The good, the bad, and the ugly books I have read recently

Do you really think Sager wants to see his book to be thought of like Frank's? I tend to see Sager's book as possibly prescient and a good warning.

I see Frank's book as "why can't these stupid people think like me?" I could be wrong, but I am not aware of any major predictions that Frank has made.

The smackdown of Stiglitz that you quote from Mallaby is really priceless. I love it!

Your comment about the Goodwin book is very intriguing to me as a non-academic. Having read the Posner comment you linked, I think it's fair to draw a clear distinction between using RAs to develop content (and not attributing the content to them) and using someone else's ideas and content without their consent. In the first case, nobody is really being shortchanged - the RAs presumably consent to having their work used in this fashion - and the ideas in the book can rise and fall on their own merits.

I can't be as detached in the case of nonconsensual idea / content usage for the same reason that I wouldn't be impressed with a philanthropist who gives away money that he steals for a good cause - the content isn't the author's to distribute, even if the content is excellent.

I wonder if my perspective is different because I am in management in the consulting industry where it's pretty much common practice to have relatively nameless people developing content that we deliver to clients. This feels a lot like the RA writing approach - senior people shape [and deliver] the content which is produced by junior people. This is pretty much the way of the world in business and while academics may be naturally uncomfortable with it, it doesn't seem too bad to me.

...this great short book by my co-blogger...

You have a co-blogger?