The author is correct in many ways. Publishing seems like a textbook example of "the longhouse." But even if his ideal author wrote his ideal novel, would any of his peers read it? Almost every educated, polite, and competent man in my life is a total philistine. He won't open a book unless there's a dragon on the cover or a colon in the title. It's definitely a chicken and egg problem.<p>The last time I worked alongside men (and women) who enjoyed nuanced literature was in a call center, which seemed to attract many fellow wordcels with minimal career prospects.