This collection investigates the complex intersection of compassion as both a private emotional experience and a public political instrument. Edited by Lauren Gail Berlant, the text gathers contributions from ten scholars who examine how compassion functions within social structures, literature, and psychoanalytic frameworks. By analyzing various case studies, the authors argue that compassion is not merely a benign sentiment but a historically contingent practice that shapes political identity and social hierarchy.

Scholars and students of cultural theory frequently cite this work for its rigorous interrogation of how emotions are institutionalized. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for advanced study in sociology and political theory.