Book Review: I Deliver Parcels in Beijing by Hu AnYan
A first-hand candid account of a Chinese worker about his experiences in its gig economy.
It has become one of two states I have alternated between for years now: working and writing.
China is a country that shot to prosperity after globalizing its economy. The manufacturing sector boomed thanks to the centralized decision-making structure that did not need to answer to anyone other than itself. Within hardly a few decades, China became the global epicenter of manufacturing, with the entire West outsourcing its industrial output. The predominantly agrarian economy that was in shambles thanks to several foolhardy and shortsighted decisions suddenly picked up and started growing by leaps and bounds. Following the rapid urbanization and digitalization that followed, it became the biggest gig economy, comprising at least 200 million employees.
While this helped the enormous young workforce gain job opportunities rapidly, a substantial amount of them faced challenges like a lack of job security, health insurance, and financial stability. I Deliver Parcels in Beijing is a collection of memoirs by Hu AnYan, one among the workforce of China's gig employees who changed jobs nineteen times in as many years and moved from one city to another. The book is translated to English by Jack Hargreaves and published by Astra House. I received a review copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my feedback.
It was during the time of Covid-19 shutdowns that the writer shared an essay on his experiences of working night shifts in a packing plant, which went viral. Though he used to write even before, it was the first time he was widely read. This book begins with that essay and others that describe his experiences as a worker who moved around a lot and did odd jobs to earn his living. The book explores the human cost of becoming a consumerist society and how it takes a humongous effort to maintain sanity, creativity, and one's self-respect in work environments that don't value the individuality of their employees.
Hu AnYan shares his story of surviving nineteen jobs in five chapters. From working in a hotel to delivering parcels, he has done a lot of gigs and has even run his own business. The episodes are not recounted in any chronological order. But the writer has succeeded in bringing elements of drama and a sense of organic progression in his narrative in the present form. There is a visible arc of character development that he undergoes in the book, which makes it believable and relatable. He exposes the severe exploitation that happens in temporary gig jobs that leaves the workers drained and prevents them from leading a meaningful social life.
The book provides an insightful portrayal about what happens behind doors in digital businesses like online shopping, food delivery, etc. The end customer is seldom aware of the plight of the people who undergo tremendous pressure and hardships to make their lives comfortable and easier. In the book you find a rare specimen who managed to convert the difficult experiences as inputs for his creativity.
The writer uses a very deadpan style of narration and never tries to sensationalize his travails. The book has a plain and inornate language that seldom leaves its conversational and introspective tone. There is a subtle streak of humor that pervades the narrative, which makes its reading tremendously enjoyable. The writer comes across as a wise and conscientious person who keeps a cool mind and is always ready to work hard and learn from his mistakes. At the same time we find him exhibiting a tremendous amount of resilience and humanity.
While the raw tone captures the dreary subject effectively, there are places where the narration becomes disjointed and its pace hasty. I felt that towards the end the writer just wanted to complete the recounting of his nineteen jobs, making the narrative a bit repetitive and tedious. The concluding chapter abandons the introspective nature of the book to a large extent, and even skipping it would not take away from the enjoyment of reading the book.
I Deliver Parcels in Beijing is a candid memoir about a man's attempts to survive in the gig economy of China. It describes a business system that mechanizes the lifestyle of its employees and leaves them out of the creative sphere of the society. It is also a testament to the human spirit that overcomes such obstacles and prevails. Though there are clunky parts in its narration, I would recommend reading the book to get insights into a system of work that is being implemented globally.