Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself

Lipsky, who received a National Magazine Award for writing about Wallace in 2009, here provides the transcript of, and commentary about, his time accompanying Wallace across the country just as Wallace was completing an extensive "book tour" promoting his novel, Infinite Jest. The format captures almost every moment the two spent together—on planes and cars, across the country—during the specific time period when Wallace was becoming famous; the writers discuss literature, popular music and film, depression, the appeals and pitfalls of fame, dog ownership, and many other topics.{{cite news|author=Schaub, Michael Schaub| title=A Not-So-Brief Interview With David Foster Wallace| work=NPR|date= May 4, 2010}}

Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself was positively received by critics. In Time magazine, Lev Grossman wrote, "The transcript of their brilliant conversations reads like a two-man Tom Stoppard play or a four-handed duet scored for typewriter."{{cite news |author-link=Lev Grossman |author=Grossman, Lev|title=Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself|work=Time |date= April 16, 2010}} The Atlantic Monthly called the work, "far-reaching, insightful, very funny, profound, surprising, and awfully human";{{cite news|author=Kaiser, Menachem|title=The Challenge of Writing About David Foster Wallace|work= The Atlantic |date= April 22, 2010}} at National Public Radio, Michael Schaub described the book as "a startlingly sad yet deeply funny postscript to the career of one of the most interesting American writers of all time", calling it "crushingly poignant, both endearing and fascinating. At the end, it feels like you've listened to two good friends talk about life, about literature, about all of their mutual loves".{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126483112 |title=A Not-So-Brief Interview With David Foster Wallace |first=Michael |last=Schaub |publisher=NPR |date=May 7, 2010 |accessdate=May 7, 2010}} Newsweek noted, "For readers unfamiliar with the sometimes intimidating Wallace oeuvre, Lipsky has provided a conversational entry point into the writer's thought process. It's odd to think that a book about Wallace could serve both the newbies and the hard-cores, but here it is."{{cite news|author=Wallis, Seth Colter|title=My Dinners With David|work= Newsweek|date= April 22, 2010}} Publishers Weekly, in a starred review, described the book as "a rollicking dialog ... a candid and fascinating glimpse into a uniquely brilliant and very troubled writer".{{cite news|work=Publishers Weekly|title=Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself|date= April 4, 2010|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-307-59243-9}} The Wall Street Journal called it "lovely",{{cite news|author=Sam Sacks|title=Irony and Its Discontent|work=The Wall Street Journal|date= August 29, 2012}} and Laura Miller in Salon described it as "exhilarating".{{cite news |url=http://www.salon.com/books/laura_miller/2010/04/04/although_of_course_you_end_up_becoming_yourself |title=Road Trip With David Foster Wallace |first=Laura |last=Miller |work=Salon |date=April 4, 2010 |accessdate=May 7, 2010}} Maria Bustillos, in an essay for The Awl, wrote, "I can't tell you how much fun this book is ... It's a road picture, a love story, a contest: two talented, brilliant young men with literary ambitions, and their struggle to understand one another."{{cite news|author=Bustillos, Maria|title=Booked Up: 'Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: a Road Trip with David Foster Wallace|work= The Awl|date= March 22, 2010}} "Spurred by a rapidly developing feeling of friendship toward Lipsky", wrote critic Richard Brody in The New Yorker, "Wallace speaks of himself with a profuse, almost therapeutic candor, delivering a spoken autobiography ... In Lipsky's book, Wallace's voice is startlingly present, but so are his ideas, his immediate emotional responses to circumstances, and his own complex range of perspectives on the circumstances at hand ... His remarks to Lipsky are as quietly hilarious as they are ingenious."{{cite news |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/david-foster-wallace-isnt-just-like-us |title=David Foster Wallace Isn't Just Like Us |first=Richard |last=Brody |work=The New Yorker |date=August 5, 2015 |accessdate=January 18, 2021}}

The book was a New York Times bestseller, New York Times Editors' Choice, and a National Public Radio Best Book of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/series/131336530/best-books-of-2010 |website=NPR.org|title=NPR Best Books of 2010|date=2010}}

