Thisbookconsistsof69interviews,,reflectingawiderangeofpersonalexperiencesbetween1978and1990.Inthesepersonalinterviews,Chinesepeopletalkaboutboththeordinaryandextraordinaryeventsintheirlives.ApoorfarmerontheLoessPlateausaysthatallheneedsiswatertohaveeverythinginrife.Aprisoner,convictedforanumberofcrimes,talksabouthisownchildhoodmisfortunes.AGuangdonghairstylistworkinginBeijingandaself-employedtaxidriverinShanghaibothfranklyadmitthattheirgoalsaretomakemoney;anaccomplishedShanghaiportraitphotographerdisclosesthathewishestodonudephotographybeforehisretirement;andawomanpilotsaystheonlyregretinherlifeisthatasapilotshecannotwearherbeautifulhairlongThesewerethepeopleonemighthavecomeacrossinanycity,townorvillageinanypartofChina.Alltheintervieweesrelatedtheirexperiences,joys,sorrows,challenges,grievancesandhopes,inacandidmanner.Throughthisfascinatingcollectionofpersonalanecdotes,readerswillgetinsideglimpsesofChinainthecourseofgreatsocialtransformationbroughtaboutbyreformandopeningup.