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Poverty Safari

Understanding the Anger of Britain's Underclass
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( 6,019 ratings, 526 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Poverty Safari by Darren McGarvey explores the author’s personal experiences of poverty in Scotland, providing a raw and insightful journey through the social, political, and economic issues that impact the working class. McGarvey combines personal narrative with broader analysis to challenge existing perceptions and advocate for understanding and action.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might like this book if you are interested in exploring the real-life experiences and perspectives of those living in poverty, with a focus on the author's personal journey and insights into socio-economic issues. It's a powerful narrative that combines personal memoir with a broader social critique, giving voice to often unheard communities.

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Poverty Safari

Winner of the Orwell Prize 2018.

Winner of the Orwell Prize 2018.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
by Darren McGarvey is a remarkably compelling mix of memoir and social commentary, delivering an unfiltered look into the harsh realities of life in Britain's most deprived communities. McGarvey, also known as the rapper Loki, masterfully interweaves his own experiences growing up in poverty with a broader critique of the systemic issues that perpetuate economic and social exclusion. In this riveting book, McGarvey invites readers on a metaphorical "safari" through his world—not to observe passively from a distance, but to engage deeply with the suffering, anger, and resilience found in communities that society often overlooks. Combining personal anecdotes with incisive analysis, McGarvey exposes the myriad ways poverty impacts health, education, and social mobility, challenging preconceptions held by both the left and right political spectrums. is a savage, wise, and witty tour-de-force that does more than just lay bare the stark realities of systemic poverty; it offers a provocative critique of how society’s policy makers and influencers have failed the most vulnerable populations. McGarvey argues that if meaningful change is to occur, the voices of those directly affected by poverty must be heard and acknowledged. Renowned author J.K. Rowling hails it as "hard to think of a more timely, powerful, or necessary book." Indeed, in an era marked by growing inequality and social upheaval, McGarvey’s insights are both urgent and indispensable. McGarvey doesn't just identify the problems; he points to the necessity of empathy in understanding struggles you may never live through. His raw and insightful prose does not shy away from depicting the daily adversities faced by those in poverty while critically examining societal attitudes and governmental policies.

Poverty Safari has received widespread acclaim:

"Nothing less than an intellectual and spiritual rehab manual for the progressive left," says Irvine Welsh.

"Poverty Safari is one of the best accounts of working-class life I have read. A scan of the injuries poverty leaves in Britain, which manages to be humane, angry, and wise all at the same time. McGarvey is a rarity: a working-class writer who has fought to make the middle-class world hear what he has to say." - Nick Cohen.

For anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by millions in Britain, or seeking a call to action to address and rectify these systemic issues, Poverty Safari is indispensable reading.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Poverty Safari by Darren McGarvey is praised for its unflinching and honest depiction of systemic poverty, drawing from McGarvey's own turbulent upbringing. Reviewers commend its powerful political message, challenging conventional perspectives on poverty from both the left and right. The book is described as an essential and timely contribution to current debates, often noted for its raw, articulate, and emotional prose that brings much-needed attention to working-class struggles.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529006346

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 09 August 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Picador

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 177g

Pages: 240

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About the Author

Darren McGarvey aka Loki grew up in Pollok. He is a writer, performer, columnist and former rapper-in-residence at Police Scotland's Violence Reduction Unit. He has presented eight programmes for BBC Scotland exploring the root causes of anti-social behaviour and social deprivation.

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