--- product_id: 111536145 title: "This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life Kindle Edition" brand: "david foster wallace" price: "S$18" currency: SGD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.sg/products/111536145-this-is-water-some-thoughts-delivered-on-a-significant-occasion store_origin: SG region: Singapore --- # This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life Kindle Edition **Brand:** david foster wallace **Price:** S$18 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life Kindle Edition by david foster wallace - **How much does it cost?** S$18 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sg](https://www.desertcart.sg/products/111536145-this-is-water-some-thoughts-delivered-on-a-significant-occasion) ## Best For - david foster wallace enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted david foster wallace brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Full description not available ## Images ![This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life Kindle Edition - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31AySXF0a4L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I like it. The only problem is the author's translation ... *by A***R on Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2017* I like it. The only problem is the author's translation of the Commencement Speech. In other words, he "substitutes" words in which David Foster Wallace did not "truly state" in the actual speech which changes the original commencement speech into a partially an interpreted commencement speech but most of it - I hope - stays true to the commencement speech, "verbatim". One example of this is on pg. 131 which states,"It is about the real value of a real education, which has nothing to do with "grades or degrees" - this is written in this text, this book, but in the actual commencement speech at the instance of him speaking, he states, "it is about the real value of a real education, which has almost nothing to do with knowledge, . . .". The text itself in this particular book doesn't state "verbatim" of the actual commencement speech at that particular time and place that took place in 2005. Compare the recorded speech and the actual text of this book - you might see small differences which becomes a slightly, partially, and interpreted work and not a "verbatim" text with the "actual commencement speech". ### ⭐ A great speech, but do not buy the Kindle version *by D***O on Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2017* Do not buy the Kindle version. It is a great speech, but in the Kindle version the formatting is awful. There are only a few lines or words on most pages, so you have to continually keep turning pages for what should be an easy read. Also, the Kindle version is way overpriced. It is the transcript of a 23-minute commencement address, for gosh sake, but it costs the same as most 200-page novels. You can read the text online or listen to the full speech on YouTube. I could kick myself for wasting $9.99 on it. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ These Are Words To Live By *by A***Y on Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2019* I honestly do not even know where to begin in describing this book. Fosters concise insights into the human condition are a revelation. I've purchased this book several times as a gift for friends, family, and co-workers because of my belief in the usefulness of this book. That's a funny way to describe a book isn't it? Useful. Certainly books can expand the mind and offer new ways of thinking about things, but often the enlightenment they offer is not practical. Plato's Republic is bound to give you plenty to think about and illuminate your understanding the human condition, but how can you truly put those lessons to use in the modern era? This is Water is a guide to life. Foster offers scenarios we are all familiar with and our reactions to them. He then proposes an alternate approach to these mundane activities that can relieve the stress and tension they so often create. My two takeaways from this book would be mindfulness and humility. Mindfulness in understanding that you are not alone in how you feel and that unknown circumstances you could sympathize with may be at factor in your interaction with others. Humility in that you do not know everything and that you are not the center of the universe. The ideas in This is Water are bound to be so obvious that you might dismiss it altogether, but that's the point. Foster explains how often it's the things right in front of us that we take for granted and the solution is putting that understanding in the forefront of our thoughts more often. William S. Burroughs famously said "The job of the artist is to show you what you already know." And in my opinion Foster satisfies that function. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.sg/products/111536145-this-is-water-some-thoughts-delivered-on-a-significant-occasion](https://www.desertcart.sg/products/111536145-this-is-water-some-thoughts-delivered-on-a-significant-occasion) --- *Product available on Desertcart Singapore* *Store origin: SG* *Last updated: 2026-09-04*