David Foster Wallace on Tax Policy, How to Be an Adult, and Other Mysteries of the Universe

22 Pages Posted: 9 Sep 2015

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: 2015

Abstract

As one of the most highly acclaimed fiction writers of his generation, David Foster Wallace had many things to say on a seemingly endless variety of topics. In his last work, the unfinished novel The Pale King, he chose to elaborate on, of all things, tax policy and tax administration. Wallace directed tax topics at one of the novel’s main themes: true adulthood often involves overcoming boredom in the workplace to derive a sense of community and care for others. In a sense, the book serves as a guide on how to become a reasonably happy and fulfilled adult. This Article integrates archival research conducted by the author within the Collected Works of David Foster Wallace at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin.

Keywords: tax, tax policy, tax law, David Foster Wallace

Suggested Citation

Cockfield, Arthur, David Foster Wallace on Tax Policy, How to Be an Adult, and Other Mysteries of the Universe (2015). Pittsburgh Tax Review, Vol. 12, No. p. 89, 2015, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2658269

Arthur Cockfield (Contact Author)

Queen's University - Faculty of Law ( email )

Macdonald Hall
Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6 K7L3N6
Canada

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
184
Abstract Views
1,311
Rank
29,022
PlumX Metrics