Most readers have a difficult time in comprehending what Keynes has to say. Most of the readers I doubt hold graduate degrees either. The fact is that this book was written by somebody who was an econ prof. for other econ profs. When some yokel with a GED rants about the difficulty of TGT, I find it very hard to take them seriosuly. This is not to say, however, that Keynes cannot be read or comprehened. Many top colleges require reading parts or the whole of TGT for undergrad Econ studies. The book is difficult to read, however it is not written in code. If you approach this book expecting a read like that found in Dr. Suess's works, you will certainly be overwhelmed. If you take your time reading this book, and in points, re-reading this book, you will have gained an exceptional amount of knowledge.
Many critics here who pan TGT, both in type and in it's rating, do so because they don't comprehend the books meaning, and are nothing more than reactionaries who see Keynes as a figurehead, representing everything that has gone wrong, both in the world, and here in the US. I find it very difficult to accept a critical review of a book when the reviewer does not point out where the book failed. Instead, most tend to be more critical of the man as a whole, and most reviews are not of the book, but of Keynes's general policies.
Many reviewers tend to give the impression that the theories found in TGT have been somehow debunked, and that TGT is no longer accepted as a very important work in economics. Nothing could be further from the truth. While it is important to note that Keynes was not right 100% of the time, no economic theorist is. However, that having been said, much of what Keynes theorized is still taught in collegate macroeconomics today, and that his theories of Aggregate Demand, and the propensity to consume still play an important role in macroeconomics. No examination into macroeconomic theory can be taught without a lengthy discussion of Keynesian postulates, and macroeconomics itself is a development of Keynesian Economics.
To those interested in this book, it is important to have a few, at least introductory, college level economics classes under your belt before attempting to read TGT. Be prepared for a challege, but be prepared to gain a great deal of insight into modern macroeconomic thought as well.
