If a book (e.g., an autobiography by a famous person) does not list a ghost writer is here any effective way to ascertain whether a ghost writer was involved in writing it?
Probably not. This video suggests the person may be credited as a research assistant in a given book's publishing details.
Also, if the book indicates "As Told By..." which I haven't seen (or remember personally seeing) in the wilds of a bookstore.
That's a big clue that the book was ghost written.