David Lipsky: 8/4/15

David Lipsky discusses his book *Although Of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself* and its adaptation into the film *The End of the Tour*, which documents his five-day interview with David Foster Wallace. The conversation examines the challenges of capturing a complex literary figure without resorting to hagiography or reductive biography. Key insights include the influence of Wallace’s work on contemporary writers, the distinction between fiction and nonfiction as career paths, and the pressure of competing with a perceived "genius." Lipsky reflects on the ethics of using transcripts to preserve Wallace’s voice, the personal impact of Wallace’s suicide, and the professional evolution of his own career, including his immersive reporting at West Point. The dialogue highlights the tension between artistic ambition and the reality of the literary marketplace, ultimately framing the interview as a profound exploration of what it means to be a writer.