"We live in an age of conspicuous compassion. We sport empathy ribbons, send flowers ... weep in public ... go on demonstrations ... This book's thesis is that such displays of empathy do not change the world for the better: they do not help the poor, diseased, dispossessed or bereaved. Our culture of ostentatious caring is about projecting your ego and informing others about what a deeply caring individual you are. It is about feeling good, not doing good, and illustrates not how altruistic we have become, but how selfish ... "-from Back Cover.