WRITER
David Foster Wallace
1962 - 2008

David Foster Wallace
David Foster Wallace (February 21, 1962 – September 12, 2008) was an American writer and professor who published novels, short stories, and essays. He is best known for his 1996 novel Infinite Jest, which Time magazine named one of the 100 best English-language novels published from 1923 to 2005. In 2008, David Ulin wrote for the Los Angeles Times that Wallace was "one of the most influential and innovative writers of the last twenty years". Wallace grew up in Illinois. Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. David Foster Wallace is the 3,669th most popular writer (down from 2,983rd in 2019), the 5,293rd most popular biography from United States (down from 3,764th in 2019) and the 410th most popular American Writer.
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Page views of David Foster Wallace by language
Among WRITERS
Among writers, David Foster Wallace ranks 3,669 out of 7,302. Before him are Alaa Al Aswany, Alexandru Macedonski, Lisa Tetzner, Ram Prasad Bismil, Yan Lianke, and Nikolay Ogarev. After him are Alain Chartier, Robert B. Spencer, Penelope Fitzgerald, James A. Michener, Rose Wilder Lane, and Octavia E. Butler.
Most Popular Writers in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsAlaa Al Aswany
1957 - Present
HPI: 58.81
Rank: 3,663
Alexandru Macedonski
1854 - 1920
HPI: 58.81
Rank: 3,664
Lisa Tetzner
1894 - 1963
HPI: 58.81
Rank: 3,665
Ram Prasad Bismil
1897 - 1927
HPI: 58.80
Rank: 3,666
Yan Lianke
1958 - Present
HPI: 58.80
Rank: 3,667
Nikolay Ogarev
1813 - 1877
HPI: 58.80
Rank: 3,668
David Foster Wallace
1962 - 2008
HPI: 58.80
Rank: 3,669
Alain Chartier
1392 - 1430
HPI: 58.80
Rank: 3,670
Robert B. Spencer
1962 - Present
HPI: 58.79
Rank: 3,671
Penelope Fitzgerald
1916 - 2000
HPI: 58.79
Rank: 3,672
James A. Michener
1907 - 1997
HPI: 58.79
Rank: 3,673
Rose Wilder Lane
1886 - 1968
HPI: 58.79
Rank: 3,674
Octavia E. Butler
1947 - 2006
HPI: 58.78
Rank: 3,675
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1962, David Foster Wallace ranks 158. Before him are Victor Pelevin, Nigmatilla Yuldashev, Maruschka Detmers, Karel Roden, Tariq Ramadan, and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. After him are Robert B. Spencer, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Kim Vilfort, Maryna Poroshenko, Victoria Ruffo, and Thomas Gibson. Among people deceased in 2008, David Foster Wallace ranks 183. Before him are Yuri Rytkheu, Anton Allemann, Albert Cossery, Arthur Chung, Peter Poreku Dery, and Boris Yefimov. After him are Ja'afar of Negeri Sembilan, Antonio Innocenti, Freddie Hubbard, Galyani Vadhana, Robert Prosky, and René Harris.
Others Born in 1962
Go to all RankingsVictor Pelevin
WRITER
1962 - Present
HPI: 59.00
Rank: 152
Nigmatilla Yuldashev
POLITICIAN
1962 - Present
HPI: 58.86
Rank: 153
Maruschka Detmers
ACTOR
1962 - Present
HPI: 58.85
Rank: 154
Karel Roden
ACTOR
1962 - Present
HPI: 58.84
Rank: 155
Tariq Ramadan
PHILOSOPHER
1962 - Present
HPI: 58.84
Rank: 156
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
POLITICIAN
1962 - Present
HPI: 58.83
Rank: 157
David Foster Wallace
WRITER
1962 - 2008
HPI: 58.80
Rank: 158
Robert B. Spencer
WRITER
1962 - Present
HPI: 58.79
Rank: 159
Sırrı Süreyya Önder
FILM DIRECTOR
1962 - 2025
HPI: 58.76
Rank: 160
Kim Vilfort
SOCCER PLAYER
