The re-election of Mr Sharon is a case in point.

ECONOMIST: Israel and Palestine

At the cabinet meeting that night, Mr Peres tried to make the case, but Mr Sharon was having none of it.

ECONOMIST: Israel's war on terror

While self-help books on the brain tend to focus on improving memory or mood, "The Emotional Life of Your Brain, " written with science journalist Sharon Begley, a former Wall Street Journal reporter, makes the case that we can reprogram our brains to help shed negativity and lead a better and more productive life.

WSJ: Healthy Reader: The Emotional Life of Your Brain

Mr Lewis joined Haringey last month to replace Sharon Shoesmith, who was sacked over failings exposed by the Baby P case.

BBC: Baby P council pleads for staff

Sharon Campbell, a trainer for a software company in New York, recently made a case for a raise following her performance review, pointing to contributions she'd made for the company and reiterating accolades she received during her review.

WSJ: It Can Be Done: Landing a Raise In a Recession

Some of the kindest words for Mr Sharon have come from the leader of the Labour opposition, Shimon Peres, who has urged him to make his case to the nation.

ECONOMIST: Israel's Greek-island affair