Saurabh Mukherjea's book, 'Breakpoint: The Crisis of the Middle Class and the Future of Work', paints a grim picture of India's middle class, which is facing unprecedented challenges. Once a symbol of India's growth, the middle class now grapples with a 29.1% unemployment rate among graduates, a stark contrast to the 1% growth in white-collar jobs since 2020. The traditional route to success—education leading to employment—is faltering as only 43% of graduates are deemed employable due to outdated educational practices.

Wages have stagnated, with the average income barely rising from ₹10.23 lakh a decade ago to ₹10.69 lakh today, while living costs continue to soar. The cost of a vegetarian thali has increased by 11% annually, and medical expenses are climbing at 14%. Additionally, household debt has reached alarming levels, with nearly half of Indian families taking personal loans primarily for consumption rather than investment in productive assets.

Mukherjea also highlights the role of social media in exacerbating financial pressures, as many young Indians are drawn into risky trading practices, leading to significant financial losses. The rise of artificial intelligence threatens to further reduce job opportunities, particularly in the IT sector, potentially eliminating 2 million jobs by 2031. The book underscores that the crisis has been building for decades, and urgent action is needed to address these systemic issues.