I'm Rich, You're Poor: How to Give Social Media a Reality Check

by Shabaz Ali

The world is full of books about how to be rich. This is not one of them.

Today, many of us are feeling the pinch - and being bombarded with portrayals of social media 'perfection' is making that pinch feel more like a punch.

We may know that social media - with all its billionaires and beauty queens - is just a highlight reel. So why is it still making most of us feel so low?

Comedian Shabaz Ali wants to help you see the funny side of social media again. Because while it looks nice to live up in an ivory tower, this book reminds us that it is much more fun to be part of the baying mob that surrounds it.

This laugh-out-loud deep-dive into social media's ridiculously rich, will help you love your own penny-pinched, rough-around-the-edges, extraordinarily ordinary life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Humor, Social Media, Self Help

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2024

Reviews

[Ashley G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a long version of his tik tok videos. Mildly amusing, occasionally insightful.

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook (have to). Each chapter got better and better. It’s smart and funny, and the freezer jokes were my favorite.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit to following the author on IG. I find him to be very funny and he has good points about what he talks about. The book talks about social media in a way that makes sense, how so much on there is not "real" and it's easy to get jealous or feel down because your life isn't as fabulous as what you see. This is all things you know, but it's nice to get the reminder again.

[Mina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you don't follow @shabazsays on Instagram or tiktok already, what are you even doing on social media?

Shabaz gives us a much needed reality check. We constantly get bombarded with hauls, unboxings, putting food from perfectly fine containers into clear containers, and cleaning clean kitchens. It's easy to lose sight of what is real and what isn't. (Spoiler alert: most is not real.)

This book comes with some suggestions on how to do things on a budget and how fake a lot of these videos must be once you think about them in a more critical way.

This was a very enjoyable listen on audible (I tried Spotify premium first as a true povvo but somehow not much of the book was available?). I'd suggest listening to it especially if you love his videos.

[Allison Waterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Absolute Povvo Delight!

I have been a Shabaz Ali fan for quite some time. It’s been SO fun to watch his climb from being a povvo like the rest of us to a delightful sensation! How gratifying to watch his success! He’s hilarious and has cheered me up more times than I can count and given me so many extremely valuable povvo tips. This book is so much more than I expected it to be! It’s obviously hilarious but it’s also very relevant and brings up a lot of excellent points about social media and how it’s a fake shitshow. You might not have to be a povvo to enjoy this book - I wouldn’t know lol - but I absolutely LOVED it and highly recommend it!

[Sabreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so cute, the cover is out and he’s gushing on his insta it’s adorable 🥹😂

[Beth G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent advice including:
1) go on a first date to the library because it’s free.
2) don’t buy your kids more toys, but rather foster their imagination.
3) take baths.

[Vanessa Magnotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious! Did not disappoint! I've been following Shabaz on insta for a while, I have been waiting for this book since its announcement. This book took all the great elements of his content and put it into a hysterical condensed version. I listen to the audiobook which is read by Shabaz himself. It made it all the more enjoyable. If you have a love-hate relationship with social media, know what it is to struggle in today's economic climate, and are completely over the boasting & ridiculous fabricated content of influencers, this book is for you!

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been following this author on social media, and his posts always crack me up, so I was curious to check out his book.

Overall, it's a pretty decent read if you want to understand the reasoning behind Shabaz's criticism of people flaunting their wealth online. You can really feel his empathy for kids and families struggling financially. That said, I found his conclusion a bit unclear—it seems like he's saying it's fine to be rich, just don’t show off. And for the rest of us who aren’t wealthy, I guess he’s suggesting we should be cautious about comparing ourselves to these super-rich people because some of the things they do are just over-the-top.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this very enjoyable - it's funny, insightful, interesting, and useful.

[Janice Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshing read for any social media user ❤️

[Cara Wittich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Endearing! Upbeat and a good reminder of how ridiculous the world of social media is.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I know Karl Marx sort of tried to do the whole povvo manifesto"

Fellow povvos (and any rich people who've accidentally stumbled upon this review), do not sleep on reading this book! I've followed ShabazSays and his particular distain for influencers for a while now, and this book represents all the best of Ali's northern wit and working class perspective on life (and the terrible facsimile of it on socials), advice on how to leave the bull behind and live your life the povvo way; and, as the subtitle says, a reality check for when you've spent several hours doomscrolling through TikTok trying to fill a hole that's bigger now than when you started. Because social media will never make you whole, but the community Ali fosters just might - which is kind of the point of this book and his videos. That and lying in a onesie criticising rich fools. Povvos forever.

