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The Shanghai Free Taxi: Journeys with the Hustlers and Rebels of the New China
As any traveler knows, the best and most honest conversations take place during car rides. So when a longtime NPR correspondent wanted to learn more about the real China, he started driving a cab-and discovered a country amid seismic political and economic change.The Chinese economic boom, with its impact on the environment, global trade, and the tech industry, has been one of the most important stories of the 21st century. Yet few Americans realize that the boom is largely over, and that the new reality in China -- unequal growth, political anxiety, and a newly empowered strongman president -- looks eerily like their own.In order to understand this new world, Frank Langfitt offered folks in Shanghai a simple a conversation in exchange for a free taxi ride. Rides turned into follow-up interviews, shared meals, and even a wedding invitation. In this adventurous book, we get to know an array of quirky yet representative characters like Beer Horse, the pushy dealer who sells Langfitt his used car; Rocky, a stylishly dressed migrant worker who loves John Denver music; and Xiao Chen, who moved his family to Hawaii to escape China's oppressive education system but was unable to get out of the country himself.Unfolding over the course of several years, The Shanghai Free Taxi is a sensitive and eye-opening book about a rapidly changing country.
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2019
152 people are currently reading
2702 people want to read
About the author
Frank Langfitt
1 book40 followersFrank Langfitt is NPR’s London correspondent, covering Brexit, terrorism and other stories in Western Europe. Before coming to the United Kingdom, he spent a decade as a reporter in China, most recently as NPR’s correspondent in Shanghai, where he drove a free taxi around the city for a series on a changing China as seen through the eyes of ordinary people. Langfitt got the idea for the series from his experience decades earlier driving taxis in Philadelphia during summers home from college. The NPR radio series inspired his first book, “The Shanghai Free Taxi: Journeys with the Hustlers and Rebels of the New China.”
In 2008, Langfitt covered the Beijing Olympics as a member of NPR’s team, which won an Edward R. Murrow Award for sports reporting. From 1997 to 2002, he was the Baltimore Sun’s Beijing correspondent, covering a swath of Asia from the Khyber Pass to East Timor. Langfitt is a graduate of Princeton and was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard. He lives outside London with his wife, Julie, a veterinarian, and their two children.
In 2008, Langfitt covered the Beijing Olympics as a member of NPR’s team, which won an Edward R. Murrow Award for sports reporting. From 1997 to 2002, he was the Baltimore Sun’s Beijing correspondent, covering a swath of Asia from the Khyber Pass to East Timor. Langfitt is a graduate of Princeton and was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard. He lives outside London with his wife, Julie, a veterinarian, and their two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
November 11, 2021
(Note: I received a free ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley)
As someone who lived and worked in China for several years and has kept up with its major news since returning back to the states, I honestly don’t feel like that there’s any book that can really capture China right now like Frank Langfitt’s “The Shanghai Free Taxi.” In his years-long journey to better understand the country through the many relationships formed via his cab service, Langfitt has ended up crafting the perfect go-to guide for all those who also want to grasp all that the Middle Kingdom currently is - and isn't.
As someone who lived and worked in China for several years and has kept up with its major news since returning back to the states, I honestly don’t feel like that there’s any book that can really capture China right now like Frank Langfitt’s “The Shanghai Free Taxi.” In his years-long journey to better understand the country through the many relationships formed via his cab service, Langfitt has ended up crafting the perfect go-to guide for all those who also want to grasp all that the Middle Kingdom currently is - and isn't.
April 5, 2020
Liked the idea of it. Checked it out. Got it home and didn't want to read it. Not an auspicious beginning. Stuck at home so gave it another try. Made it about 75%. At first thought, okay, this is better than I expected. Enjoyed - at first - the insights into the Chinese mindset (really, the Shanghai Chinese mindset), and probably more enjoyed the historical data (history meaning anything before today). My boyfriend, who is Chinese, even commented that this person had a good grasp on the culture. Okay. Then, about 75% of the way through, when he propped an entire chapter around a visit with one of his contacts in Paris, I was done. It was no longer a semi-research-based book. It was me listening to a random girl from China, who is well off, give her opinion about everything, for an entire chapter. And at that point, I lost interest and I felt the book and the author lost credibility. He also began to get very repetitive around the same time which, to me, is a sign the book has gone on for too long. Something that had bothered me from the beginning was the sense of superiority that leaked in from time to time, either from him or now, from this Chinese girl, (whatever country, I don't go in for my country is better than your country) and the religious bias - Christians were better than everyone else, so Chinese converted to Christianity were automatically better than those that hadn't. It was enough to make me put the book down and not finish by the time an entire chapter revolved around "Ashley" and their too precious meander around Paris (descriptions of what kind of chairs they sit in, Ashley's choice of venues - places where she can look at expensive handbags). Done!
August 11, 2019
I was given an Advance Reading Copy of this book.
