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The Lucky Ride

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Combining the whimsy and possibility of The Midnight Library with the mystery and revelatory power of The Secret, a heartwarming and inspiring novel about a man on a magical ride who is unexpectedly offered a chance at happiness.

After losing multiple contracts, Shuichi must make restitution to his company. Faced with this large, unanticipated debt, the trip to Paris he and his wife have been planning for a year must be canceled. Traveling to Europe was more than a vacation; it offered the hope of reaching their teenage daughter who has stopped going to school and will not leave her room. Feeling despondent and directionless, Shuichi believes he’s the unluckiest person in Japan.

Then a strange taxi mysteriously appears at his door. The driver promises to take Shuichi not to a destination he needs, but to where his next opportunity will be. With nothing to lose, he settles into the backseat and embarks on a series of magical rides that will teach him surprising life lessons, including how luck is not inherent—it’s an investment built over time and even over generations.

A compassionate and uplifting fable, The Lucky Ride will make you reconsider what’s important, how to be more present in your life, and empower you to create happiness not just for yourself but for those to come.

Kindle Edition

First published March 28, 2019

122 people are currently reading
5873 people want to read

About the author

Yasushi Kitagawa

30 books46 followers
喜多川泰

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
Profile Image for Liong.
329 reviews581 followers
January 5, 2026
Happy New Year 2026 to all my friends! 🎄🎆🎇🍾🥂

I like the topic of this book. It feels very auspicious to read at the end of the year. 😍

The Lucky Ride follows Suichi, an unlucky man who keeps encountering a mysterious taxi driver offering free rides using “lucky points” on the meter, along with gentle life advice.

It is a fictional story with a touch of magic, but the lessons feel practical and comforting, especially about getting through hard times and changing one’s mindset.

Some lines from the book really stayed with me: 👍

“The sensor is most sensitive when you're in a good mood.”

“When you work hard and don’t see any results, it means you’re accumulating luck.”

“A person whose default is negative isn’t capable of discovering moments of happiness in daily life.”

A quiet, encouraging read for anyone who enjoys reflective stories with simple life wisdom.
Profile Image for The Speculative Shelf.
292 reviews611 followers
June 7, 2025
What a lovely book.

The resident cynic in me was utterly charmed by this heartwarming tale of a down-on-his-luck insurance salesman who stumbles into a mysterious taxi that changes his life. Told as a parable, the story delivers a simple but moving message about living with positivity and generosity.

The “luck” the characters accumulate is the result of good deeds, but it functions more like karma than chance. Your choices add up, and their effects ripple outward, benefiting not only you but also future generations of your family. Good actions lead to good outcomes…eventually.

The Alchemist meets The Good Place: the messaging is straightforward, yet life-affirming and emotionally resonant. It won’t change your life, but it will put a smile on your face.

My thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Profile Image for Tanan.
234 reviews49 followers
January 11, 2022
ฟิลด์อาจจะคล้ายพวกหนังสือปาฏิหาริย์อะไรทั้งหลายแหล
แต่แนะนำว่าไม่ต้องไปสนใจสิ่งลี้ลับอะไรหรอก สนใจเรื่องราวดีกว่า
ด้านล่างเป็นรีวิวแบบไม่เล่าอะไรเลย แค่พูดเฉพาะในส่วนที่รู้สึก
ถ้าอ่านแล้วอินเหมือนกันก็ขอจับมือทีนึง
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ตอนอ่านเรื่องนี้เสียน้ำตาไปพอสมควร เรื่องไม่ได้เศร้า แต่มันตื้นตันจนแน่นหน้าอก (ร้องไห้จนภรรยาแซว) แนวคิดในเรื่องให้ความรู้สึกว่าตัวเองก็คิดประมาณนี้ แต่เรียบเรียงออกมาไม่ได้อย่างผู้เขียน ทั้งการเล่าเรื่อง การอธิบาย การผูกเรื่อง ทุกอย่างลงตัวสวยงามไปหมด
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สำหรับผม เล่มนี้ถือเป็นเป็น #หนังสือเปลี่ยนชีวิตอีกเล่ม ถ้าพูดแบบเจาะจงคือ ไม่ใช่แค่ติดอันดับประจำปี แต่ถือเป็นอันดับหนึ่งในหมวดหนังสือชีวิตและความหวังเท่าที่เคยอ่านมาได้
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ขอไม่เล่าทั้งเรื่องย่อและแนวคิดนะครับ ให้เล่าความประทับใจคงเล่าได้ทั้งคืน ถ้ามีเวลาแวะไปร้านหนังสือแล้วบังเอิญเจอเล่มนี้ ขอให้นึกถึงที่ถุงกล้วยแขกแนะนำแล้วซื้อติดมือมาเถอะครับ ผมเองอ่านแล้วขีดไฮไลต์ในเล่มไว้เยอะมาก จนคิดว่าจะซื้อเพิ่มอีกเล่มเหมือนกัน (มานึกดูไม่ได้ซื้อหนังสือซ้ำสองเล่มมานานเท่าไหร่แล้วนะ)
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ผมรู้สึกเหมือนตัวเองได้นั่งแท๊กซี่คันนี้แล้ว
ค่าโดยสารที่เหลือขอส่งต่อแก่คุณที่ผู้อ่านข้อความนี้นะครับ
Profile Image for Mook Woramon.
912 reviews201 followers
July 4, 2022
’หนังสือเล่มนี้ส่งต่อความหวัง’

