across 2 independent sources.
Is Infinite Jest worth reading?
Readers give it 8.3/10 from 453 ratings, which puts it ahead of 85 % of the Science fiction shelf.
How long does it take to read Infinite Jest?
About 20 hours at an average reading pace — 1,104 pages.
Where does Infinite Jest rank?
#31 in Science fiction on the current snapshot.
How long is Infinite Jest?
It has 1,104 pages — longer than 98% of the ranked books in Science fiction.
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