A book about a “foreigner” who offered free taxi rides to the people of Shanghai for the exchange of having a conversation sounded like it would be interesting. And it was. But it was much more than taxi-ride-length conversations. The author, a journalist who speaks Mandarin, followed some of these stories in much greater depth than I expected, following the turns in their lives, attending weddings, meeting them outside of China, knowing them over a period of years.
There was more freedom of speech in a free taxi, but it still pays to be circumspect when you live in China. But people did open up to him. After the ultimately disastrous reign of Mao, there was new hope and new disillusionment with President Xi, especially after he did away with term limits. Human rights seemed a new and novel concept to many.
There is so much contrast between the country people, even those who relocated to Shanghai, and the more privileged class of those born to better conditions in Shanghai. There is a chasm between the people barely getting by in their mud brick huts, and those enthralled with and buying Hermes Birkin bags.
There seemed to be little compassion for anyone or anything outside of family. An extremely cruel, ritualistic slaughter of a hog horrified me. And then I read about a woman who collapsed in the street, obviously needing help, when cars just drove around her. And a toddler who was hit by two cars, and still no one stopped.
As one person said, “Nothing is fair in today's society. The more skilled swindlers just cheat the weaker ones.”
Information that we can access with a click or two is almost impossible for most Chinese to see. And sadly, there seems to be no great push to change that. The United States was seen as a goal, a place where you could make your dreams come true with a little work and ingenuity. But people who had that goal became increasingly disillusioned, especially under the restrictive and xenophobic trump administration.
This is an eye-opening look at China, especially Shanghai, from the people who live there, and a good look at America from the outside.
A book about a “foreigner” who offered free taxi rides to the people of Shanghai for the exchange of having a conversation sounded like it would be interesting. And it was. But it was much more than taxi-ride-length conversations. The author, a journalist who speaks Mandarin, followed some of these stories in much greater depth than I expected, following the turns in their lives, attending weddings, meeting them outside of China, knowing them over a period of years.
There was more freedom of speech in a free taxi, but it still pays to be circumspect when you live in China. But people did open up to him. After the ultimately disastrous reign of Mao, there was new hope and new disillusionment with President Xi, especially after he did away with term limits. Human rights seemed a new and novel concept to many.
There is so much contrast between the country people, even those who relocated to Shanghai, and the more privileged class of those born to better conditions in Shanghai. There is a chasm between the people barely getting by in their mud brick huts, and those enthralled with and buying Hermes Birkin bags.
There seemed to be little compassion for anyone or anything outside of family. An extremely cruel, ritualistic slaughter of a hog horrified me. And then I read about a woman who collapsed in the street, obviously needing help, when cars just drove around her. And a toddler who was hit by two cars, and still no one stopped.
As one person said, “Nothing is fair in today's society. The more skilled swindlers just cheat the weaker ones.”
Information that we can access with a click or two is almost impossible for most Chinese to see. And sadly, there seems to be no great push to change that. The United States was seen as a goal, a place where you could make your dreams come true with a little work and ingenuity. But people who had that goal became increasingly disillusioned, especially under the restrictive and xenophobic trump administration.
This is an eye-opening look at China, especially Shanghai, from the people who live there, and a good look at America from the outside.
November 28, 2020
4 and a half stars
Despite having read similar books offering a sweeping view of China, I found that this one provided new insight while remaining an enjoyable read. The author has a knack for telling specific people's stories, and I found those sections of the book better than those that were just information or opinion on a theme or idea. The book features much more than prospective readers might expect because the concept of the free taxi as well as the city of Shanghai are just the starting point for the author to develop a cast of characters whom he follows across years and continents. Certainly well-done, the book manages to complete a daunting task: offering an expansive and wide-ranging view of 21st century China, its people, and its issues. All this stems out of a simple concept: a reporter giving free taxi rides in Shanghai.
Despite having read similar books offering a sweeping view of China, I found that this one provided new insight while remaining an enjoyable read. The author has a knack for telling specific people's stories, and I found those sections of the book better than those that were just information or opinion on a theme or idea. The book features much more than prospective readers might expect because the concept of the free taxi as well as the city of Shanghai are just the starting point for the author to develop a cast of characters whom he follows across years and continents. Certainly well-done, the book manages to complete a daunting task: offering an expansive and wide-ranging view of 21st century China, its people, and its issues. All this stems out of a simple concept: a reporter giving free taxi rides in Shanghai.
June 26, 2019
This book was pitched to me as a collection of stories, a peek into the lives of a few ordinary Chinese people through the eyes of an experienced reporter. I was let down. With stilted, matter-of-fact writing and paragraph-long interjections of data points and world news, the style of this book would fit better in a textbook than in literature. In this too, however, I found that the book came short. There were often anecdotes or comparisons presented to the reader with little context and no analysis. By the end, I felt as if I and the book were lost between opinion and fact, literature and news journalism.
June 3, 2019
During his time as a correspondent for the 'Baltimore Sun' and NPR, mostly based in Shanghai from 1990s to 2011. While finding his way around Shanghai both physically and sociologically, Langfitt thought that driving a taxi would be a great way to meet people and to learn his way around the streets.
