"What is in question is a kind of book reviewing which seems to be more and more popular: the loose putting down of opinions as though they were facts, and the treating of facts as though they were opinions"

Gore Vidal's quote reviews the current state of book evaluating, highlighting a troubling shift far from strenuous analysis to a more casual and biased format. This review exposes a deeper issue about the wider cultural and intellectual trends in media and communication.

Vidal explains two problematic propensities in contemporary book evaluating. First of all, there is the "loose putting down of opinions as though they were facts". This part of the quote shows a growing trend where subjective point of views are presented with the exact same weight and authority as unbiased realities. Viewpoints are inherently individual and subjective, yet when communicated as accurate assertions, they can deceive readers and misshape the public's understanding of a book's true value or meaning. This method weakens the important rigor and neutrality that ideally define literary criticism and review.

Secondly, Vidal keeps in mind the "dealing with of realities as though they were viewpoints". This suggests a dismissive mindset toward verifiable info, recommending that even established facts are open to interpretation or dispute. This relativism jeopardizes the stability of accurate analysis, enabling reviewers to cherry-pick or neglect information that does not line up with their personal biases or programs. Such practices can erode rely on literary discourse and alter public understanding, making it tough for audiences to form well-rounded, educated viewpoints about a work.

Vidal's critique is not simply about book reviewing but speaks to a more comprehensive cultural malaise in which the lines in between opinion and reality become blurred throughout different media. This blurring can have significant implications for public discourse, promoting a culture where misinformation can easily spread. It highlights the requirement for cautious, diligent scholarship and review practices that appreciate the borders between fact and opinion, thus keeping the integrity of both literary criticism and wider media communications.