"The Greatest" uses an "absolute adjusting slugging percentage" relative to the era in which each player played to rank the greatest players in history. This eliminates the problem of comparing statistics due to the dead ball era, rule changes such as the mound being raised and the strike zone widened from 1963 to 1968, domed stadiums, and the enhanced vitamin era of the 1990's and 2000's. The book also used "absolute defensive statistics" to determine who the greatest defensive players were at each position. Contrary to public opinion it was discovered that Derek Jeter, for example, was a poor defensive shortstop due to poor statistical range. Finally, the book ranks the greatest pitchers in history by comparing the earned run average relative to the era in which each pitched. Greg Maddux, for example, had two of the top five single seasons of all time using this unique objective method.