Down and out in Paris and London by George Orwell

Before he was a world-famous novelist, George Orwell lived on the absolute fringes of society to see what poverty actually felt like. This book is his gritty, eye-opening account of that journey, split between two iconic cities. In Paris, he takes us into the sweltering, chaotic kitchens of luxury hotels, where he works as a "plongeur" (dishwasher) just to afford a crust of bread. In London, he hits the road as a tramp, moving from one bleak homeless shelter to another while navigating the harsh laws and social stigmas facing the poor. Written with sharp wit and zero self-pity, Orwell doesn't just describe hunger and filth; he questions why society treats the "down and out" with such contempt. It is a powerful, surprisingly funny, and deeply human look at the thin line between a respectable life and a life on the streets.