I Deliver Parcels in Beijing: Chinese Literary Sensation Reaches U.S.
Hu Anyan, a former courier, wrote a best-selling book about the tough reality of delivering packages, sharing his life story, views on technology, and the future of work.
Hu Anyan’s Diverse Work Experience
At 46, Hu has worked 19 different jobs across six Chinese cities: selling bicycles, managing a clothing store, working in a bakery, creating 3D architectural renderings, doing night shifts at a logistics warehouse, and delivering packages. His memoir-style book, I Deliver Parcels in Beijing, captures these varied experiences.
Writing Style and Themes
Hu writes with a casual tone enriched by colorful details and humor. He describes encounters with harsh managers, angry customers, and vast residential areas. The book highlights the lives of millions of couriers who sustain China’s efficient e-commerce industry, often treated as expendable labor.
Popularity and Relevance
Published in 2023 in China, the book became a bestseller. Readers connected with Hu’s stories of economic uncertainty, shrinking social mobility, rising unemployment, and unfulfilling jobs.
Upcoming English Translation and Interview
Jack Hargreaves translated the book into English, expanding its reach to U.S. readers. Hu spoke to Rest of World about his writing journey, his perspective on courier automation, and what American readers can take away from his story.
“Around 2009, I was running a women’s clothing store in Nanjing, a painful job.”
Author’s summary: Hu Anyan’s memoir reveals the human side of China’s vast courier workforce, blending personal hardship with sharp insights into modern labor and social challenges.
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