In Big Red Son, DFW refers in passing to "Barnum's axiom." I have been unable to track down an example of another person using those exact words. The "Barnum Effect" is the closest established phrase I've found, but it wouldn't make sense in context. Is it supposed to refer to the quote sometimes attibuted to Barnum, "No man ever went broke overestimating the ignorance of the American public," which Harold Hecuba revises into, "Nobody ever goes broke overestimating the rage and misogyny of the average American male" (35)? What gives?

I’m going on a short trip and need a quick book to take with me, it’s between “a supposedly fun thing I’ll never do again” and “something to do with laying attention”

I wanna know which you’d recommend, if at all, for a quick read

So far I’ve read infinite jest, consider the lobster, and both flesh and not, and have loved them all, so I’d like to know if anyone can help me decide