เป็นนิยาย how to ที่อ่านแล้วไม่รู้สึกยัดเยียดแนวคิดจนเกินไป เรื่องราวสามารถส่งต่อความหวังและพลังบวกอย่างแท้จริง ❤️❤️

เรื่องนี้ช่วยสะกิดเตือนหลายๆอย่างที่เราลืมเลือนไป

ชอบการยกเรื่องราวในยุคสงครามของญี่ปุ่น คนในยุคนั้นอดอยากแร้นแค้น ยอมพลีชีพต่อสู้ เพราะหวังว่าจะมอบโลกที่ดีกว่าให้คนรุ่นหลัง ซึ่งญี่ปุ่นก็ดีขึ้นจริงๆ 🇯🇵🏯
เปรียบเสมือนคนรุ่นก่อนสะสมโชคให้คนรุ่นปัจจุบันได้ใช้ มีชีวิตสุขสบาย
เพราะฉะนั้นเราได้ใช้โชคที่คนรุ่นก่อนสะสมมาแล้วก็อย่าลืมสะสมโชคให้คนในรุ่นหลังได้ใช้บ้าง

ยังมีแนวคิดน่าสนใจอีกหลายอย่างที่หนังสือเล่มนี้ส่งสารมา ซึ่งขึ้นอยู่กับจริตของแต่ละคนด้วยว่าถูกชะตารึเปล่า

สำหรับเรา เราคิดว่าคุ้มค่าที่ได้อ่าน
แทนที่จะคิดว่าจะได้อะไร เสียอะไร ก็คิดว่ามีเรื่องสนุกรออยู่ข้างหน้าละกันนะ 🙂🥰😉

Profile Image for Prapatsara.
34 reviews6 followers
February 20, 2022
This book really gives positive energy.

