Comments on: Recently read: A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again http://www.explananda.com/2009/02/02/recently-read-a-supposedly-fun-thing-ill-never-do-again/ Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:02:49 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Chris http://www.explananda.com/2009/02/02/recently-read-a-supposedly-fun-thing-ill-never-do-again/comment-page-1/#comment-6820 Chris Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:41:54 +0000 http://www.explananda.com/?p=2802#comment-6820 The math stuff in the first essay of ASFTINDA struck me as the only possibly false note in the book. For one thing, it seemed dubious, as I said. But he also seemed not terribly interested in making sure I understood what he was talking about, which is sort of how a person writes when they know they're saying something dubious. On the other hand, it's hard to square that with my impression with the rest of the book. I'm sort of curious about what a mathematically trained person might make of Everything And More. The math stuff in the first essay of ASFTINDA struck me as the only possibly false note in the book. For one thing, it seemed dubious, as I said. But he also seemed not terribly interested in making sure I understood what he was talking about, which is sort of how a person writes when they know they’re saying something dubious. On the other hand, it’s hard to square that with my impression with the rest of the book. I’m sort of curious about what a mathematically trained person might make of Everything And More.

]]> By: Steve Laniel http://www.explananda.com/2009/02/02/recently-read-a-supposedly-fun-thing-ill-never-do-again/comment-page-1/#comment-6818 Steve Laniel Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:17:54 +0000 http://www.explananda.com/?p=2802#comment-6818 Everything And More *is* available used for $7, for what it's worth. And my <a href="http://library.minlib.net/search~S1?/teverything+and+more/teverything+and+more/1%2C2%2C4%2CB/frameset&FF=teverything+and+more+a+compact+history+of+infinity&1%2C1%2C" rel="nofollow">friendly neighborhood network of libraries has it</a>. (This information will be valuable only to those who live within Massachusetts, I'm afraid.) Everything And More *is* available used for $7, for what it’s worth. And my friendly neighborhood network of libraries has it. (This information will be valuable only to those who live within Massachusetts, I’m afraid.)

]]> By: Steve Laniel http://www.explananda.com/2009/02/02/recently-read-a-supposedly-fun-thing-ill-never-do-again/comment-page-1/#comment-6817 Steve Laniel Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:09:27 +0000 http://www.explananda.com/?p=2802#comment-6817 I'm so, so, so glad you enjoyed ASFTINDA. It's my favorite Wallace work. Infinite Jest is also astounding, but it's certainly not the place to start. Like you say, I think the title essay in ASFTINDA is that place. I've not tried Wallace's book about math (Everything And More); I just don't trust him to write that in a non-wanky way. It's just on the cusp, though: he's a great enough writer that maybe his awesomeness will offset his lack of qualifications. I'm picky about my math-books-written-for-mass-audiences. I'm even pickier about statistics. I’m so, so, so glad you enjoyed ASFTINDA. It’s my favorite Wallace work. Infinite Jest is also astounding, but it’s certainly not the place to start. Like you say, I think the title essay in ASFTINDA is that place.

I’ve not tried Wallace’s book about math (Everything And More); I just don’t trust him to write that in a non-wanky way. It’s just on the cusp, though: he’s a great enough writer that maybe his awesomeness will offset his lack of qualifications. I’m picky about my math-books-written-for-mass-audiences. I’m even pickier about statistics.

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