But Langfitt couldn't qualify to work in China (except as a correspondent) under his visa. He came up with the idea that he could pick-up and drive people (sort of a private Uber/Lyft) as long as he didn't charge for the service. He was able in this way to meet many 'regular' Chinese and to become friends with many of these riders, their families and friends.
His stories explore China just as it was beginning to grow at a phenomenal rate. He met many new immigrants to the city (from the provinces) and learned the story of how difficult it was for them to become part of the "New China. He also me many of the new Middle Class and Intelligencia. His story of the growth of personal materialism but the decreasing freedom under Xi.
Interesting especially for the ability of Langfitt to explain and understand the cultural changes that were effecting China as it reaches to become a Super-Power.
But Langfitt couldn't qualify to work in China (except as a correspondent) under his visa. He came up with the idea that he could pick-up and drive people (sort of a private Uber/Lyft) as long as he didn't charge for the service. He was able in this way to meet many 'regular' Chinese and to become friends with many of these riders, their families and friends.
His stories explore China just as it was beginning to grow at a phenomenal rate. He met many new immigrants to the city (from the provinces) and learned the story of how difficult it was for them to become part of the "New China. He also me many of the new Middle Class and Intelligencia. His story of the growth of personal materialism but the decreasing freedom under Xi.
Interesting especially for the ability of Langfitt to explain and understand the cultural changes that were effecting China as it reaches to become a Super-Power.
December 31, 2019
SO GOOD!
Wow I really loved this book. I studied in China for 3 months when I was in college. After that, I was intrigued with everything China. This book really shines a lot of light on trust, surveillance, and the general way of thinking in China.
The book is generally a collection of stories that the author gathered while driving a free taxi in Shanghai. He did this because it was the easiest way to get honest info from people. No quotes for this one, you'll have to read it yourself :)
Wow I really loved this book. I studied in China for 3 months when I was in college. After that, I was intrigued with everything China. This book really shines a lot of light on trust, surveillance, and the general way of thinking in China.
The book is generally a collection of stories that the author gathered while driving a free taxi in Shanghai. He did this because it was the easiest way to get honest info from people. No quotes for this one, you'll have to read it yourself :)
August 19, 2019
Some might think it odd or inappropriate to give a journalist’s narrative of his interactions with his interviewees 5 stars. In fact, I normally reserve such a rating for books with lyrical prose, but there was just something about this book. . . I think it was the combination of its timeliness with its timelessness, the insightful comparisons and contrasts the author and his interviewees/friends drew the between the US and Chinese systems of government, and the way the author chose to “go deep” with a few of its narrative threads. And then there was the clear picture of how China has evolved/changed during the tenure of its last 4 leaders — very helpful for understanding why its people are willing to accept such constrained freedoms today. I also loved the insights it provided into Chinese culture and the psyche of the Chinese people, which complemented nicely what I learned from recently seeing the movie Farewell. If you are interested in understanding what is driving a large chunk of the world’s population, or in seeing how an authoritarian government can shape the beliefs of its people through control of the information flow, or if you just want to read some interesting stories about people in another part of the world, you will definitely want to read this very approachable, enjoyable and thought-provoking book.
January 21, 2024
it was fine but considering how good the premise sounded, i was disappointed. felt like packaging a pretty basic and over simplified (and overly political) message inside a few unique stories.
September 15, 2021
despite the yearly returns back to the motherland, shanghai has always remained a mystery to me. i knew that i lived on 南京路 (nanjing lu), i knew where my favourite dumpling shop was, i knew which corner my favourite 羊肉串 islamic skewer vendor was, and i knew if i followed the road far enough i could reach the bund (but wouldn't know how to find my way back because i could no longer use starbucks as a landmark). the razing of old hutongs and the raising of new high risers has transformed the city in such a way that i've never had the same skyline view from my own apartment. but it was more than just an architectural change, it seemed as though there was an underlying "vibe" of the city that seemed to change as the years passed, and i gradually came to fear shanghai as it became more and more unrecognisable.
in this book, langfitt has addressed the fast-paced politico-psychosocial shift in shanghai that was long unsettling me and has perfectly captured china's temperance. through these interactions with "ordinary citizens", he has provided a short, insightful history of shanghai that is not accessible through textbooks. "shanghai free taxi" is really a story about ambition and discontent, as narrated through the histories of his passengers. of course, it does not speak for the whole population, but it does bring up what others are careful to disclose.
this made me laugh out loud. i speak the shanghainese dialect, but shanghai seems to be a city of "outsiders" that do not understand me. even my cousins who were raised in shanghai do not recognise the local dialect, as the education system is slowly erasing this cultural heritage from the future generations. and being such a metropolitan city, shanghai is losing that heritage it was once so proud of.
while reading this i found myself nostalgic for a shanghai i once loved, and my relationship with the city is complicated.
in this book, langfitt has addressed the fast-paced politico-psychosocial shift in shanghai that was long unsettling me and has perfectly captured china's temperance. through these interactions with "ordinary citizens", he has provided a short, insightful history of shanghai that is not accessible through textbooks. "shanghai free taxi" is really a story about ambition and discontent, as narrated through the histories of his passengers. of course, it does not speak for the whole population, but it does bring up what others are careful to disclose.