1962 - Present
HPI: 58.72
Rank: 161
Maryna Poroshenko
PHYSICIAN
1962 - Present
HPI: 58.70
Rank: 162
Victoria Ruffo
ACTOR
1962 - Present
HPI: 58.68
Rank: 163
Thomas Gibson
ACTOR
1962 - Present
HPI: 58.68
Rank: 164
Others Deceased in 2008
Go to all RankingsYuri Rytkheu
WRITER
1930 - 2008
HPI: 58.98
Rank: 177
Anton Allemann
SOCCER PLAYER
1936 - 2008
HPI: 58.97
Rank: 178
Albert Cossery
WRITER
1913 - 2008
HPI: 58.95
Rank: 179
Arthur Chung
POLITICIAN
1918 - 2008
HPI: 58.89
Rank: 180
Peter Poreku Dery
RELIGIOUS FIGURE
1918 - 2008
HPI: 58.88
Rank: 181
Boris Yefimov
PAINTER
1900 - 2008
HPI: 58.87
Rank: 182
David Foster Wallace
WRITER
1962 - 2008
HPI: 58.80
Rank: 183
Ja'afar of Negeri Sembilan
POLITICIAN
1922 - 2008
HPI: 58.74
Rank: 184
Antonio Innocenti
RELIGIOUS FIGURE
1915 - 2008
HPI: 58.72
Rank: 185
Freddie Hubbard
MUSICIAN
1938 - 2008
HPI: 58.72
Rank: 186
Galyani Vadhana
NOBLEMAN
1923 - 2008
HPI: 58.69
Rank: 187
Robert Prosky
ACTOR
1930 - 2008
HPI: 58.69
Rank: 188
René Harris
POLITICIAN
1947 - 2008
HPI: 58.69
Rank: 189
In United States
Among people born in United States, David Foster Wallace ranks 5,293 out of 20,380. Before him are Sable (1967), Lauren German (1978), James Crafts (1839), Ram Dass (1931), Betty Holberton (1917), and Alexander Payne (1961). After him are Martha Jefferson Randolph (1772), Mary Surratt (1823), Alice Coltrane (1937), Robert B. Spencer (1962), Susana Martinez (1959), and Michael Moriarty (1941).
Others born in United States
Go to all RankingsSable
MODEL
1967 - Present
HPI: 58.81
Rank: 5,287
Lauren German
ACTOR
1978 - Present
HPI: 58.81
Rank: 5,288
James Crafts
CHEMIST
1839 - 1917
HPI: 58.81
Rank: 5,289
Ram Dass
PHILOSOPHER
1931 - 2019
HPI: 58.80
Rank: 5,290
Betty Holberton
COMPUTER SCIENTIST
1917 - 2001
HPI: 58.80
Rank: 5,291
Alexander Payne
FILM DIRECTOR
1961 - Present
HPI: 58.80
Rank: 5,292
David Foster Wallace
WRITER
1962 - 2008
HPI: 58.80
Rank: 5,293
Martha Jefferson Randolph
POLITICIAN
1772 - 1836
HPI: 58.80
Rank: 5,294
Mary Surratt
EXTREMIST
1823 - 1865
HPI: 58.80
Rank: 5,295
Alice Coltrane
MUSICIAN
1937 - 2007
HPI: 58.79
Rank: 5,296
Robert B. Spencer
WRITER
1962 - Present
HPI: 58.79
Rank: 5,297
Susana Martinez
POLITICIAN
1959 - Present
HPI: 58.79
Rank: 5,298
Michael Moriarty
ACTOR
1941 - Present
HPI: 58.79
Rank: 5,299
Among WRITERS In United States
Among writers born in United States, David Foster Wallace ranks 410. Before him are Brandon Sanderson (1975), L. J. Smith (1965), Gary Snyder (1930), William Goldman (1931), Howard Pyle (1853), and Katherine Anne Porter (1890). After him are Robert B. Spencer (1962), James A. Michener (1907), Rose Wilder Lane (1886), Octavia E. Butler (1947), Steve Berry (1955), and Charles Fort (1874).
Brandon Sanderson
1975 - Present
HPI: 58.93
Rank: 404
L. J. Smith
1965 - 2025
HPI: 58.88
Rank: 405
Gary Snyder
1930 - Present
HPI: 58.88
Rank: 406
William Goldman
1931 - 2018
HPI: 58.86
Rank: 407
Howard Pyle
1853 - 1911
HPI: 58.84
Rank: 408
Katherine Anne Porter
1890 - 1980
HPI: 58.82
Rank: 409
David Foster Wallace
1962 - 2008
HPI: 58.80
Rank: 410
Robert B. Spencer
1962 - Present
HPI: 58.79
Rank: 411
James A. Michener
1907 - 1997
HPI: 58.79
Rank: 412
Rose Wilder Lane
1886 - 1968
HPI: 58.79
Rank: 413
Octavia E. Butler
1947 - 2006
HPI: 58.78
Rank: 414
Steve Berry
1955 - Present
HPI: 58.78
Rank: 415
Charles Fort
1874 - 1932
HPI: 58.76
Rank: 416