Rob Schmitz

Rob Schmitz is NPR's international correspondent based in Berlin, covering stories throughout Germany and Europe. Prior to this role, he served as NPR's Shanghai correspondent from 2016 to 2022, reporting on China, Japan, South Korea, and other parts of East Asia. Throughout his career, Schmitz has earned multiple journalism awards including a Peabody Award for his coverage of Chinese society and two Edward R. Murrow awards for his coverage of the Chinese economy. His book "Street of Eternal Happiness" (2016) chronicles the lives of individuals along a single street in Shanghai, providing insight into modern Chinese society through personal narratives. Before joining NPR, Schmitz worked as the China correspondent for American Public Media's Marketplace radio program and served as the Los Angeles bureau chief for KQED's "The California Report." His journalism career began in the 1990s when he was an English teacher and freelance journalist in South China.

Readers appreciate Schmitz's detailed reporting and personal storytelling approach in "Street of Eternal Happiness." Multiple reviewers note his ability to humanize modern China through intimate portraits of individuals living on a single Shanghai street. Readers highlight: - Clear, accessible writing style - Balance of personal stories with economic/historical context - Depth of cultural insights from his years living in China Main critiques: - Some find the narrative structure jumps between characters too frequently - A few note the reporting feels dated in certain sections Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (150+ reviews) One reader notes: "He lets his subjects speak for themselves without imposing judgment." Another writes: "The book would benefit from a clearer timeline and fewer parallel storylines." As his only major published work to date, most reader discussion focuses on "Street of Eternal Happiness."

Street of Eternal Happiness: Big City Dreams Along a Shanghai Road A journalistic exploration of modern China through the lives of residents along a single street in Shanghai, documenting their personal stories, economic struggles, and aspirations.

Twin Cities: A Photographic Journey Through Minneapolis and Saint Paul A visual documentation of Minnesota's two major cities, featuring photographs and descriptions of landmarks, neighborhoods, and cultural sites.