The Street of Eternal Happiness

The Street of Eternal Happiness follows the lives of residents along a single street in Shanghai, China. Through years of reporting and relationship-building, NPR correspondent Rob Schmitz documents their struggles, dreams, and daily experiences. The narrative centers on several main characters including a sandwich shop owner, a widow who lost her life savings in a scam, and young professionals navigating modern China's economic transformation. Their personal stories intersect with major events and changes in Chinese society from the Cultural Revolution through the present day. The book chronicles multiple generations of Chinese families as they adapt to rapid social and economic shifts. Through detailed reporting and intimate access to his subjects' lives, Schmitz presents a street-level view of China's rise and its impact on ordinary citizens. At its core, this work explores universal themes of family, sacrifice, and the pursuit of prosperity while revealing the complex reality of China's economic miracle through individual human stories.

Readers report that this book offers an intimate look at everyday life in modern Shanghai through the stories of several residents living along a single street. The narratives humanize China's rapid economic changes through personal accounts. Readers appreciated: - Deep personal connections with featured individuals - Clear explanation of complex economic/social issues - Balance of individual stories with broader context - Raw, unfiltered view of challenges in modern China Common criticisms: - Narrative sometimes jumps between characters confusingly - Some stories feel unresolved - Too much focus on economic hardships vs other aspects of life Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (130+ ratings) "The personal stories make China's transformation real in a way statistics never could" - Goodreads reviewer "Wanted more resolution for some of the characters we grew to care about" - Amazon reviewer

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🌟 Rob Schmitz lived on the Street of Eternal Happiness (长乐路 / Chang Le Lu) in Shanghai for many years while serving as China correspondent for American Public Media's Marketplace. 🏮 The street was named in the 1940s by Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek's wife, Soong Mei-ling, who wanted to bring hope to the war-torn city. 📝 The book follows the lives of several real residents over multiple years, including a sandwich shop owner, a flower seller, and an accordion factory manager. 🗺️ The Street of Eternal Happiness stretches for one mile through the former French Concession area of Shanghai, an area known for its tree-lined streets and art deco architecture. 🎭 Many of the stories in the book reflect China's dramatic transformation from Mao's Cultural Revolution through to its modern economic boom, told through personal narratives of multiple generations.