อ่านเล่มนี้แบบไม่ได้คาดหวังอะไร แต่ก็ได้พลังบวกมาเต็มๆ

สำหรับเราเล่มนี้มีเนื้อเรื่องน่าติดตามตั้งแต่ต้นๆ เรื่อง (บางเล่มกว่าจะผ่านช่วงน่าเบื่อนิดๆ จนถึงจุดน่าติดตามนานกว่านี้)​ พอน่าติดตามก็เริ่มสนุก แล้วก็รู้สึกว่านำคำสอนของคนขับแท็กซี่มาใช้กับชีวิตตัวเอง ถึงกับต้องจดไว้เลย เช่น
- ต้องอารมณ์ดีเข้าไว้ ถ้าอารมณ์เสีย เสารับสัญญานโชคของเราจะไม่ทำงาน
-คนเราน่ะ ไม่ควรพูดคำว่าที่เป็นแบบนี้เพราะใคร (จริงมากเลย)​
-ไม่มีเมล็ดพันธุ์ไหนที่ปลูกวันนี้แล้วเก็บเกี่ยวพรุ่งนี้ได้เลย
- การคิดว่าถ้าคิดถึงแต่เรื่องดีๆ แล้วจะมีเรื่องดีๆ เกิดขึ้นน่ะไม่ใช่การคิดบวก การ​คิดบวกที่แท้จริงคือการคิดว่าไม่ว่าจะเกิดอะไรขึ้นก็ล้วนเป็นประสบการณ์ที่มีค่าและจำเป็นต่อชีวิตของเราต่างหาก
- เราต้องเลิกเปรียบเทียบตัวเองกับคนอื่น จดจ่อแต่กับชีวิตตัวเองพอ คนอื่นก็มีชีวิตของเขา ต่างคนต่างทำหน้าที่ของตัวเองไป ต่อให้ดูแล้วเหมือนชีวิตเขาได้อะไรมากกว่าหรือทุกอย่างไปได้สวยกว่า มันก็ไม่ได้เกี่ยวอะไรกับเรา ใส่ใจและมองชีวิตตัวเองให้ดีแล้วเราจะรู้ว่าตัวเองมีโชคแค่ไหน สิ่งสำคัญคือ เราจะต้องตระหนักจากใจจริงก่อนว่าตัวเองมีโชค ถ้าตระหนักได้ ก็จะคิดได้เองว่าไม่มีใครที่มีโชคเท่าเราอีกแล้ว
Profile Image for Jenna Becker.
61 reviews
May 31, 2025
This was a great ‘what should we do with our lives’ book. Gave a lot of Midnight Library and The Alchemist energy. I enjoyed it!
Profile Image for Sandra || Tabibito no hon.
682 reviews71 followers
May 27, 2025
JUŻ PIĄTY RAZ ZMIENIAM OCENĘ XD (z 4 na 3, z 3 na 4, itd.)

ale mam problem z tą książką.

dużo mi dała, refleksyjna, motywacyjna, pokrzepiająca

z drugiej strony im dłużej o niej myślę po skończeniu, tym widzę więcej minusów 🥴 za mało rozbudowana jak na powieść (W KOŃCU OTULAJĄCA POWIEŚĆ, A NIE ZBIÓR OPOWIADAŃ), ma też trochę zbędnej zawiłości.

ale naprawdę mi się podobała i bardzo dobrze mi się to czytało, przekaz totalnie pode mnie, nawet się wzruszyłam 😅

6-7/10, a to jednak rozłam tu w gwiazdkach i aaaach, nie wiem czy bardziej 6 czy 7, ale jednak coś powyżej 6... więc niech będą ostatecznie te 4 gwiazdki 😆
Profile Image for addie.
902 reviews61 followers
March 2, 2022
3.25/5 เนื้อเรื่อง simple มาก แต่ชอบ key message และสิ่งที่คนเขียนต้องการนำเสนอ
Profile Image for Tulga G.
97 reviews32 followers
October 1, 2023
Нэг тийм хөнгөн хэрнээ их гоё гэгээлэг ном олж уншлаа. Монгол хэлээр Томё Бодё-с гаргасан энэ бүтээлийг лав олон хүн уншаасай л гэж дотроо бодож дуусгалаа даа. Англиар бас гараагүй байхшиг байна одоогоор, орчуулгын номыг барагтаа барьж суухгүй дээ гэж боддог надад бол их давгүй уншигдлаа.
"Зүтгэл гарцаагүй шагнагддаг" гэдгийг, зөв эерэг байх нь хүнд ямар их эрч хүч, олон баярт мөчүүдийг авчирдгийг, хамгийн гол нь тийм том санаануудыг ойлгуулахдаа нэг таксин доторх жижигхэн үйл явдлаар ойлгуулж чадаж байгаа нь их минималь санагдлаа.
Profile Image for Alessia.
336 reviews25 followers
February 11, 2026
«Le persone che vedono sempre il bicchiere mezzo vuoto non sono in grado di riconoscere i semi della felicità nella vita di tutti i giorni. Tutto qui.»

