This very short book is actually a transcript of a commencement speech given in 2005 by the late David Foster Wallace, an author celebrated as one of the best in recent American history. Is it a bit weird to read a commencement speech the summer before you even take your first college class? Maybe. But maybe this is a chance to “begin with the end in mind,” to think about what we all hope to gain (beyond a degree) from our time on the 40 Acres. A little bit philosophical, a little bit funny, This is Water gives us a lot to think about, especially for a book that can be read during a short break from packing up our childhood bedrooms.