A feature film adaptation of Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself, The End of the Tour, was released in July 2015, with Academy Award-nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg portraying Lipsky and Jason Segel portraying Wallace. In his review for The New York Times, critic A.O. Scott wrote, "I love it", adding, "You hang on its every word and revel in its rough, vernacular beauty ... There will always be films about writers and writing, and this one is just about as good as it gets."{{cite news | last = Scott | first = A.O. | author-link = A.O. Scott | title = 'The End of the Tour' Offers A Tale of Two Davids | work = The New York Times | date = July 31, 2015 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/31/movies/review-the-end-of-the-tour-offers-a-tale-of-two-davids.html | access-date = January 18, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161206140355/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/31/movies/review-the-end-of-the-tour-offers-a-tale-of-two-davids.html | archive-date = December 6, 2016 | url-status = live}}

The film received a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 159 reviews, with an average rating of 8.02/10. The site's critical consensus states: "Brilliantly performed and smartly unconventional, The End of the Tour pays fitting tribute to a singular talent while offering profoundly poignant observations on the human condition."{{cite web |title=The End of the Tour (2015) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_end_of_the_tour_2015/ |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920122114/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_end_of_the_tour_2015 |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |url-status=live}} The film also holds a score of 82 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 35 reviews.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-end-of-the-tour|title=The End of the Tour|work=Metacritic|access-date=January 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707005056/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-end-of-the-tour|archive-date=July 7, 2018|url-status=live}} At Rogerebert.com, critic Brian Tallerico called the film a "joy", and "stunning ... a gift of highly intellectual discussion between two brilliant people at turning points in their lives", while also praising Jason Segel and Jesse Eisenberg.{{cite news | last = Tallerico | first = Brian | title = The End of the Tour | work = Rogerebert.com | date = January 24, 2015 | url = https://www.rogerebert.com/sundance/sundance-2015-the-end-of-the-tour | access-date = August 7, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190107182235/https://www.rogerebert.com/sundance/sundance-2015-the-end-of-the-tour | archive-date = January 7, 2019 | url-status = live}}

The Washington Post{{'}}s Ann Hornaday gave the film four out of four and called it, "A five-day conversation you won't want to end ... Part love story, part road trip, part elegy to a bygone, pre-9/11 age, 'The End of the Tour' brims with compassion and sharply honed insight" about "what it means to be human".{{cite news | last = Hornaday | first = Ann | title = 'The End of the Tour,' a five-day conversation you won't want to end | work = The Washington Post | date = August 6, 2015 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/the-end-of-the-tour-a-five-day-conversation-you-wont-want-to-end/2015/08/05/f1c75fce-3b78-11e5-9c2d-ed991d848c48_story.html | access-date = August 8, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171207122543/https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/the-end-of-the-tour-a-five-day-conversation-you-wont-want-to-end/2015/08/05/f1c75fce-3b78-11e5-9c2d-ed991d848c48_story.html | archive-date = December 7, 2017 | url-status = live}} In his review for Vanity Fair, Richard Lawson called it a "wise, humbly sublime film ... a profound, and profoundly affecting, movie, one that had me blubbering with happy-sad tears. What a pleasure to spend two hours in its company."{{cite news | last = Lawson | first = Richard | title = 'The End of the Tour Is a Deeply Affecting Tribute to a Cherished Writer, and a Huge Breakthrough for Jason Segel | work = Vanity Fair | date = January 25, 2015 | url = https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/01/end-of-the-tour-review | access-date = August 7, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200103050525/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/01/end-of-the-tour-review | archive-date = January 3, 2020 | url-status = live}}