La frase ricorrente di Shūichi, ormai, è diventata “Perché deve succedere sempre a me?”. Nei suoi anni non è riuscito ad avere buoni risultati nel lavoro e sembra proprio che tutto stia andando nel peggiore dei modi possibili. Sembra che non ci sia modo di risolvere la situazione, dopo aver perso ben 20 clienti, per di più i problemi lavorativi si accumulano a quelli della vita privata e della sua famiglia. E’ proprio per andare a parlare con l’insegnante di sua figlia – per via del suo non voler andare a scuola – che sale su un taxi… e da quel momento tutto inizia. Il conducente sapeva benissimo dove andare, senza neanche aver sentito indicazioni da Shūichi. Andranno verso la sua “prossima opportunità”, ma sarà Shūichi a dover giocare bene le sue carte per avere un risultato positivo.

In Tokyo Driver ciò che conta è cosa cambia nello sguardo di Shūichi. Gli avvenimenti restano spesso gli stessi: i problemi lavorativi non scompaiono, la situazione familiare non si risolve magicamente e Tokyo continua a essere una città indifferente e caotica. Tuttavia, qualcosa pian piano muta nel modo in cui il protagonista interpreta la propria sfortuna. Attraverso i dialoghi con il tassista e l’esperienza del viaggio, Shūichi smette gradualmente di vedersi come vittima degli eventi e inizia a interrogarsi sul proprio atteggiamento. La fortuna non è un evento casuale che piove dall’alto, ma qualcosa che si costruisce attraverso le proprie scelte e il proprio atteggiamento. Ogni incontro, ogni deviazione del percorso, ogni flashback della sua vita diventa una piccola lezione sull’empatia, sulla paura di fallire e sulla difficoltà di accettare la frustrazione. Nuove strade che si sono formate dalle sue scelte, lo hanno portato a scoprire nuovi pezzi della sua vita – e della sua famiglia – e lo hanno portato alla scoperta di un nuovo scopo nella sua vita.

Tokyo Driver non è una storia di redenzione improvvisa, ma di piccoli spostamenti di prospettiva. Kitagawa Yasushi suggerisce che la felicità non arrivi con eventi straordinari, ma con la capacità di riconoscere ciò che già esiste. La frase ricorrente di Shūichi “Perché deve succedere sempre a me?” accompagna il lettore per tutta la storia, finché, corsa dopo corsa, non perde forza e lascia spazio a uno sguardo diverso sulla realtà.
Profile Image for Tame.
62 reviews1 follower
May 4, 2024
must read☺️
Profile Image for hans.
1,167 reviews152 followers
November 12, 2025
A mysterious taxi ride with a driver who knows everything about you, and can even read your future with no fare charged. I followed Shuichi Okada through his misfortune as an insurance salesman after 20 clients suddenly canceled their policies on him. Stuck in a slump, his career seems to be falling apart and his spirit nearly broken. While being rushed that evening, Shuichi steps into a taxi with a driver who claims he can take passengers to their ‘next opportunity’. Thus a surreal journey started through shifting streets and memories, embarking Shuichi into an adventure; of luck, choices, kindness and courage.

Neat and addictive, and the idea of how luck isn’t random and is ‘created’ based on our attitude or judgement was so appealing. It was philosophical and elaborated so well that I enjoyed the interactions in between Shuichi and Takushi during the taxi rides. On series of flashbacks and life-lessons, of empathy, regrets, fears and how to accept frustration and see it as an opportunity or strength. It was heartwarming to see Shuichi’s dynamic, glad that he actually came home to meet his mother and learned the unexpected hope and dream of his late father; liked this part and how it leads to his scene with Yuko afterwards.

Loved the magic behind the surreal taxi rides and how thrillingly it interlinked each perspective— did not expect to get Yuko’s plot on the epilogue but somehow it answered my curiosity on the missing fares gap in between. Appreciate that glimpse of stories about Wakiya and the musician as well how the author gave me a definite ending at the end.

Adding this to my fav list of healing fiction cause as much as it feels like it was similar to any that I have read, the self-help part really warmed my heart, at times I just sit quietly and ponder about Takushi’s words while reading; his way of explaining about life really put a smile on my face.

“Life's full of things that you might think are the worst right after they happen, but as time passes and you reflect, you realize that they might have been for the better.”

