The Shanghai Free Taxi

Journeys with the Hustlers and Rebels of the New China

By: Frank Langfitt

Narrated by: Frank Langfitt

Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

As any traveler knows, some of the best and most honest conversations take place during car rides. So, when a long-time 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.

China - America's most important competitor - is at a turning point. With economic growth slowing, Chinese people face inequality and uncertainty as their leaders tighten control at home and project power abroad.

In this adventurous, original book, NPR correspondent Frank Langfitt describes how he created a free taxi service - offering rides in exchange for illuminating conversation - to go beyond the headlines and get to know a wide range of colorful, compelling characters representative of the new China. They include folks like "Beer", a slippery salesman who tries to sell Langfitt a used car; Rocky, a farm boy turned Shanghai lawyer; and Chen, who runs an underground Christian church and moves his family to America in search of a better, freer life.

Blending unforgettable characters, evocative travel writing, and insightful political analysis, The Shanghai Free Taxi is a sharply observed and surprising book that will help listeners make sense of the world's other superpower at this extraordinary moment.

©2019 Frank Langfitt (P)2019 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"The Shanghai Free Taxi presents a unique, kaleidoscopic view of Chinese society. Characters in this book open up, talking freely and truthfully in a way unimaginable elsewhere under the oppressive regime. It is a must read for anyone trying to gain rare and insightful glimpses into that complicated country." (Qiu Xiaolong, author of Shanghai Redemption and nine other Inspector Chen novels)

"Frank Langfitt devised an ingenious way to burrow into everyday Chinese life, and he came back with stories that are humane, candid, fast-paced, and compulsively readable. The Shanghai Free Taxi gives you the marrow of today's China in all its kindnesses and cruelties and wonders and absurdities." (Evan Osnos, author of Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China, National Book Award winner)

"Frank Langfitt's stint as a taxi driver collecting tales of modern China has created a rollicking, delightful read. Enchanting." (Mei Fong, author of One Child, and Pulitzer Prize winner)

Informative & Fascinating

Am excellent window to today’s China. The views and opinions of the Chinese people often are complex. By his conversations and friendship with his riders the author helps to clarify and bring some understanding to what motivates China in today’s world.

Excellent Book

Great way to understand the nuance of China from a perspective other than their government. Really enjoyed the stories.

Highly Recommend!

If you love China, powerful human interest stories, and understanding another part of our global society, I highly recommend this book. In my couple visits to China, I saw the energy, hustle and grit he describes here as well as the lack of freedom and individual voice. The author has done a great job cultivating relationships over many years with his subjects. I love his open minded, inquisitive reporting and how he shows humanity in the midst of the colossal expansion of China’s economic influence. It’s a great listen!

Spot on discussion of modern China

I spent time in China from 2007 to 2015. I could completely relate to his experience, especially ,Beer the used car salesman.
It is a little frightening to contemplate what could happen in China. Then the author steers us back from the edge. Now I'm just concerned.
The book is a great listen with outstanding narration.

Informative and thought provoking.

If you enter this experience as I did, with no expectation except entertainment - and perhaps solving some mysteries about the Chinese - you’ll get that and more. I wasn’t expecting to learn about impactful events, both historical and contemporary, that a people who consider themselves informed and worldly should know. What surprised me most is the way so much of Chinese culture, policy, and politics is a reflection of those aspects in the U.S., including - and maybe especially - the erosion of trust in the interest of political domination.

I can’t decide if Langfitt was the best narrator. I generally prefer authors lending their own voice, but Langfitt is clearly accustomed to delivering short and fast stories. With so many words and descriptions that are literally foreign to these ears, my brain often lagged behind and it often impeded comprehension. But I could not have appreciated the way he acknowledged that his own life has been what so many pursue in all parts of the world.

Overall, a great story that’s piqued my interest in learning more about China.

Good read

Book was a great insight in modern Chinese culture was surprised by most of the stories and fascinated every chapter the taxi was a cool idea like none i have seen

Great concept, great insights.

As someone who also knows the Chinese very well, I found this book fascinating. What a great concept to use the free taxi to explore the real Chinese mindset. I also appreciated they way he stayed in touch who those he interviewed over the years. Well done!

Inside China

Inside insights as to how people live in China. I recommend for Frank's bringing the Chinese reality to the forefront.

Great book by one of my favorite reporters.

This a excellent book for anyone interested in understanding recent and present day China. As told through anecdotal stories the reader will see the struggles faced in modern China are of little difference from those of modern America. Consumption, greed, ego, empathy, redemption are woven in the lives of every day people both living China and abroad.

It is narrated by the author, NPR correspondent Frank Langfitt. It is always a treat when an author narrates their own book, special little nuances in their voice and personal pride always shine through.

Pull back the curtain

A telling look at life inside modern China by an author who took great time and care to get to know his subjects.