Customer Reviews

Taxi Confidential: Life, Death and 3 a.m. Revelations in New York City Cabs

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Since New York City keeps punishing its citizenry by raising cab fare it becomes less and less likely that you will ever spend time in the back of a taxi. That is sad, because after you read this book you will realize that the back of the cab you're not sitting in has a story to tell. Amy Braunschweiger wandered all over this fair city listening to cabbies (something most New Yorkers avoid doing) and has put together a book of true stories that range from uplifting and awesome to shocking and bizarre. This book has love, sex, death, Mel Brooks, crack-addict dads, trannies, lost diamonds, socialists, people driving with their feet and more. Peppered throughout the book is a variety of taxi trivia that will most certainly improve your odds should you ever find yourself on Jeopardy. Very enjoyable read. You'll walk away with a better understanding of life from the cab driver's perspective, and you'll realize most people are borderline nuts.

Length:: 1:53 Mins

Taxi Confidential author Amy Braunschweiger talks about the kinds of stories found in her book in this video from the publisher, 671 Press.

I heard about this book through the grapevine (facebook of course). I ordered it last week and just started reading it and the stories are amazing. The author has put together a really, really nice set of stories on thematic issues like scary rides, sex-filled rides, crazy customers, famous customers, tourists, and what cabbies do otherwise that we can all relate to even if we don't live in a huge city like NY! She also incorporates little fact info related to the story. Like "Curries like mom used to make" has a list of hole-in-the-wall eateries that cater to cabbies but are also worth a visit if you are nearby. The story about Aura and her mom driving cabs includes has data and further information regarding how rare it is to find a female cab driver.

I'm going to recommend this for my bookclub to read!!

Any New Yorker should buy this book. This isn't just the story of cabbies--it's the story of the city. Knife wounds, backseat sex, bigotry, surprising compassion...it's all there. The true genius is that it's from both perspectives--the cabbies and the passengers--forcing us to challenge our own assumptions. Plus, trannies! Braunschweiger plunges deep, deep into the heart of cabbie culture, uncovering enough gems to startle even the most jaded New Yorker. And you have to love lines like, "Peter [the cabbie] says that driving a cab is the perfect job for an alcoholic." A must-read for anyone who has ever ridden in a cab, seen a cab, or, more likely, smelled a cab.

Your cab rides will never be the same after reading Taxi Confidential. Braunschweiger has a knack for funny, poignant stories full of fascinating cabbie facts and lore. If you or your friends love NY, this is the book to get. You won't be disappointed.

This is an entertaining book. Amy gets down to basics and reveals NYC at its best. Little known trivia make a difference.

An excellent collection of contrasting viewpoints and events that, collectively, say as much about the city as they do about one of the most ubiquitous and readily recognizable symbols of it: the yellow cab.

Ironically (perhaps intentionally), these short but well researched pieces can be read while taking a short cab ride.