100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Overnight NZ-wide delivery on in-stock orders 🚀

Poverty Safari

Understanding the Anger of Britain's Underclass
By Darren McGarvey
0.0 (0 reviews)
4.01 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating. ( 6,387 ratings, 550 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.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2499
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

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.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

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.

Book Hero reading reviews

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

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Darren McGarvey Education & Reference Finance & Economics Finance & Investment In Stock Books New Zealand's Best Selling Books Non-Fiction Politics & Current Affairs

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.

Also by Darren McGarvey

View all
  • Trauma Industrial Complex
    An eye-opening critique of the trauma industry from Orwell Prize-winning author Darren McGarvey, revealing the unexpected consequences of sharing his story and outlining the need for systemic change. The new book from the Orwell Prize-Winning author of Poverty Safari and The Social Distance Between Us Today, trauma permeates media, from music and television to films and books - my own...
    By Darren McGarvey
    Hardback
    $6000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Trauma Industrial Complex
    Pre-order
    Trauma Industrial Complex
    An eye-opening critique of the trauma industry from Orwell Prize-winning author Darren McGarvey, revealing the unexpected consequences of sharing his story and outlining the need for systemic change. Today, trauma is everywhere, and it seems like everybody has it. Trauma shapes public debates on education, criminal justice and healthcare. It's cited as a root cause of addiction, mental health issues,...
    By Darren McGarvey
    Paperback
    $3000
    Pre-order
    Out 27 Oct 2026

More from Politics & Current Affairs

View all
  • New Release
    Dylan's Pick Dylan's Pick
    One Last Question, Prime Minister
    From Muldoon to Luxon, untold stories from the House of Parliament Barry Soper has spent close to five decades questioning New Zealand's prime ministers.From the imposing, larger-than-life characters of Rob Muldoon and David Lange, to the golden age of Helen Clark and John Key, and the post-Covid era of Jacinda Ardern and the 'Chrises', Soper's insight and nose for a...
    By Barry Soper
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (6)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Regime Change
    From the two reporters who have covered him more closely than perhaps anyone else over the past decade comes this definitive portrait of Donald Trump in the White House and the first year of his second presidency. Based on hundreds of interviews and unprecedented reporting from deep within the administration’s most closely guarded rooms, Regime Change takes the reader into...
    By Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $4299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    A Different Kind of Power
    #1 New Zealand bestseller #1 Amazon bestseller #2 Audible bestseller #3 New York Times bestseller #3 Sunday Times bestseller #4 Australian bestseller From the former prime minister of New Zealand, then the world’s youngest female head of government and just the second to give birth in office, comes a deeply personal memoir chronicling her extraordinary rise and offering inspiration to...
    By Jacinda Ardern
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • A Different Kind of Power
    Ockham Winner
    A Different Kind of Power
    What if we could redefine leadership? What if kindness came first? Jacinda Ardern grew up the daughter of a police officer in small-town New Zealand, but as the 40th Prime Minister of her country, she commanded global respect for her empathetic leadership that put people first. This is the remarkable story of how a Mormon girl plagued by self-doubt made...
    By Jacinda Ardern
    Hardback
    $4799
    Elsewhere:
    $5999
    (7)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Signed Copy
    Go Hard or Go Home
    From the front bench to rock bottom: Go Hard or Go Home is Kiri Allan's fearless memoir of ambition, disruption and survival in NZ politics and beyond. Kiri Allan's six-year political career spanned some of the most challenging times in recent history. Events a government might encounter once in a generation stacked up: a terrorist attack, a volcanic eruption, destructive and deadly...
    By Kiritapu Allan
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    Pre-order
    Out 4 Aug 2026
  • New Release
    Suicidal Empathy
    The bestselling author of The Parasitic Mind shows why empathy in politics leads to civilizational collapse. What happens when a society elevates victimhood to a virtue and decides that punishment is cruel? You get the disease Dr. Gad Saad calls suicidal empathy. And the West may be terminally infected. In his new book, Suicidal Empathy, Saad unleashes a blistering critique...
    By Gad Saad
    Paperback
    $3099
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Day After: How to Wield Power in a Post-Trump World
    From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Shameless, Brian Tyler Cohen explores how Republicans have abused power, how Democrats have refused to exercise power when they held it, and how progressives should wield power if they are fortunate enough to win a free and fair election in a post-Trump world. The Day After: How to Wield Power in...
    By Brian Tyler Cohen
    Paperback
    $3099
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Careless People
    Shocking and darkly funny, Careless People gives you a front-row seat to the decisions that are shaping our world and the people who make them. Welcome to Facebook. Sarah Wynn-Williams, a young diplomat from New Zealand, pitched for her dream job. She saw Facebook's potential and knew it could change the world for the better. But, when she got there...
    By Sarah Wynn-Williams
    Paperback
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Discipline
    Silence is complicity, but how do we confront the cost of speaking up? Sydney, May 2021. Ashraf is an academic whose career and personal life are in freefall. Hannah is a young journalist struggling to honour the voices of her community. When a Year 12 Al-Bayinnah College student is arrested for protesting a university's ties to an Israeli weapons manufacturer,...
    By Randa Abdel-Fattah
    Paperback
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Shattered Lands
    'A sparkling debut by an outstanding young historian' – PETER FRANKOPAN 'This book is a revelation … both original and important' – MISHAL HUSAIN A history of modern South Asia told through five partitions that reshaped it. As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and...
    By Sam Dalrymple
    Paperback
    $3699
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Handmaid's Tale
    The bestselling dystopian classic that became a cultural phenomenon and inspired an award-winning TV series. THE SUNDAY TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER Go back to where it all began with the dystopian novel behind the award-winning TV series. 'As relevant today as it was when Atwood wrote it.' Guardian I believe in the resistance as I believe there can be no...
    By Margaret Atwood
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • This Way Up
    The debut book from the YouTube sensation and all-round cartographical nerds, The Map Men! In their long-awaited debut, YouTube’s Map Men bring their highly infectious enthusiasm for everything map-related to the printed page for the very first time, in a brilliantly entertaining and eye-catching tome. Packed with humour and fascinating facts, This Way Up takes a deep dive into the...
    By Mark Cooper-Jones and Jay Foreman
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.

The Latest at Book Hero

View all