"the flood of outsiders had transformed the city's culture such that there is no single standard for acceptable behaviour. this frustrates many shanghainese, who take pride in their own cosmopolitan style and often think they're better than the rest of the country."
this made me laugh out loud. i speak the shanghainese dialect, but shanghai seems to be a city of "outsiders" that do not understand me. even my cousins who were raised in shanghai do not recognise the local dialect, as the education system is slowly erasing this cultural heritage from the future generations. and being such a metropolitan city, shanghai is losing that heritage it was once so proud of.
while reading this i found myself nostalgic for a shanghai i once loved, and my relationship with the city is complicated.
July 7, 2020
I was sent this book via the books with beer subscription service and didn't know what I was getting until it arrived.
When I read the title and synopsis I was intrigued to start the book as it sounded interesting and not something I would have picked myself.
On reading the opening pages/chapter of the book I liked the concept that Frank had come up with and felt it went above and beyond in order to learn about life in China.
As the book progresses through the chapters and you start to learn the different characters this is where I started to struggle as it jumps around a lot and for me I had to go back to the start to remember who is who (handy chapter by chapter guide at the front of the book).
In the end I'm not sure what we really learned from the book apart from people's perceptions of the Chinese government and some of the ideas of how things will progress/change in the coming years.
I personally would have liked more insight into Frank himself as the free taxi idea and his life seemed the most interesting part.
All in all, I enjoyed it and opened my eyes to China which I know relatively little about but wouldn't rave about it or recommend it to others.
When I read the title and synopsis I was intrigued to start the book as it sounded interesting and not something I would have picked myself.
On reading the opening pages/chapter of the book I liked the concept that Frank had come up with and felt it went above and beyond in order to learn about life in China.
As the book progresses through the chapters and you start to learn the different characters this is where I started to struggle as it jumps around a lot and for me I had to go back to the start to remember who is who (handy chapter by chapter guide at the front of the book).
In the end I'm not sure what we really learned from the book apart from people's perceptions of the Chinese government and some of the ideas of how things will progress/change in the coming years.
I personally would have liked more insight into Frank himself as the free taxi idea and his life seemed the most interesting part.
All in all, I enjoyed it and opened my eyes to China which I know relatively little about but wouldn't rave about it or recommend it to others.
June 20, 2019
A delightful and fascinating read. The book chronicles stories of people in China over the last few years. The author manages to get interesting and insightful stories out of people in an otherwise very closed and private society. You care about all the characters in the book from the moment you are introduced to them, which is the most you can ask for in a book like this. You’ll laugh and cry in concert with their successes and failures. The writing style is engaging without overwhelming the story. Highly recommended.
July 16, 2019
I'm having a hard time writing a review for this one. We lived in Nanjing as students in 2006, but I've always struggled to articulate the essence of what China is and isn't. Frank Langfitt knows and gets China, and his well-written and entertaining book coveys it well-whether you've experienced China first hand or not.
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July 10, 2020Heard about this book on NPR. Sounded interesting. Just started reading, so stay tune folk. It started out fun, but I lost interest along the way and gave up on this book. Too much going on. May pick this up again when I am retired.
Since I gave up on it, it would not be fair for me to rate this book.
Since I gave up on it, it would not be fair for me to rate this book.
July 5, 2019
I initially heard about this book on NPR. The Author who had first spent time in China as a Bureau chief for the Baltimore Sun. During the time of this book he was an NPR reporter based in Shanghai. He wanted to find out what the Chinese citizens really thought about their country, their lots in life and their views on their government. The people are not so willing to discuss these matters not knowing who might be listening anyone from government officials to even your own neighbor. So using his experience has a taxi cab driver in Philadelphia knowing that when people treat their cab drivers just like the corner bar tender, they are willing to talk about most anything. So comes up with the free taxi ride service in exchange for conversation.
My thoughts when I first received this book was it was going to be based on many people and or stories about his adventures with riders but it focused on a handful of individuals who after the initial cab rides he maintain a business relationship with and developed personal relationships and followed their stories. These deal with individuals that going to family weddings in real countryside, a psychologist who drives around to appointments a hairstylist, and one and one lady who was looking for her lost sister and a human rights attorney. Along they way you learn their thoughts on their society, their economy, the government. It is an interesting read. One story that will stick with me is how they talk about one ladies experience with how the Chinese approach not wanting to be involved in situations you ignore it if it does not involve me. The lady had her knee give out in a crosswalk she could drag herself to the sidewalk so she ended sitting in the crosswalk for 25 minutes waiting on the ambulance as she estimated that there were a hundred cars that drove by and would not stop to help her.
