"Managing Up" by Harvard Business Press

Full of common sense platitudes & tips like "Tip: Make your manager look good by achieving or exceeding goals". Is that the sort of profound insight I'd expect from a Harvard publication, or is that just common sense? It doesn't even touch on hard issues that we could use guidance on: how to tell you manager that you expect more compensation for exceeding goals. Suppose your boss is an ass & doesn't negotiate towards a "mutually beneficial outcome"? How do you handle a boss that is dishonest or a yes-man to his/her superiors? 

I've never been so underwhelmed by a book before.