The aim of this book is to illustrate that ostentatious ‘caring’ is but egotistical indulgence. Conspicuous compassion is a symptom of a fragmented society that has exchanged reason for emotion, action for gesture, cool reserve for mawkish sentimentality, individual conscience for bovine ‘liberal-left’ conformity. In turn, conspicuous compassion can actually harm the vulnerable—whether they be alleged paedophiles, the homeless or Africa’s poor.