Compassion has become a commodity whose possession marks us as a better person, or better than other people.

Writer and commentator Helen Razer diagnoses society with compassion fatigue – and the physical burn out, trauma and psychological depletion is real.

Helen Razer is a writer, broadcaster and commentator who is now chiefly engaged in the work of writing on social and cultural matters. She works with Crikey, The Saturday Paper and a range of publications who permit her to say terrible things. Her fifth book, A Short History of Stupid, remains a best-seller and was recently shortlisted for the NSW State Library's inaugural Russell Prize.