My thoughts when I first received this book was it was going to be based on many people and or stories about his adventures with riders but it focused on a handful of individuals who after the initial cab rides he maintain a business relationship with and developed personal relationships and followed their stories. These deal with individuals that going to family weddings in real countryside, a psychologist who drives around to appointments a hairstylist, and one and one lady who was looking for her lost sister and a human rights attorney. Along they way you learn their thoughts on their society, their economy, the government. It is an interesting read. One story that will stick with me is how they talk about one ladies experience with how the Chinese approach not wanting to be involved in situations you ignore it if it does not involve me. The lady had her knee give out in a crosswalk she could drag herself to the sidewalk so she ended sitting in the crosswalk for 25 minutes waiting on the ambulance as she estimated that there were a hundred cars that drove by and would not stop to help her.
June 12, 2024
Absolutely fantastic novel that starts out as a wholesome and innocuous project about Chinese citizens ends up being an incredibly deep dive about modern China and how they got there. By the end of the book, you will be rooting for all of the different people that the author meets throughout his time in Shanghai, and will have achieved a sense of pride for these determined people. Can’t recommend this book enough for those who want to know more about modern China, and those who inhabit it.
March 17, 2020
An interesting concept, a reporter buys a car in China and offers free rides in exchange to hear about the riders’ lives and thoughts on China. A real eye opener about the culture in China. The author is liberal and doesn’t try to hide it, he is very critical of our president. Worth a listen/read though.
March 6, 2025
I didn't know much about China or daily lives in China which is why I wanted to read this. It provides insight into how everyday things work in China, opinions of average people about many things, and changes seen over the years. It was interesting and I learned a lot.
December 9, 2019
This is a good overview of Chinese society, as told through the stories of the passengers that the author picks up in his free taxi. Rather than absorbing many of the facts, figures and details of the book, it feels like they have washed over me in an impressionistic way.
April 17, 2020
There were really two stories here and these were not really connected.
The first story concerned the book's title "Shanghai Free Taxi" and it covered the author's idea to offer free taxi rides to young Chinese with the hope that he could learn more about their thinking - through casual conversations. There was almost nothing written about the Free Taxi apart from the time he was forced to back down a country road and nearly rolled his vehicle off a cliff.
The few mentions about the taxi and the author's driving seemed to be more of a gimmick to get you to read the book and to believe his short anecdotes, and was largely ignored as being not worth writing about. In contrast, I had expected something interesting written of challenges of driving in Shanghai - including traffic, response of the other drivers or the police and authorities. There was nothing of the sort. Why not?
The second story was based on the "Hustlers and Rebels" of China. These were not really that interesting and didn't seem realistic. That said, they did highlight the struggles young people faced with China's government policies of a one child family (i.e., a forced abortion) and the difficulties from a rapidly growing economy in Shanghai e.g., soaring rent prices and the general lack of community in a fast growing city. But there wasn't anything "new" in these chapters, either.
In the end I felt there should have been a greater balance and interconnection of the two stories; rather I felt I was sucked in by the former, and unimpressed with the latter. This was a bait and switch.
Finally I felt that the book reflected the author's own thoughts about China and his native America, more than the thoughts of those who rode in his taxi. This ironically reminded me of the chapter in his book when the young Chinese assistant blew the whistle on his European boss for fabricating stories i.e., spreading "Fake news".
Next.
The first story concerned the book's title "Shanghai Free Taxi" and it covered the author's idea to offer free taxi rides to young Chinese with the hope that he could learn more about their thinking - through casual conversations. There was almost nothing written about the Free Taxi apart from the time he was forced to back down a country road and nearly rolled his vehicle off a cliff.
The few mentions about the taxi and the author's driving seemed to be more of a gimmick to get you to read the book and to believe his short anecdotes, and was largely ignored as being not worth writing about. In contrast, I had expected something interesting written of challenges of driving in Shanghai - including traffic, response of the other drivers or the police and authorities. There was nothing of the sort. Why not?
The second story was based on the "Hustlers and Rebels" of China. These were not really that interesting and didn't seem realistic. That said, they did highlight the struggles young people faced with China's government policies of a one child family (i.e., a forced abortion) and the difficulties from a rapidly growing economy in Shanghai e.g., soaring rent prices and the general lack of community in a fast growing city. But there wasn't anything "new" in these chapters, either.
In the end I felt there should have been a greater balance and interconnection of the two stories; rather I felt I was sucked in by the former, and unimpressed with the latter. This was a bait and switch.
Finally I felt that the book reflected the author's own thoughts about China and his native America, more than the thoughts of those who rode in his taxi. This ironically reminded me of the chapter in his book when the young Chinese assistant blew the whistle on his European boss for fabricating stories i.e., spreading "Fake news".
Next.
