Stiglitz briefly prefaces his scathing rebuke of IMF policies with the reminder that globalization is not all it was cracked up to be. International economics sees increasing poverty, and increasing disparity between economic classes. Sure, you can buy a Gucci in Moscow now...if you're in the top 1% of Russian incomes. This work is very straightforward, and the reader does not have to be an expert in the field to understand its basic argument. In all, Stiglitz may not provide the definitive answer, but he does probe further than many have been willing to do. This book has really enhanced my understanding of international macroeconomics and the work of the IMF.