The Nation ' s Katha Pollitt takes Putnam 's very example , the shift from league bowling to ad hoc bowling , and suggests that [ that ] story could be told as one of happy progress from a drink-sodden night of spouse-avoidance with the same old faces from work to temperate and spontaneous fun with one 's intimate friends and family .
Retelling the story in a more positive light will make it much more successful .