**thank you Times Reads for the gifted copy!
Profile Image for Sarah.
11 reviews1 follower
October 15, 2025
This story was an inspiring and emotional read. I liked how it followed different characters and jumped through time without ever feeling confusing. The involvement of other POVs actually made the story more interesting and meaningful. The characters felt real, and I was drawn into their experiences and relationships. The book was just the right length, and the ending was both surprising and satisfying. The only part that pulled me out of the narrative flow was that some of the lessons felt too repetitive and unnaturally direct, especially during some of the taxi driver conversations.

Thank you to HarperOne and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a free advance copy.
Profile Image for Uyanga Ganchuluun.
110 reviews1 follower
December 4, 2024
Аз огцом шовойдог эгшин, тийм газар гэж амьдралд байдаг юм. Тэрийг барьж авдаг антенна бүх хүнд байдаг. Тэр антенна таныг өөдрөг, цоглог үед хамгийн сайн ажилладаг юм. Харин эсрэгээрээ ааш муутай байх үед ажиллахгүй, асар том аз дөхөөд ирж байсан ч ердөө ааш муутай байснаасаа болж антенна ажиллахгүй, хамаг азаа алдчихдаг байхгүй юу. /хуудас 59/

Аз гэдэг угтаа бол "азтай", "азгүй" гэх маягаар илэрхийлдэг зүйл биш байхгүй юу. "Хэрэглэх", "хураах" гэж илэрхийлэх ёстой юм. Жаахан цуглахаар нь гаргаад хэрэглэчихдэг хүн байхад, ахиухан цуглуулж байгаад томхон хэрэглэдэг хүн ч бий. Нас ч хамаагүй л дээ. Ямартай ч хичээгээд хичээгээд үр дүнд хүрэхгүй байвал аз хуримтлагдаж байнаа л гэсэн үг. Хичээгээд тэр дор нь үр шимийг нь хүртэж, ямар нэг гоё юм тохиолддог хүмүүс хуримтлуулсан азаа бага багаар хэрэглэж байгаа төдий болохоос бусдаас онцгойрч ялгарсан хүн ердөөсөө биш юм. Аа, харин ижилхэн хичээж мэрийгээд юманд хүрээгүй хүн тэр хэрээр л аз нь хуримтлагдаж байгаа хэрэг. Дараа нь бүр гоё юм тохионо. /хуудас 71/

Суурь төрх нь урвагар хүмүүс өдөр тутмын амьдралдаа таарах аз жаргалын үрийг яагаад ч анзаарч чадахгүй. /хуудас 98/

Тохиолдсон бүхнийг миний амьдралд гарцаагүй шаардлагатай учраас тохиолдсон эрхэм чухал туршлага гэж бодож чадах. Тэр чинь "Амьдрах" юм шүү дээ. Том зургаар нь харж чадвал дэмий зүтгэл гэж байдаггүй. /хуудас 139/

би азтай байсандаа биш, өөр хэн нэгний "хэрэглэлгүй цуглуулаад орхисон аз"-ыг л хэрэглэж байсан юм биш байгаа гээд. Одоо ч гэсэн би аавынхаа хураасан буянаар л "аз" дуудаж байна. /хуудас 169/

Өнөөдрөөс эхлээд дараа үеийнхээ төлөө аз хурааж амьдарья гэсэн шүү юм бодлоо. /хуудас 171/

Хичээл зүтгэл шагнагддаг. Түүний үр дүнг ч, аз эзийг ч "Өнөөдрийн би" гэсэн өчүүхэн оройн зай, богинохон хугацаагаар хязгаарлан харж "Аз таарсангүй", "Зүтгэл минь талаар боллоо" гэхчилэн хямдхан дүгнэлт хийх гэж яардаг. Гэтэл өнөөдрийн өөрийн гаргасан хичээл зүтгэлийн үр дүн өөрт буцаж ирэх нь жирийн хүмүүсийн төсөөлдгөөс хамаагүй хойно байдаг юм. Ёстой нөгөө 10 жилийн дараа, заримдаа бүр 100 жилийн дараа ч ирэхийг байг гэхгүй. /хуудас 180/

