Entertaining， smart and never condescending -- that's the real trick， isn't it？ To be fascinated by something and learn so much about it that you write about it with a degree of honest， well-reported scrutiny that is both revealing and empathetic。 Bravo to colleague and friend Amy Argetsinger for a fast， absorbing read about an institution that always seems to be on the verge of outliving itself。 Entertaining， smart and never condescending -- that's the real trick， isn't it？ To be fascinated by something and learn so much about it that you write about it with a degree of honest， well-reported scrutiny that is both revealing and empathetic。 Bravo to colleague and friend Amy Argetsinger for a fast， absorbing read about an institution that always seems to be on the verge of outliving itself。 。。。more