In his review for the New York Daily News, Joe Neumaier awarded the film five out of five, calling it "one of the best movies of the year ... Director James Ponsoldt's smart, incisive and extraordinary drama is the kind of film that burrows into your head and leaves you illuminated about life and how to live it."{{cite news | last = Neumaier | first = Joe | title = 'The End of the Tour' review: One of the year's top films, with Jason Segel brilliant as author David Foster Wallace | work = New York Daily News | date = July 27, 2015 | url = http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/tour-review-year-top-films-article-1.2305773 | access-date = August 7, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150730031858/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/tour-review-year-top-films-article-1.2305773 | archive-date = July 30, 2015 | url-status = live}} In her review for the Los Angeles Times, Sheri Linden wrote "James Ponsoldt's magnificent The End of the Tour gives us two guys talking, and the effect is breathtaking."{{cite news | last = Linden | first = Sheri | title = 'The End of the Tour' is a riveting road-trip conversation with David Foster Wallace | work = Los Angeles Times | date = July 30, 2015 | url = https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-end-of-tour-review-20150731-story.html | access-date = August 8, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191230165633/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-end-of-tour-review-20150731-story.html | archive-date = December 30, 2019 | url-status = live}}

In his review for Cut Print Film, Josh Oakley awarded the film a perfect "10/10", calling it "one of the best films of the year", and stating "The End of the Tour presents, with ample evidence, Wallace as a figure who could never fill the holes of loneliness with the spackle of acclaim."{{cite news | last = Oakley | first = Josh | title = The End of the Tour | work = Cut Print Film| date = July 30, 2015 | url = http://www.cutprintfilm.com/reviews/the-end-of-the-tour/ | access-date = August 8, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150806051636/http://www.cutprintfilm.com/reviews/the-end-of-the-tour/ | archive-date = August 6, 2015 | url-status = live}} In his review for the Chicago Sun-Times, Richard Roeper awarded the film four out of four, calling it "brilliant ... this is one of the best movies of the year."{{cite news | last = Roeper | first = Richard | title = 'The End of the Tour': Infinitely impressed by Jason Segel | work = Chicago Sun-Times | date = August 6, 2015 | url = http://entertainment.suntimes.com/movies/end-tour-infinitely-impressed-jason-segel/ | access-date = August 21, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150810005525/http://entertainment.suntimes.com/movies/end-tour-infinitely-impressed-jason-segel/ | archive-date = August 10, 2015 | url-status = dead}} In his review for the Minnesota Star Tribune Colin Covert gave the film four out of four stars, writing, "Simply put, it is a masterwork."{{cite news | last = Covert | first = Colin | title = Jason Segel mesmerizes as David Foster Wallace in 'The End of the Tour' | work = Star Tribune | date = August 6, 2015 | url = http://www.startribune.com/review-jason-segel-mesmerizes-as-david-foster-wallace-in-the-end-of-the-tour/320923601/ | access-date = January 19, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151025004937/http://www.startribune.com/review-jason-segel-mesmerizes-as-david-foster-wallace-in-the-end-of-the-tour/320923601/ | archive-date = October 25, 2015 | url-status = live}}