Юуны өмнө хэн нэгэнтэй өөрийгөө жишихээ больсон дээр байх. Бусдын амьдралтай харьцуулахаа болиод , өөрийнхөө амьдралд л төвлөр.
Эхлээд өөрийгөө ямар их хувь заяатай болохоо чин сэтгэлээсээ мэдэр. /хуудас 196/
Profile Image for Kat Sira.
155 reviews9 followers
November 27, 2022
ไม่รู้เป็นเพราะอายุมากขึ้นไหม แต่เดี๋ยวนี้เวลาได้อ่านหนังสือเกี่ยวกับการปรับปรุงตัวเองแล้วเราจะไม่ค่อยอินเท่าไหร่

แต่เล่มนี้ต่างจากหนังสือการเปลี่ยนแปลงตัวเองเล่มอื่นๆ มันดีมากกกกกกกกก คนเขียนมีมุมมองที่ทำให้เรารู้สึก wow ได้ อ่านจบแล้วรู้สึกว่าเอาไปใช้ประโยชน์ได้จริง

((หนังสือเล่มนี้น่าจะเหมาะกับคนที่ผ่านร้อนผ่านหนาวมาสักพักแล้ว เพราะตัวเอกในเรื่องอยู่ในช่วงวัยกลางคนที่กำลังหลงทางกับชีวิต))

ปล. มีบางช่วงที่อ่านแล้วงงๆอยู่บ้างนะ คงต้องหาเวลากลับไปอ่านใหม่อีกรอบนะคะ

อ่านเถอะ เล่มนี้ดีจริง

4.5/5
Profile Image for Eve Wanus.
34 reviews1 follower
February 13, 2022
รู้สึกถูดยัดเยียดความคิดที่ว่า อารมณ์ดี = มีโชค ของคนขับแท็กซี่ จนเผลอเปิดข้ามไปหลายหน้า แต่ในช่วงท้ายของเล่มนี้ เผยให้เห็นความสายสัมพันธ์ภายในครอบครัวที่สืบทอดกันมา จากรุ่นสู่รุ่นทั้งความเชื่อ ความเสียสละ ซึ่งทำให้เห็นถึงวิธีการสอนคนของคนญี่ปุ่นที่ลึกซึ้ง จนน้ำตาไหล
Profile Image for Sam Zinke.
26 reviews
October 17, 2025
If you want a full heart and a craving for soba this is the book for you
Profile Image for Sam Cheng.
338 reviews62 followers
October 19, 2025
Shuichi’s struggling to keep it together: he doesn’t know how much longer he can survive in the insurance sales business, he’s letting his wife down, his daughter in junior high school skips school and shows little motivation in her studies, and his relationship with his aging mother has long required intentional work. When he looks around and considers others’ lives, he believes he’s remarkably unlucky. As he feels discouraged, an enigmatic taxi driver pulls up out of the blue.

In their car ride, this wise and knowledgeable man challenges Shuichi’s philosophy on luck and life. Initially unimpressed by the driver’s expertise on the subject, Shuichi will slowly warm to the driver’s suggestions that “[l]uck isn’t good or bad but something to save and spend.” When Shuichi follows the driver’s prodding to live openly and fill his mind with happy thoughts, Shuichi notices that he can indeed become more sensitive to good opportunities: a good mood, positive thoughts, and taking an interest in other people’s interests plant seeds of cheer. He will fully embrace this ideology that encourages one’s earnest efforts, manifesting into energy that invests in society’s collective momentum of hard work and accumulative luck: “Life is a part of an eternal narrative of existence.”

I’ve seen some reviews liken The Lucky Ride to a parable; it certainly reads like that. The novel is lesson-forward, heavy on the moralistic teaching, and aggressive with its emotionalism. Major decisions hastily cause change and results. The biggest hurdle for me is the system of vicarious luck and the notion of a communal net-pos luck. Even an idealist like myself perhaps found this story more optimistic than I would’ve preferred, given the metaphysical organization of luck.

