I recently finished reading 贫穷的质感 (The Texture of Poverty) by Wang Bang, a book written in simplified Chinese. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be an English version available yet, but I may have first come across it through Threads.

The author offers a sharp, humorous, and nuanced take on how poverty deeply impacts individual lives in British society. Drawing from her years of living, conversing, and interviewing people in the UK, she vividly portrays the realities of the working class while unraveling the political and social dynamics behind it all. Reading this reminded me of similar works like Craig Taylor’s Londoners or even NHK Documentary 72 Hours series.

What stood out the most for me was her keen attention to detail. She paints a stark picture of poverty, not through abstract statistics or detached empathy, but through visceral imagery: moldy, freezing homes, tasteless food, and the faint humiliation that colors everyday interactions. It brought to life a side of financial hardship that cold economic analyses often overlook—a raw, almost unavoidable sense of helplessness.

In the second half of the book, however, Wang shifts focus, offering glimpses of warmth amidst the bleakness. She describes grassroots initiatives, community libraries, and small local organizations that embody a kind of resilience. Through her lens, the left-leaning politics in the UK and the self-organized order among the underprivileged provide a fragile, yet hopeful contrast to the harsh realities of poverty.

Some online readers seem to have enjoyed the lighter, more humorous parts of the book but criticized Wang’s inclusion of political and cultural commentary, or her occasional use of poetry, as pretentious. I couldn’t disagree more. For me, those moments revealed the depth of her passion and cultural awareness. They added a layer of authenticity and groundedness to her reflections, making the work feel both personal and universal.

If Wang Bang had a personal blog or a social media presence, I’d be eager to follow her insights. Her writing doesn’t just document poverty; it makes you reflect on what it means to live within, or even alongside, such a reality. It’s a perspective that stays with you long after you’ve closed the book.