Ghostwritten books of the past, and a poll: Who's being ghosted now?

In a twist on Halloween, the online bookseller Abebooks has collected its top 10 ghostwritten books. The best story -- although perhaps the worst-written -- is of actress Hedy Lamarr. Although she was listed as the sole author of her memoir, "Ecstasy and Me," she found it so riddled with lies -- penned by ghostwriter Leo Guild -- that she sued the publisher. Whoops.

Some very literary writers worked as ghostwriters: Nobel Prize winner Sinclair Lewis, Larry McMurtry and H.P. Lovecraft, who wrote a book for Harry Houdini.

These days, there are plenty of celebrities putting out books. Some of those books share credit with the writer who does the sentence-lifting -- like Neil Strauss, who co-wrote memoirs by Marilyn Manson, Jenna Jameson and Dave Navarro. His name appears on the covers of their books.

But not all high-profile people who publish books name a coauthor. Do you think they're sitting down at the laptop, day after day? Or is it possible any of these authors has a ghost -- ephemeral, invisible -- typing away, behind the scenes? Cast your vote for the book you think is most likely to have been ghostwritten.

-- Carolyn Kellogg

Photos: left, Lauren Conrad; credit, Kristian Dowling / Getty Images. Right: Howard Stern, credit: Getty Images

Comments

[Mike San Angelo]

I love Neil Strauss' writings. More then just the books listed that he ghost wrote, he also has had several of his own semi biographical of his own life... Love "THE GAME" Neil you are the coolest 5'3,bald Jewish Author I know! lol.

Mike San Angelo

[Charles]

All of them are ghost-written.