The film featured in numerous "Best of 2015" lists, including The New York Times,{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/movies/best-movies-2015.html?_r=0 |title=Manohla Dargis, A. O. Scott, Stephen Holden, "The Best Movies of 2015", The New York Times, December 9, 2015. |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119052558/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/movies/best-movies-2015.html?_r=0 |archive-date=November 19, 2016 |url-status=live}} Vanity Fair,{{Cite web |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/12/best-films-of-2015 |title=Richard Lawson, "The 10 Best Movies of 2015", Vanity Fair, December 7, 2015. |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718134021/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/12/best-films-of-2015 |archive-date=July 18, 2017 |url-status=live}} Vogue,{{Cite web |url=http://www.vogue.com/13378950/10-best-movies-2015/ |title=John Powers, "The 10 Best Movies of 2015", Vogue, December 10, 2015. |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151215124218/http://www.vogue.com/13378950/10-best-movies-2015/ |archive-date=December 15, 2015 |url-status=live}} The Guardian,{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/ng-interactive/2015/dec/04/best-films-of-2015-us-america |title="The 50 best films of 2015 in the US: the full list", The Guardian, December 4, 2015. |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211061104/https://www.theguardian.com/film/ng-interactive/2015/dec/04/best-films-of-2015-us-america |archive-date=December 11, 2016 |url-status=live}} Entertainment Weekly,{{Cite web |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/12/09/best-of-2015-james-ponsoldt-end-of-tour |title=Ariana Bacle, "Best of 2015 (Behind the Scenes)", Entertainment Weekly, December 9, 2015 |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207074044/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/12/09/best-of-2015-james-ponsoldt-end-of-tour |archive-date=December 7, 2016 |url-status=live}} USA Today,{{Cite web |url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/12/the-10-best-movies-of-2015 |title="The 10 best movies of 2015", USA Today, December 14, 2015 |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151217021708/http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/12/the-10-best-movies-of-2015 |archive-date=December 17, 2015 |url-status=live}} Variety,{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/2015-underrated-movies-1201668235/ |title=Ramin Setoodeh, "The 13 Most Underrated Movies of 2015", Variety, December 28, 2015 |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221200510/http://variety.com/2015/film/news/2015-underrated-movies-1201668235/ |archive-date=December 21, 2017 |url-status=live}} The Washington Post,{{Cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-best-movies-of-2015-spotlight-love-and-mercy-creed-make-the-top-10/2015/12/08/132f0c58-99d3-11e5-94f0-9eeaff906ef3_story.html |title=Ann Hornaday, "The Best Movies of 2015", The Washington Post, December 8, 2015 |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229004825/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-best-movies-of-2015-spotlight-love-and-mercy-creed-make-the-top-10/2015/12/08/132f0c58-99d3-11e5-94f0-9eeaff906ef3_story.html |archive-date=December 29, 2015 |url-status=live}} Huffington Post,{{Cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/best-performances-of-2015_56783bc7e4b06fa6887e0a72 |title=Matthew Jacobs, "The 23 Best Performances Of 2015 Across Pop Culture", The Huffington Post, December 21, 2015 |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113022305/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/best-performances-of-2015_56783bc7e4b06fa6887e0a72 |archive-date=January 13, 2016 |url-status=live}} Wired,{{Cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/12/the-10-best-movies-you-missed-2015/ |title=Wired Staff, "The 10 Best Movies You Probably Didn't See in 2015", Wired, December 23, 2015 |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228162305/https://www.wired.com/2015/12/the-10-best-movies-you-missed-2015// |archive-date=December 28, 2016 |url-status=live}} and The New Republic.{{Cite web |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/126742/tim-griersons-top-ten-films-2015 |title=Tim Grierson, "Tim Grierson's Top Ten Films of 2015", The New Republic. December 30, 2015 |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105224951/https://newrepublic.com/article/126742/tim-griersons-top-ten-films-2015 |archive-date=January 5, 2016 |url-status=live}}

• 2010 NPR Best Books of the Year
• 2010 New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice
• 2010 New York Times bestseller
• 2009 National Magazine Award

{{reflist|2}}

• [http://nymag.com/arts/books/bookclub/although-of-course/ New York magazine Book Club and Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself]
• [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/david-lipsky-8-4-15/id814550071?i=1000355861335 David Lipsky on The Moment with Brian Koppelman about Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself and The End of the Tour]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101126224857/http://www.thetakeaway.org/2010/jul/01/start-conversation-david-lipsky-david-foster-wallace/ David Lipsky on The Takeaway about David Foster Wallace – audio clips]
• [http://americanfiction.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/qa-david-lipsky/ Lipsky at American Fiction Notes for Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself]
• {{IMDb title|qid=Q16250123|title=The End of the Tour}}
• {{Rotten Tomatoes|qid=Q16250123|title=The End of the Tour}}
• {{Metacritic film|title=The End of the Tour|qid=Q16250123}}
• [https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/the-lost-years-and-last-days-of-david-foster-wallace-883224/ Rolling Stone magazine David Foster Wallace profile by David Lipsky]
• [https://www.npr.org/2011/07/15/131915812/the-weird-and-the-wonderful-2010s-hidden-gems NPR Best Books of 2010 Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself]
• [https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/david-foster-wallace-isnt-just-like-us Richard Brody in The New Yorker on Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself and The End of the Tour]
• [https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/episodes/end-tour-david-foster-wallace David Lipsky on NPR's On The Media speaking about Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself and The End of the Tour]

{{David Lipsky}}

{{David Foster Wallace}}

Category:2010 non-fiction books

Category:Biographies about writers

Category:Autobiographies adapted into films

Category:Broadway Books books