I recollect myself that when speaking out in public about this book I was very quick to distance myself from his take on women. Indefensible. Yea....some home runs but some definite whiffs. (btw...I read about half of Ravelstein but just was not charmed enough to keep on.)
Assessing culture in America is a thankless task, whoever takes it on; too transitory, rather like the study of cicada swarming cycles.
One can explain the current noise but is left to guess how long it must be tolerated.