June 21, 2019
Honestly, I was expecting much more, not this stereotypical portrait of China by a so called China hand in a seemingly novel way. "Authoritarian" is thrown into the mix wherever is possible, as if the Chinese are living in a constant reign of terror; "Freedom of speech" follows in the former's wake, as if everyone in China is always being gagged. To name just two of the most commonly seen tropes.
The author claims he "wanted to know what ordinary Chinese were thinking at this moment", yet the characters he has carefully chosen are far from ordinary Chinese. And their stories by no means reflect what the really "ordinary" Chinese are and how they are living their life.
I won't spoil the plot here. You can read the book and find out those "ordinary Chinese" and decide for yourself.
The author claims he "wanted to know what ordinary Chinese were thinking at this moment", yet the characters he has carefully chosen are far from ordinary Chinese. And their stories by no means reflect what the really "ordinary" Chinese are and how they are living their life.
I won't spoil the plot here. You can read the book and find out those "ordinary Chinese" and decide for yourself.
January 26, 2020
Enlightening discourse about the inner workings of China under the increasingly authoritarian leadership of Xi (pronounced "she") Jinping. The author's narrative is compiled from frequent contact with a wide range of passengers in his "free taxi" plus lengthy personal relationships developed with over a dozen young people since 2011. Set primarily in the huge and teeming city of Shanghai, Langfitt has written a revealing study of hopes, dreams, successes and failures with many, if not most, situations still in hopeful flux. There is both bad news and good news in this book. The bad news references the years of Mao Zedong's totalitarian reign (1949-76) and the disasterous Great Famine (1958-62) which created a culture of rampant corruption and a population resorting to doing whatever was felt necessary for personal survival. The good news is that when Xi became de facto ruler in 2012 the government implemented a serious crack down on corruption with significant success, and lives of every day Chinese citizens began to improve. It appears, however, that bad news is staging a comebck. As Xi is resisting the end of his reign as president (constitutional limitation of eight years has recently been quietly removed), the political system in China is regressing to extremes of surveillance, news publication censorship, opposong political views suppression and religious discrimination not seen since Mao. Interesting parallels are also drawn with the current political situation in the United States. This book is a fascinating documentary of China's growth and development into an economic world power in the 21st century and, for those with a bit of patience, well worth reading.
June 9, 2020
This is a story that gives the reader a peek into the lives of people in China - their experiences, their belief systems, their fears and worries, their wishes, aspirations, and their views about how they wish to see their country in the future.
As a foreign correspondent, Langfitt wants to understand the people and their stories. He figures out that the best way to make people open up (who are otherwise known to be reserved OR many are not able to open up due to the fear of 'being watched and heard'), was to offer them a free taxi ride in exchange for conversations. The idea becomes an instant success and he starts getting more and more passengers who are willing to talk and have conversations. This gives him a wonderful opportunity to understand the people and the changes that were taking place in their lives as China steers itself into becoming a superpower under Xi. The great economic development in the country brings about a huge shift in their lifestyle. The great transition has great impacts -some positive and some negative. Langfitt interviews people from all walks of life, rich/poor, young/middle-aged/old, rural/urban background, and many more. This helps him widen his sphere of understanding and get a better perspective. He also talks about the political landscape of the country, the reasons behind certain landmark events in China's history, policies and controls imposed by the government on its people, the great economic leap, and the idea of democracy, which, the government pushes aside.
The book ends with a hope to see China run by a government that is worth its people and wish for a bright future for the country. All in all a meaningful and engaging read.
As a foreign correspondent, Langfitt wants to understand the people and their stories. He figures out that the best way to make people open up (who are otherwise known to be reserved OR many are not able to open up due to the fear of 'being watched and heard'), was to offer them a free taxi ride in exchange for conversations. The idea becomes an instant success and he starts getting more and more passengers who are willing to talk and have conversations. This gives him a wonderful opportunity to understand the people and the changes that were taking place in their lives as China steers itself into becoming a superpower under Xi. The great economic development in the country brings about a huge shift in their lifestyle. The great transition has great impacts -some positive and some negative. Langfitt interviews people from all walks of life, rich/poor, young/middle-aged/old, rural/urban background, and many more. This helps him widen his sphere of understanding and get a better perspective. He also talks about the political landscape of the country, the reasons behind certain landmark events in China's history, policies and controls imposed by the government on its people, the great economic leap, and the idea of democracy, which, the government pushes aside.
The book ends with a hope to see China run by a government that is worth its people and wish for a bright future for the country. All in all a meaningful and engaging read.
June 17, 2019
This is a non-fiction book about a journalist, Frank Langfitt, who spends time in Shanghai, and to learn about what "average" Chinese people feel about their country, government, etc, he decides to drive a free taxi. He gives free taxi rides to people in exchange for conversations. He ends up befriending a number of people he meets while providing them with free rides, and this book charts the lives of these Chinese and their views of China, America, religion, and more. It is interesting to read his descriptions of how China has changed over the years, and to see what the average "middle-class" Chinese feel about the way China has changed. They also express changing views on America, particularly after Trump became president.
