Reply #23: I read that he did actual research

[DeepBlueC]

...on campus. More than one I gather. I think the suggestion is that Dupont=Duke, although everyone on either side who is asked denies it. Yes,it's the big gun big athletic uni in general, of course, but I see Duke in the general profile, academic distinction, athletic prominence, location, the first two letters of the name ... A lot of what he learned about contemporary sexual mores was a big surprise to him, I remember reading. But for my money he got it all down and he got inside that girl's head good. I love Tom Wolfe, but, like you, as I read I kept saying to myself "I can't believe that HE wrote this ...I can't believe a GUY wrote it." This is very recognizable as girl-thought, girl reaction.

Have you read Prep? You will like that too.