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Michelle Dammon Loyalka
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Eating Bitterness: Stories from the Front Lines of China’s Great Urban Migration Hardcover – March 19, 2012

by Michelle Loyalka (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 29 ratings
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Every year over 200 million peasants flock to China’s urban centers, providing a profusion of cheap labor that helps fuel the country’s staggering economic growth. Award-winning journalist Michelle Dammon Loyalka follows the trials and triumphs of eight such migrants―including a vegetable vendor, an itinerant knife sharpener, a free-spirited recycler, and a cash-strapped mother―offering an inside look at the pain, self-sacrifice, and uncertainty underlying China’s dramatic national transformation. At the heart of the book lies each person’s ability to “eat bitterness”―a term that roughly means to endure hardships, overcome difficulties, and forge ahead. These stories illustrate why China continues to advance, even as the rest of the world remains embroiled in financial turmoil. At the same time, Eating Bitterness demonstrates how dealing with the issues facing this class of people constitutes China’s most pressing domestic challenge.
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  1. Print length
    276 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University of California Press
  4. Publication date
    March 19, 2012
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.9 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0520266501
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0520266506
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"Eating Bitterness is filled with carefully researched and deeply empathetic profiles of individual Chinese workers. It's also a meticulously crafted book, which shows through even in details such as the titles given to chapters. Who wouldn't want to read about 'The Nowhere Nanny,' 'The Landless Landlords,' and 'The Big Boss'? These titles suggest a work of fiction. And even though the tales found here come straight from the author's interviews, reading them proved the same sort of pleasure as making my way through a collection of short stories by a master of that genre." Jeffrey Wasserstrom, author of China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know.

"Michelle Dammon Loyalka s Eating Bitterness tells the story of those who are at the bottom of Chinese society, their hopes, struggles, and above all, their perseverance in enduring hardship in life. It s an untold story and a must-read for anyone who wants to know the real China." Helen H. Wang, author of The Chinese Dream.

"The great migration in rural China could be the most significant population shift today, influencing business practices, consumer habits, and cultural expectations around the world. Michelle Loyalka takes us behind the stunning demographics into the hearts and minds of the urban pioneers with unforgettable portraits of courage and despair. Her remarkable insight and candor make an indelible impression, erasing any distance between readers and subjects." Mary Kay Blakely, author of American Mom: Motherhood, Politics, and Humble Pie.

From the Back Cover

"Eating Bitterness is filled with carefully researched and deeply empathetic profiles of individual Chinese workers. It's also a meticulously crafted book, which shows through even in details such as the titles given to chapters. Who wouldn't want to read about 'The Nowhere Nanny,' 'The Landless Landlords,' and 'The Big Boss'? These titles suggest a work of fiction. And even though the tales found here come straight from the author's interviews, reading them proved the same sort of pleasure as making my way through a collection of short stories by a master of that genre."―Jeffrey Wasserstrom, author of China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know.

"Michelle Dammon Loyalka’s Eating Bitterness tells the story of those who are at the bottom of Chinese society, their hopes, struggles, and above all, their perseverance in enduring hardship in life. It’s an untold story and a must-read for anyone who wants to know the real China."―Helen H. Wang, author of The Chinese Dream.

"The great migration in rural China could be the most significant population shift today, influencing business practices, consumer habits, and cultural expectations around the world. Michelle Loyalka takes us behind the stunning demographics into the hearts and minds of the urban pioneers with unforgettable portraits of courage and despair. Her remarkable insight and candor make an indelible impression, erasing any distance between readers and subjects."―Mary Kay Blakely, author of American Mom: Motherhood, Politics, and Humble Pie.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of California Press; First Edition (March 19, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 276 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0520266501
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0520266506
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 29 ratings

About the author

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Michelle Dammon Loyalka

Michelle Dammon Loyalka

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Michelle Dammon Loyalka is an award winning journalist who has lived in China since 1997. Her new book, Eating Bitterness: Stories from the Front Lines of China's Great Urban Migration (University of California Press), provides an insider's look at the pain, self-sacrifice and determination of the people underlying China's dramatic economic turnaround. She has spoken on issues related to China's migration and urbanization at venues including the United Nations, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and the National Committee on US-China Relations.