I will be traveling to China and to Shanghai next year so it was interesting to read about the city and the metropolitan environment. I look forwarding to see the skyscrapers - though I do worry about the air pollution!
What really struck me about the book, and Frank calls it the Chinese Dream (similar to the American Dream), but how the people he talked with were able to come from rural, poor villages leaving in huts, and in 20-30 years, have made themselves successful - or at least a lot better off - than they were. It's a hopeful story though I hope that China will become more tolerant and allow more freedom for its people.
I won this book in one of the Goodreads giveaways.
I will be traveling to China and to Shanghai next year so it was interesting to read about the city and the metropolitan environment. I look forwarding to see the skyscrapers - though I do worry about the air pollution!
What really struck me about the book, and Frank calls it the Chinese Dream (similar to the American Dream), but how the people he talked with were able to come from rural, poor villages leaving in huts, and in 20-30 years, have made themselves successful - or at least a lot better off - than they were. It's a hopeful story though I hope that China will become more tolerant and allow more freedom for its people.
I won this book in one of the Goodreads giveaways.
July 3, 2022
I was hesitant to pick up this book because, yes, I judged the book by its cover. I was not interested in vignettes of random wealthy people in China living luxurious lives and indeed, that's not what I got.
Mr. Liang (as the author is called in Mandarin) provided in depth analysis of what China's capitalist transition ("socialism with Chinese characteristics") and rise of President Xi means for city dwellers in Shanghai. He expertly wove together the themes and narrative experiences of his passengers to create a quick, intriguing read. As a woman of Chinese descent, I am constantly striving to understand the culture and mindset of people in my ancestral homeland. This book helped me tremendously. At times, the author portrayed the Chinese as amoral hustlers out for profit and disinterested in helping each other. This assessment shocked me - I had always thought asian cultures were communal and therefore more likely to help someone in need. Nonetheless, he redeemed the people by pointing out the few who dared to show kindness and altruism, including his passengers. Like the author, getting to know these people gives me hope.
I also enjoyed the glimpse into the authoritarian political system. My only gripe is that Mr. Liang did not touch more on the social safeguards offered by the Party - I, too, wanted to assess whether it would be worthwhile living without freedom of speech or rule of law for security.
Mr. Liang (as the author is called in Mandarin) provided in depth analysis of what China's capitalist transition ("socialism with Chinese characteristics") and rise of President Xi means for city dwellers in Shanghai. He expertly wove together the themes and narrative experiences of his passengers to create a quick, intriguing read. As a woman of Chinese descent, I am constantly striving to understand the culture and mindset of people in my ancestral homeland. This book helped me tremendously. At times, the author portrayed the Chinese as amoral hustlers out for profit and disinterested in helping each other. This assessment shocked me - I had always thought asian cultures were communal and therefore more likely to help someone in need. Nonetheless, he redeemed the people by pointing out the few who dared to show kindness and altruism, including his passengers. Like the author, getting to know these people gives me hope.
I also enjoyed the glimpse into the authoritarian political system. My only gripe is that Mr. Liang did not touch more on the social safeguards offered by the Party - I, too, wanted to assess whether it would be worthwhile living without freedom of speech or rule of law for security.
July 25, 2019
How do you get reluctant people to open up to you in a country that has undergone something like the Cultural Revolution? Frank Langfitt, an NPR correspondent who returns to China for a second assignment, turns to his pre-college job as taxi driver for inspiration. In 2014, his assistant made him magnetic signs that turned a used Toyota Corolla into the "Free Loving Heart Taxi" that asked riders to "Make Shanghai Friends, Chat about Shanghai Life" in exchange for free rides. The taxi was a way to draw us and a cast of "hustlers and rebels of the New China" into this story. Langfitt ends up offering more than just casual rides, highlight about dozen people whom he followed for several years, venturing away from Shanghai and even interviewing some on other continents. The substance of the book covers how people are actually faring in China, digging deeper than headlines about double-digit economic growth and trade wars. Not everything looks so spectacular as many attempt to live the Chinese Dream, socially, financially, culturally, and politically. Langfitt presents Chinese people with different viewpoints, from those who generally approve of what they consider to be a bright economic future under the current leadership to those disillusioned by both American and Chinese economic and political systems. I found this to be an interesting book to read in current times.
February 12, 2020
Shanghai Free Taxi is the best book I’ve read that shows how ordinary Chinese think and live. Author Frank Langfitt, who worked as Shanghai correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR) from 2011-2016, discovered a delightfully innovative way to gain insights into ordinary Chinese minds: he offered free taxi rides. Fluent in Mandarin after spending five years in Beijing as Baltimore Sun correspondent, Langfitt asked his passengers questions and recorded their responses as they opened up with surprising candor.
President Xi Jinping, Langfitt observed, remains widely popular within China—even after his 2018 decision to eliminate term limits and become president for life. Ordinary citizens admire Xi for his campaign against corruption, his emphasis on the environment, and his work to reduce poverty.
