Economics got a bad reputation during the financial crisis. At least part of the problem is that some people keep holding on to some very bad ideas, or theories that just don't work except on paper.
As with much in life these days the matter is polarized. Helping to keep the debate amiable are Bruno S. Frey and David Iselin who recently edited and published Economic Ideas You Should Forget. It's a book of short essays by a slew of economists and other experts. They include such notables as Robert Frank (Cornell,) Alan Blinder (Princeton,) and Jeffrey Sachs (Columbia.) Of course, there are many others. Read more here.