The book argues that accountants overemphasise cost and liquidation value, ignore cashflow and value to a going concern; that they would 'rather be precisely wrong than roughly right'. They therefore distort the values of many tangible and intangible assets, and overstate goodwill, with serious distorting effect. The book supports these arguments, illustrates the harm they do, and discusses how values, and their impact, vary - depending on the party banker, shareholder and situation.