Galbraith's book is interesting for at least one reason: he challenges conventional thought. More specifically, he challenges the very ideas that our economic system is built around.
Galbraith argues that throughout our (mankind's) history, we have been poor. True, there have been wealthy civilizations, but none compare to our modern, Western society. He goes on, arguing that our historical poverty has shaped our ideas (and institutions) that set up our economic system. To this extent, I believe that Galbraith is correct and worthy of praise. Galbraith seems to yearn for a new kind of economic system... perhaps one that allows inequality (he comments that without wealth, no one would be able to pay for the arts), yet eradicates abject poverty. Most people would probably agree with his criticisms.
But criticisms alone do not advance thought. Galbraith wants there to be a new, groundbreaking way we understand modern economics - yet he fails to conceive of one himself. His attempts to "break new ground" with economics are peripheral at best.
One can hope that Galbraith's criticisms will resonate with a genius amongst us (Nathan?) and that genius will allow us to understand economics in a modern world.
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