Essays aren't science, and shouldn't be held to the same intellectual standard. They don't have to be self-contained packets of truth, because we are reading them to be entertained, and are supposed to be discerning consumers of information, capable of filtering out others' over-generalizations and strained metaphors.

Obviously, it's best if an essay is both truthful and entertaining, but if an author decides to trade scientific precision to achieve a more vibrant story, that's fine with me. The world is far too big to stick to the facts.