Hacker News Reader

I am surprised you would say that about David Foster Wallace. I went to school with him from kindergarten until 6th grade and 10th through 12th grade, in Urbana, Illinois. Math was never his strong point. However he wrote manic funny stories that would make you laugh so hard you would start to cry. That is why you have to limit yourself to 20 Pages a day at most.

View on HN

Well I think the reason I like his math book is because it's his typical style on a different topic, so it's a more relaxed read and not something like a hard math book. The first words of the book are something like "Unfortunately this is an introduction you actually have to read" which if you've read much DFW you just kind of settle in right away.

He does mention in the book that the only math classes he had any success with were AP classes. I think it's dedicated to his teacher. But really it makes no attempt to disguise that it's mostly the math angle of his uneasiness with the world and yep I agree with you on the 20 pages a day.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com