She is a contributor to the soon-to-be released book of essays, Chinese Characters: Fast-Changing Lives in a Fast-Changing Land. Her work on the psychological repercussions of China's rapid development has earned her both an Overseas Press Club scholarship and the O.O. McIntyre Fellowship. Ms. Loyalka compiled and edited a daily feature section for BusinessWeek Online from China for six years. She has freelanced for publications including The New York Times, BusinessWeek, Inc., Fast Company and the San Francisco Business Times. In China she has published essays in local newspapers, appeared on a variety of talk shows and co-hosted a call-in radio program in Mandarin.

In addition, Ms. Loyalka has extensive business experience in China in both education and technology. She served on the board of directors of the Concord Educational Network in Zhuhai, worked as a department head at Calikai Software in Xi'an, and launched a business consulting company in Xi'an's booming new High Tech Development Zone. She holds a master's degree from the Missouri School of Journalism and currently lives in Beijing.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
29 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book very informative, honest, and insightful. They describe the stories as compelling, captivating, and inspiring. Readers say it's well worth reading and praise the validity of the writing. They also appreciate the accessible, absorbing, and down-to-earth writing.

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10 customers mention "Insight"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very informative, honest, and insightful. They say it puts their life in perspective and is written beautifully and intelligently. Readers also mention the descriptions of the setting and various situations are vivid.

"...It was easy to read and offered a glimpse into a layer of society I will probably never see for myself, as well as being a humane look into the..." Read more

"...Not only are the stories compelling, they offer a cogent, microscopic view of this able band of entrepreneurs...." Read more

"...Yet the author wrote very objectively in the third person. I am a very picky reader and I loved the stories...." Read more

"...The writing is brisk, honest, and respectful...." Read more

6 customers mention "Storytelling quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the stories compelling, captivating, and inspiring. They also say it's long-form journalism at its best.

"...A refreshing take on an often discussed phenomenon. The other stories are similarly engaging, perfect blends of personal narrative and historical/..." Read more

"...Each story is engaging, heart-breaking, and often bittersweet, even for those who have achieved material success...." Read more

"...I am a very picky reader and I loved the stories. The endurance and culture is all about current China...." Read more

"Eating Bitterness is long-form journalism at its best. The writing is brisk, honest, and respectful...." Read more

5 customers mention "Reading value"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well worth reading. They also appreciate the validity of the writing.

"...Well worth reading regardless just for the sake of reading" Read more

"...of teachers red this book and found it to be very informative and very interestig...." Read more

"Great reading, puts our life in perspective and how fortunate we are." Read more

"Great read, eye opening..." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book well-written, accessible, and absorbing. They also say the interviews are down-to-earth.

"...This is strong, absorbing writing that describes the hardships faced by city-village people without infantilizing or romanticizing or turning them..." Read more

"I found this to be informative and well written. It was easy to read and offered a glimpse into a layer of society I will probably never see for..." Read more

"Eating Bitterness is long-form journalism at its best. The writing is brisk, honest, and respectful...." Read more

"...It is written so beautifully and intelligently that one comes away feeling many emotions...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Christine Tee
5.0 out of 5 stars Strong, absorbing writing that describes the hardships faced by city-village people without infantilizing or romanticizing them
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2014
Verified Purchase
One of the best books on Chinese migrants that I've read. Many China hands might compare this to Leslie T. Chang's 'Factory Girls.' Differs in that Loyalka tells the stories of migrants in Xi'an (less developed western China as opposed to booming southern China in Chang's book) who have less education and skills than Chang's subjects. Loyalka also leaves herself out of the narrative completely so that the focus remains on the characters.

