But many share the left's sense of human vulnerability, and a surprising number have a weakness for psychobabble.

ECONOMIST: Lexington

The psychobabble of bereavement books bemuses him and all the classical wisdom that he has learnt and passed on to generations of students cannot help.

ECONOMIST: Grief in fiction

Brits seem to be more interested in pragmatic advice than psychobabble.

ECONOMIST: How to succeed in publishing