"How Are We to Live" is a collection of short stories, which could be seen as a letdown for some readers expecting a more cohesive narrative like a novel. This format may undermine the perceived authority of the work, suggesting that the author is still striving for literary recognition rather than achieving it.
In Alice Munro's "Too Much Happiness," this sentiment reflects a broader critique of literary formats. The expectation for a novel's depth and continuity can create a bias against shorter works, even though they can offer rich storytelling and profound insights in their own right.