Saralnama
In his first non-fiction work, Manu Joseph examines why peace persists between social classes in India despite stark inequality. His book, Why The Poor Don’t Kill Us: The Psychology of Indians, discusses the psychological effects of poverty and affluence, suggesting that the visible messiness and poverty in Indian cities reassure the poor that they are not left behind, which may reduce violent revolt. Joseph contrasts this with the West, where relative poverty amid wealth breeds disenchantment and potential unrest. He also explores cultural behaviors, such as the austerity of wealthy South Indians, and comments on social phenomena like the desire among some domestic workers to own luxury items. The book uses sharp prose and observations to analyze Indian societal patterns, including the symbolic role of elections as a form of revolt. Joseph also critiques the trend of owning small dogs, reflecting on cultural idiosyncrasies. The work aims to decode typical Indian behaviors through a psychological lens without literal interpretation of violence implied by the title. (Updated 23 Aug 2025, 06:04 IST; source: link)