"I Deliver Parcels in Beijing": Chinese Literary Sensation Reaches U.S.
Hu Anyan, a former courier, wrote a bestselling memoir about the hardships of delivering packages. He has held 19 jobs in six Chinese cities, including selling bicycles, managing a clothing store, working in a bakery, creating 3D architectural renderings, and doing night shifts at a logistics warehouse before becoming a courier.
In I Deliver Parcels in Beijing, Hu shares his experiences using simple language, vivid details, and humor. The book, published in 2023, became a bestseller in China as readers connected with stories of abusive managers, angry customers, and the challenges faced by couriers in sprawling residential areas.
Many readers also identified with Hu's reflections on economic insecurity, limited social mobility, unemployment, and unsatisfying jobs.
Interview Highlights
Ahead of the English translation by Jack Hargreaves, Hu discussed with Rest of World his path into writing, opinions on automation replacing couriers, and what lessons Americans can take from his story.
"Around 2009, I was running a women’s clothing store in Nanjing, a painful job."
Hu’s candid and relatable accounts offer valuable insight into the lives of millions supporting China's booming e-commerce sector, where individual workers are often undervalued.
Author’s summary: Hu Anyan’s memoir reveals the human side of China’s courier industry, blending personal stories with sharp social observations and humor.
Would you prefer the summary to be more formal or conversational?