I rate The Lucky Ride 2.5 stars.
Profile Image for Christopher M.
41 reviews1 follower
January 6, 2026
4 Stars ⭐️

I’d say this little gem sits perfectly in 4 Star Territory. It’s a breath of fresh air, a perfect quick read after reading a substantially longer book. This books touches on the collective energy of society and how people motivation is used to drive results. It explains how the concept of “luck” is something that is passed on like a treasure from generation to generation, where in this case it’s not so much luck but the teaching of self-discipline, self-motivation and making choices throughout your life.

Showing how a man who believes he has bad luck and has his life on a downturn encounters a mysterious driver who gives him a second chance at achieving his full potential and his goals by altering his outlook on life and viewing every decision as an opportunity to grow and exert positive energy onto not only himself but others around him, to focus on drawing energy from the collective that was possible and avoid those in a negative space or attempt to take action to motivate those in a negative place to turn positive.
Profile Image for Iman Danial Hakim.
Author 9 books383 followers
November 26, 2025
There’s a very particular kind of sadness that happens when you try your best and still feel like life is quietly punishing you.

That’s Shuichi, an exhausted insurance salesman who has just been dropped by a major client.

To make things worse, his reclusive daughter also decides to skip school, rather wasting time playing smartphone all day.

His world is still moving, but Shuichi’s stuck.

And I think most of us, even if not in such dramatic circumstances, have felt that paralysis before.

Then the taxi arrives.

The driver does not offer miracles or philosophical fireworks. What he does is more subversive: he teaches Shuichi to raise the temperature of his own mood.

Because luck, he says, is sensitive.

It gravitates toward people who are open, who greet the world with warmth rather than resentment. That idea stayed with me.

The lesson extends to his work. Shuichi is used to seeing relationships through a profit-loss lens, like many of us do, especially when survival is on the line.

But people aren’t calculators.

They know when you speak to them just to close a sale.

They can feel it when you treat them as a transaction instead of a human being.

What I loved most about this novel is how the author rejects the myth of sudden transformation.

Shuichi doesn’t wake up and become a better person overnight.

His change is slow, clumsy, sometimes frustrating, like trying to fix a life that you’ve already convinced yourself is ruined.

Every taxi ride gives him a different glimpse into how luck is built: through gratitude and sincerity.

That’s the point of this novel. It isn’t about being lucky. It’s about becoming someone that luck naturally wants to sit beside.

Gentle, grounding, and surprisingly practical.

A book that reminds you the biggest shifts in life often begin with something as small as the mood you choose to carry.

Thank you @putrifariza and @times.reads for this gifted review copy!
Profile Image for abi.
9 reviews1 follower
October 27, 2025
Ёстой ойрд уншаагүй, уншихад амар хөнгөн хөөрхөн ном байлаа. Яг ямар үгийг ингээд орчуулсан юм болоо гэж бодохоор сонирхолтой монголжуулж орчуулжээ. Японоор нь бас нэг эргүүлж үзмээр л санагдав.

Хүн тэгээд ер нь гунихдаа, сөрөг болохдоо их амар юмдаа, тухайн үедээ онцгүй ч дараа болоход "Харин ч болсон юм биш үү" гээд бодох эерэг хандлага үгүймөн их чухалаа..
Аль болох эерэг байхыг, юмыг гоёоор харахийг хичээдэг ч гэлээ бас л толгойгоо гудайлгачихсан явж байснаа номоо уншаад л ойлголоо.
Юм болгон учиртай, бүр яривал үйлийн үр, буян заяа гээд л хөнгөн мөртлөө хөөрхөн ухаарал, бодол өгсөн ном байлаа, Аригатоо!
Profile Image for Iwona.
159 reviews3 followers
February 4, 2026
although this book is a bit cheesy i think I read it at the best moment possible. we dont always follow the path that we planned for ourselves and it's not necessarily bad. life take turns all the time and we just have to believe that every turn is for better.
I definitely needed to be reminded of that, especially now.
Profile Image for kath.
19 reviews
December 8, 2025
the metaphors are gentle and the lessons are straightforward, and yet they’re things we constantly forget in the noise of everyday life. a reminder to appreciate what’s already in front of you even when life feels uncertain - and that effort is never wasted

