It's not about finishing at 20%, it's having an actual clue what the whole thing is approximately going to be about after 1000 words. If you can't even achieve that, this is just bad, random word salad disguising as an essay.
A commentator upstream declared that there is only one purpose to writing: to impart information. I disagree strongly. That may be what that commentator expects from writing, but I'm in it for many possible things.
I like writing that tickles my fancy, or entertains. I like writing that teaches me something, even if it seems tangential to the purpose of the essay or book. I like writing that doesn't even try to teach me anything. I write a lot just to get my own thoughts clear---in my own head, not someone else's.
Not everything is for everyone, all of the time.
That's OK. You can just walk away, even without registering your opinion.
I think Justin's erudite and learned style provokes those who feel he thinks he's better than the reader. I've been reading him for a long time and nothing could be further from the truth. He just likes to write about things and sees connections where others would not.
Sometimes it takes a while to explain those connections.
I'm almost done with the book he wrote about. I quite like it and have learned a lot.