This is strong, absorbing writing that describes the hardships faced by city-village people without infantilizing or romanticizing or turning them into victims. One of my favorite chapters is about a family of farmers-turned-landlords, who are the last to vacate their soon-to-be-demolished building. These 'nail house' stories are popular in western media coverage of China, the residents often portrayed as poor, uselessly defiant victims of greedy developers. But Loyalka shows us how this family has greatly benefited from the purchase of their land, and the only way they've been 'victimized' is by being so financially secure and idle that the head of the family becomes a mahjong/gambling addict. A refreshing take on an often discussed phenomenon. The other stories are similarly engaging, perfect blends of personal narrative and historical/sociological background (just enough for a general reader).

(My only gripe has nothing to do with the writing, but at how expensive the book is - it's published by a university press - which limits its audience. With such easy, accessible writing, I wish it had gotten a more commercial publisher and wider publicity, like Chang's book. I only heard about Loyalka at all because my husband, a writer, received a review copy of an anthology that included her writing. We were blown away and hunted down her book.)
3 people found this helpful
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Kate Elliott
4.0 out of 5 stars Informative and easy read
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2017
Verified Purchase
I found this to be informative and well written. It was easy to read and offered a glimpse into a layer of society I will probably never see for myself, as well as being a humane look into the lives of people who provide so much of the labor on which modern life is built and yet who are so often ignored. Recommended.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful Stories of China's Migrant Population
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2012
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Eating Bitterness follows the lives of eight migrant workers who have come to the city, like so many others, for a chance at a better life for themselves and their families. As a former resident of China, I saw people such as these every day - even in the so-called "wealthy" cities. They form a vast yet necessary underpinning of the complex society of the city, as well as of the country home they have left behind. I have read countless books about China, but this book narrows ones focus enough to provide a clear vision of the migrant worker's life. Loyalka documents eight workers, all in varying stages of poverty (or wealth), and provides insight into the endurance, struggles, and dreams of these voiceless laborers. Each story is engaging, heart-breaking, and often bittersweet, even for those who have achieved material success. Not only are the stories compelling, they offer a cogent, microscopic view of this able band of entrepreneurs. Too often Americans hear of the overpowering greatness of China, its rising fortunes and its rising middle-class. Loyalka offers a brief glimpse into the lives of those millions of workers at the bottom - those who will never become middle class, yet those who by their perseverance and hard work - hold the very fabric of China together.
2 people found this helpful
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candyw49
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for anything China
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2012
Verified Purchase
This book is about the great migration of poor people into the cities of China. Eating bitterness meant to me "suck it up and endure" and these are real heroes. This is a objective study of eight people from all different walks of life---nanny, knife sharpener, businesswoman. Yet the author wrote very objectively in the third person. I am a very picky reader and I loved the stories. The endurance and culture is all about current China. It is a real mix of the bizarre as it is today. I was rooting for these people all the way. If you love readiing, fiction, biographies, economics or social studies you will adore this book. You can catch an update of the economics of these people in the New York Times by the same author, Michelle Dammon Loyalka. Check out that article too.
10 people found this helpful
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MCL
4.0 out of 5 stars Honest and Insightful
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2012
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Eating Bitterness is long-form journalism at its best. The writing is brisk, honest, and respectful. For those interested in a memoir that covers some of the same issues, I'd recommend Kosher Chinese: Living, Teaching, and Eating with China's Other Billion, the Barnes and Noble Discover Award winner for 2011.
2 people found this helpful
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450Mom
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, eye opening
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2012
Verified Purchase
I read this book after living in China and I have to admit it is very eye opening. While living there, you see migrant workers all over the place and one tends to forget their plight and who they left behind in their hometowns. As another reviewer said, if you have any interesting in China, economics, migration, labor rights, this book will for sure have something for you. Love the fact that the author has managed to write in it a lively tone, and presents the people in the stories from a neutral point of view, not showing them as victims.
One person found this helpful
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