Americans are sexually hypocritical
The first story, "Big Red Son," articulates this theme emphatically by exposing the salacious behavior of both the men and women in the pornography industry, drawing attention to the sleazy misogyny of the men and nasty attitudes and behavior of the women. Then, he reminds the reader how much money Americans spend to keep the industry alive. He even comments on the endowedness of the male performers as a commentary on how unhealthy it is to indulge in fake relationships instead of practicing true sexuality.
There is a standard for artistry in both fiction and non-fiction
In "How Tracy Austin Broke My Heart," Wallace decries the sports-writing industry for consistently publishing such lack-luster and saccharine biographies. He takes special offense at Austin's biography because he really liked her.
In "Certainly the End of Something or Another, One Would Sort of Have to Think," Wallace writes a scathing, brutal critique of Updike's novel, The End of Time, essentially saying that the Updike stopped making actual art several novels ago, and the only real reason Wallace can find for why Updike's main character is so miserable is that he is a jerk.
These two instances are just a few of many in the book where Wallace is turning his critical gaze on the literary world and agonizing over the terrible art that people are subjected to.
Words are weird, and it matters
Although admittedly nerdy, Wallace's essay on American usage makes a serious case for the importance of understanding the theory behind grammars and dictionaries, since the way we view language tends to shape and be shaped by our view of the world.
Political views in America aren't nuanced enough
Wallace becomes political in the stories, "View from Mrs. Thompson's" and "Up, Simba." The first is a challenging response to the American propaganda that was so successful in the heartlands following the 9/11 attacks. The second is an exposé of how American politics actually works in realtime, focusing on the social manipulation and contortion that proceeds actual policy in America.
The American ethic is tricky and maybe wrong
In the title story, Wallace explores the culinary controversy surrounding the ethical treatments of lobsters. His view isn't clear on exactly where he falls in that argument, but his argument aside from the ethical treatment of animals is clear: There is no consistent value system for Americans to discuss pleasure, pain and moral behavior. Broadly speaking, the arguments for the ethical treatment of animals are similar in nature to the complex arguments surrounding many political divides in modern U.S. politics.