- -

‘when I had a lot, I used to obsess over things like that constantly’
‘life is about changing whatever happens into a necessary experience. true positive thinking is seeing everything in life as necessary’
‘… it’s not the end. you simply start again from there. everyone has the strength to do it. you don’t have to worry’
Profile Image for J.
217 reviews25 followers
March 27, 2022
เหมือนเป็นหนังสือไลฟ์โค้ชในรูปของนิยาย
แรกๆเหมือนต้องมองโลกในแง่บวก
อ่านไปเรื่อยๆรู้สึกอึดอัด
ในความอยากให้มองโลกในแง่บวก
ก็ต้องตั้งกฎเกณฑ์ชีวิตเยอะแยะไปหมดแล้วเก็บทุกอย่างเป็นแต้ม
น่าอึดอัด เนื้อเรื่องไม่มีจุดไหนที่สนุก
มีบางวรรคบางประโยคที่อ่านแล้วรู้สึกเห็นด้วย
แต่สำหรับเราเรามองว่ามันเพ้อฝันไปหน่อย
เนื้อเรื่องวกไปวนมา เหมือนอ่านวรรคเดิมซ้ำหลายๆรอบ
กราฟดิ่งเลย ไม่มีกระเตื้อง
แม้แต่ตอนจบที่พยายามจะทำเซอร์ไพรส์ก็ยังเพิ่มความสนุกให้หนังสือเล่มนี้ไม่ได้

นอกจากเป็นแท็กซี่ที่รับส่งความหวังแล้ว
ก็อยากให้เป็นแท็กซี่ที่รับส่งความสนุกและความจริงบ้าง
แต่ก็อย่างที่บอก...แม้มันจะมาแนวเดียวกับหนังสือไลฟ์โค้ช
แต่ก็เป็นหนังสือไลฟ์โค้ชที่เขียนออกมาในรูปของนิยาย
เลยคิดว่าแม้จะอยากให้อยู่กับความจริงและไม่ต้องไปตั้งกฎเกณฑ์อะไรมากมายขนาดนั้น
แต่เพ้อฝันและหวังบ้างก็คงดี (แหละมัง)

สุดท้ายแล้วก็ไม่ได้คำตอบว่าหัวหน้าของตัวเอกในเรื่อง
รู้ได้อย่างไรว่าตัวเอกจะไปเปิดร้านโซบะ...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sanna.
25 reviews9 followers
Read
May 1, 2024
Нэгэн залуу даатгалын компанид ажилладаг. Олж ирсэн зуучлалын гэрээнээсээ шалтгаалж цалин тооцогдох учраас ар гэрийн хамаг эдийн засаг тэр хүний нуруун дээр. Мань хүн ажилдаа тийм ч дуртай бишээс гадна хол байгаа ээжтэйгээ утсаар ярихдаа хүртэл цааргалангуй. Гэтэл нэгэн жигтэй такси ирж зогсож, амьдралынх нь turning point-руу хөтлөх нь ээ.

Ид шидийн гэмээр эргэлт боловч, зөвхөн одоо байгаа сэтгэл хангалуун бус байдалдаа гутраад л явах биш орхих хүртэл зоригтой байж, унасан цэгээсээ босоод ирэх хүч хэнд ч байдаг гэх.

Нөгөөтэйгүүр ут��а учиртай ажил амьдрал гэдэг зөвхөн мөнгө санхүү бус бүр сүнснээсээ ач холбогдолтой байвал алс хэтдээ гэр бүл, өвөг дээдсийнхөө өмнө хүлээсэн бахархалтай үүрэг болох юм уу даа.

Их сайхан хурдан уншигдаж дууслаа. Орчуулагч, редакторын ажилд талархъя.
Profile Image for GONZA.
7,484 reviews127 followers
October 7, 2025
From the "coffee thread" then emerged bookstores, photography studios, and now it is time for the taxi ride that will change your life apparently. Had I known this I honestly would have spared myself,but it's not so much the fault of this book, it's just the genre that doesn't interest me.

Dal filone del caffé ancora caldo sono poi emerse le librerie, gli studi fotografici ed ora é il momento del giro in taxi che ti cambierá la vita a quanto pare. A saperlo sinceramente me lo sarei risparmiato, per quanto non é tanto colpa di questo libro, ma é proprio il genere che non mi interessa.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
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