I Deliver Parcels in Beijing by Hu Anyan audiobook review

The Grim Reality of China's Gig Economy

Hu Anyan's memoir, 'I Deliver Parcels in Beijing', began as a blog and became a bestseller in China, selling nearly 2 million copies. It details his experiences as an internal migrant, working 19 jobs in six cities over 20 years, often in terrible conditions and for very low wages.

The Daily Grind

Hu's jobs included security guard, hotel waiter, delivery driver, bicycle salesman, bike courier, gas station attendant, and logistics warehouse worker. He often worked long shifts on little sleep and went without food for eight hours at a time.

The Human Cost

The book, translated by Jack Hargreaves and narrated by Winson Ting, conveys the dehumanizing reality of Hu's experiences and the struggles of internal migrants in China. It is a grim indictment of a system that prioritizes convenience over people's well-being.

Further Listening

• Maybe I'm Amazed by John Harris, a moving account of a father's bond with his autistic son, narrated by the author.
• Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner, a novel about an American spy who infiltrates a group of eco-warriors in France, narrated by the author.