We in the social service industry which includes the religion business already know that wealth does not equate with happiness. I can drive you past some of the finest homes in places I have done ministry and tell you stories of how wealth does not translate into happiness. On the other hand, we should recognize that those with wealth are also most likely to be among the happiest and healthiest among us. The value in the book is not its dealing with the down side of luxury, but with economics.
Most clergy are greatly deficient in two major areas.
One is science, the other, economics. Since the Judeo-Christian Bible has so much to say about both cosmology and materialism, you would think that clergy would be more informed about these areas. Not being an economist I cannot judge whether Frank's outlook has merit. Whether his conclusions are valid do not take away from the educative value of the book. He invokes the name of Adam Smith in ways that Christians invoke the name of Jesus Christ.