[Charly Murg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to this on audible and it was such an easy binge. It actually contained far more thought-provoking material than I expected it to and wasn’t just limited to mocking influencers. There was some really good social commentary in amongst the laughs, I particularly appreciated his thoughts about the infantilisation of adults and the extension of “young people” to include people in their 30s so that the government don’t have to address the housing crisis. It’s so easy for people these days to just churn out unnecessary books to support their brand but this really felt like it came from a place of trying to inspire change and I really appreciated that.

[Andrew McAuliffe-Shave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought the book and the audiobook (he has a stunning voice!) to go through at the same time. The first time I have ever done that. Shabaz has created a modern day masterpiece. I have become completely disillusioned with social media and have come off the majority of platforms and this has reaffirmed to me that I have made the best decision by focusing on my own life. Coming from Blackburn myself, I really appreciate all the Northern-ness that abounds in this book. I appreciate every bit of wisdom that is contained in this book! Cannot wait for more!

[Raicheail Ní Ódhra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been following Shabaz on instagram for a while now and always enjoy his content. I listened to the audiobook of this as he reads it himself and found it to be funny and serious at different points. He raises some excellent points on the power of social media and how it should be harnessed for good. I loved the bit about finding communities online, as this is something I engage in actively. An excellent read for our teenagers to ask them to think about the content they consume and looking with a critical eye at the sources we watch/read/listen to daily.

[Tana]

Can't wait to read this!!

[Kimberley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into I’m Rich, You’re Poor by Shabaz Ali with some curiosity — partly because I enjoy his Tiktok videos and find his humour sharp and entertaining. Overall, this one earns a solid 3.5 stars from me. It’s an engaging read, funny in places, but nothing crazy.

Shabaz pulls no punches as he dives into the world of wealth inequality, privilege, and the absurdities of the rich lifestyle (ice cubes!). His writing style is extremely witty, which makes the sometimes heavy subject matter easier to digest. There are moments that genuinely made me laugh out loud!

However, I felt the book occasionally leaned too heavily on sarcasm and cynicism, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Reading some of the other reviews people have mentioned that the tone can be a bit repetitive which I definitely agree with. However, if you appreciate a no-filter, cheeky critique of society’s obsession with money, this book delivers.

What stood out for me was how relatable the author’s voice is — Shabaz is brutally honest and isn’t afraid to call things as they see them. If you follow him on Tiktok, this book feels like an extended version of that vibe, with more stories and insights.

While I’m Rich, You’re Poor didn’t revolutionize my thinking, it was an entertaining and thought-provoking read that balances humour with serious social commentary. It’s definitely worth picking up if you like your nonfiction with a side of sarcasm and sharp wit.

[Corinne Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't remember when I first stumbled upon @shabazsays but I was pretty quickly following his account for his clever commentary on the kinds of videos that social media is notorious for: the ones that are meant to make us feel "less than." The ones where people show off their super fancy houses, their huge shoe collections and, most especially, the videos where we watch people spend inordinate amounts of time and money to make fancy ice.

I love how he calls out nonsense when he sees it. And the book is actually a really interesting look at the way that social media can skew our perception of what makes a life good. His community of "Povvos" aren't ashamed of penny pinching and the goal is to find happiness and peace with what we've got - NOT what the internet says we should want. It's an important idea and his quirky humor and real talk made this a fun listen. I found my mind wandering a few times but for the most part he kept me engaged in his suggestions for how to live your best Povvo life. Please watch one of his bally-ice videos. I can hear his voice in my head right now - "have a day off!"

[Paul Snelson II · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent alternative to the images bombarding us on the internet of ironic wealth and an antidote to the self-doubt and jealousy and envy we feel after being subjected to images that we feel we can ever measure up to a great alternative for the common man to deal with this blatant display of wealth gone wrong shabazz Ali is is a complete beacon of Hope for Us in the 21st century dealing with the internet and it's fledgling technology as we develop our own sense of self-worth and wealth from within I cannot recommend this text enough you must read it if nothing more for the sense of humor it instills and helps us deal with our impulses as we develop I'm more compassionate society for the future

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good points and some laugh-out-loud funny moments.. I like his ethos, his values and the idea of enjoying social media and using it for good: to genuinely educate, uplift, include, create community.. and to be aware of the pitfalls. He gives tips on how to manage this, continuing to both enjoy social media and stay connected in the real world. It wasn’t gripping. Perhaps it would have been better to dip in and out, rather than listen continuously but I enjoyed it. I think it’s particularly great that, as a teacher, Shabaz is educating young people on how to navigate the often weird and elite world of social media, encouraging them to embrace “being normal” and valuing the wisdom of elders and community. I love that.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars rounded up.

I was really hoping to give this a better review. I’ve been following him on social media and I really appreciate his community involvement and humour. This, however, even while listing to the audiobook version, to get the most out of it, still fell flat. It’s disorganized rambling, at times feeling like we’re being shoved his personal opinions down our throats like facts even if he states many times that’s not his point. It’s one long monologue that is rooted in good intentions, but would have done with better editing, refining or just split in a few podcast episodes. I think he’d do really well in that sphere. Like the guy, what he stands for, just sadly not this book.

[Lyndsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I follow him on social media, so I knew what I was getting into, but was actually surprised how good the book was. I didn't know if the humor of his schtick and commenters and the absurdity of the videos would translate, but they did. AND it was even much more heartfelt, kind, and thoughtful that I expected. I would never settle for anything less than the audiobook (it MUST be Shabaz's voice). And I would NEVER pay for this book. Povvo=library. Four stars because I don't think all of his economic/political stuff is either accurate or wise, but well over 90% of the book was delightful, helpful, or thought-provoking.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked his videos but was sceptical if the book would be interesting but VERY much eating my words it’s FANTASTIC! Such a great insight into social media and how it can be crazy but how you can stop allowing it to make you feel crazy. I could not recommend this enough to all my girls! The way he writes kept me so engaged, it’s funny and serious and funny and serious! So surprised how intelligent he really is. The povo tips bit I would have an entire book just dedicated to that. Top tier humour. HIGHLY RECOMMED

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I joined the Povvo Gang at birth. When I forgot to be born rich. Or even born middle class.
I know, it was an oversight on my part.
I am such a fan of Shabaz Ali. It's the type of social media content that we need, he so cleverly and hilariously tears down the influencer culture and their videos, if you ever feel shamed by seeing rich people showing off online, watch what he makes of it and you will also find your tribe.
This book is great, I listened to the audio as he has a great voice. It's really funny and insightful.

[Claireapagado · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this, love the author, but it was written so lazily and didn’t seem very cohesive. It couldn’t decide if it was a dating guide, social media behind the curtain or a guide to thriftiness and non were done thoroughly or cohesively.

On a personal note I cannot stop thinking of the tip about using hot water to use up every bit of make up but then not explaining to put the product in the hot water to warm it within the packaging- people will be trying to funnel hot water into mascara tubes and end up with nasty eye infections.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

That took me forever to get through! It was worth a read, had some chuckles along the way! My colleague and I work in a charity in Blackburn so it was he who introduced me
To Shana says on instagram. From there I learnt of the book and picked up a
Copy! The Instagram is funnier than the book, but I did have some chuckles throughout. Can’t argue with most of what he says, there’s some boasting Wollies on the internet but would agree that laughing rather than bullying online is the way forward! Be kind!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was working in Blackburn Library, when Shabaz walked in and said he would like to donate his book to his local library. He was rightly proud of his achievement, yet modest and down to earth. Based on the likeability of the author, I decided to take a look at his book. (Once the stock team had processed it and it was on the shelf).
It was very enjoyable, insightful and funny. He makes some important points but keeps the tone light. It was relatable and has a chatty style. A few bits repeated, which is why I gave it 4 stars. But overall, an enjoyable read.

[Hana Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent deep andnhighly nuanced dive into the ills of social media, written in a very entertaining way. I'm already planning to buy this for my 20-year-old son and several friends. I think the writing style is a little dense and might be inaccessible for some people, especially traditional non-readers. I'd love to see a slightly simplified version that I could share with my 14 year old. But I'll be recommending this far and wide. The values and messages are just great. And I've found someone new to follow on social media, har har!

[Lisa Funderburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know the videos. They're hilarious and occasionally impart much needed levity into the chaos of these imbalanced economic days. I knew going into this would be a somewhat vanity print situation. I was so glad to be amused and pleasantly surprised at the emphasis on building community... And Workers Unite rhetoric. I also love the acknowledgement and consideration for use of a ghost writer. The transparency is appreciated.