Like many Americans, Langfitt feels conflicted about China in the era of Xi Jinping. Despite his worries about the country’s growing repression, rising nationalism, and neutering of the news media, he feels upbeat about the Chinese people he met, many of whom are living the American Dream—in China. Most expect the future to be “yue lai yue hao”—better and better—because that has been their lived experience.
President Xi Jinping, Langfitt observed, remains widely popular within China—even after his 2018 decision to eliminate term limits and become president for life. Ordinary citizens admire Xi for his campaign against corruption, his emphasis on the environment, and his work to reduce poverty.
Like many Americans, Langfitt feels conflicted about China in the era of Xi Jinping. Despite his worries about the country’s growing repression, rising nationalism, and neutering of the news media, he feels upbeat about the Chinese people he met, many of whom are living the American Dream—in China. Most expect the future to be “yue lai yue hao”—better and better—because that has been their lived experience.
May 14, 2020
Shanghai Free Taxi is the best book I’ve read that shows how ordinary Chinese think and live. Author Frank Langfitt, who worked as Shanghai correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR) from 2011-2016, discovered a delightfully innovative way to gain insights into ordinary Chinese minds: he offered free taxi rides. Fluent in Mandarin after spending five years in Beijing as Baltimore Sun correspondent, Langfitt asked his passengers questions and recorded their responses as they opened up with surprising candor.
President Xi Jinping, Langfitt observed, remains widely popular within China—even after his 2018 decision to eliminate term limits and become president for life. Ordinary citizens admire Xi for his campaign against corruption, his emphasis on the environment, and his work to reduce poverty.
Like many Americans, Langfitt feels conflicted about China in the era of Xi Jinping. Despite his worries about the country’s growing repression, rising nationalism, and neutering of the news media, he feels upbeat about the Chinese people he met, many of whom are living the American Dream—in China. Most expect the future to be “yue lai yue hao”—better and better—because that has been their lived experience.
President Xi Jinping, Langfitt observed, remains widely popular within China—even after his 2018 decision to eliminate term limits and become president for life. Ordinary citizens admire Xi for his campaign against corruption, his emphasis on the environment, and his work to reduce poverty.
Like many Americans, Langfitt feels conflicted about China in the era of Xi Jinping. Despite his worries about the country’s growing repression, rising nationalism, and neutering of the news media, he feels upbeat about the Chinese people he met, many of whom are living the American Dream—in China. Most expect the future to be “yue lai yue hao”—better and better—because that has been their lived experience.
May 10, 2020
An American journalist came up with the idea of driving a free taxi in Shanghai, while recording his conversations with the passengers, to obtain a better understanding of current and historical Chinese society. The stories he collects help explain some of the rapid, and apparently contradictory changes in the authoritarian capitalist country. The turmoil caused by the US "election" of the orange idiot continues to spin out in China, affecting development there as well as in the US. If there remain any "true believers" in "Communist China," the current capitalist orgy can be seen as a hardcore recognition that Marx was correct in showing how the progressive stages of history toward communism can not be ignored, though they can be retarded or prodded. China's (as with the USSR's) attempts to skip capitalism were doomed to fail. China grasped that faster than the USSR and is now gorging itself on material production, hoping to power through an authoritarian version of the capitalist phase, to hasten their ultimate goal. I don't know if that's a real thought there.
October 21, 2020
The Shanghai Free Taxi : Journeys With the Hustlers and Rebels of the New China
by Frank Langfitt tells the story of China through the eyes of its citizens.
Langfitt wanted to learn about China by talking to a variety of individuals from all walks of life, so he tried to become a taxi driver in Shanghai. The Chinese government wouldn't allow a foreigner to do that job, so Langfitt found a loophole and created a free taxi service offering rides in exchange for conversation. The next few years were full of talks with a wide range of intriguing characters representative of the new China, its history, and its contemporary struggles.
Langfitt drove, listened, asked questions, and took notes and recordings of his encounters. Using these personal narratives he tells the story of the country - he describes the good, the bad, and the ugly with fairness and honesty.
Well written, perceptive and informed, this is a book you have to read if you want to understand what drives China and the Chinese.
by Frank Langfitt tells the story of China through the eyes of its citizens.
Langfitt wanted to learn about China by talking to a variety of individuals from all walks of life, so he tried to become a taxi driver in Shanghai. The Chinese government wouldn't allow a foreigner to do that job, so Langfitt found a loophole and created a free taxi service offering rides in exchange for conversation. The next few years were full of talks with a wide range of intriguing characters representative of the new China, its history, and its contemporary struggles.
Langfitt drove, listened, asked questions, and took notes and recordings of his encounters. Using these personal narratives he tells the story of the country - he describes the good, the bad, and the ugly with fairness and honesty.
Well written, perceptive and informed, this is a book you have to read if you want to understand what drives China and the Chinese.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews