You are not broke. But you do not feel free either. And that is a very confusing place to live.

Modern Poverty is a story-driven guide for people who earn well, look successful on paper, and still lie awake calculating EMIs, school fees, and credit card dues. Written by Chartered Accountant and TEDx speaker Arun Pasricha, this book explores why so many smart, hardworking professionals feel anxious about money, no matter how much they make.

Told through the journey of Aarav and Rohan, two old friends who appear to have “made it,” and Kabir, a financial guide who understands people before he talks about money, the book unfolds as a story rather than a lecture. Over a five-week arc, readers follow a practical, real-life framework called D.R.E.A.M., built to move you from financial confusion to financial clarity, one honest conversation at a time.

This is not a get-rich-quick manual, and it does not ask for financial jargon or perfection. It asks for awareness, structure, and consistency.

Inside this book, you will discover:

• Why high income so often comes with low peace of mind
• The emotional and psychological side of money that most finance books ignore
• A simple, practical system for dreaming, diagnosing, and rewiring your money habits
• How to save, protect, and grow your money without constant anxiety
• Ways to build money habits that actually last, week after week
• A path from simply earning money to using it with intention

Part story, part practical framework, Modern Poverty is for anyone who has ever wondered where their salary disappeared to, despite earning well. It is a book about learning to stop letting money quietly manage you.