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In Tales from Behind the Wheel: Year One, rideshare driver Jonathan Wong shares some of his most memorable stories driving passengers through the greater Honolulu area. In these pages, he reveals that while sensational stories about rideshare drivers and passengers seem to be in the media all the time these days, those stories are exceptions. The truth is that most rideshare drivers perform a wonderful service to assist people in their needs to get from point A to point B, and most rideshare passengers are ordinary people who take care of their everyday affairs.

But just like any other situation involving humans, carpool opens up opportunities for strange, fun, and heartwarming moments.

Wong has divided this book into several chapters on the different types of riders or experiences he has had while driving for both Uber and Lyft. Each chapter divides itself into several very short stories. Jonathan begins with an introduction on what it’s like to be a rideshare driver. By sharing his stories, he wants us to see a part of life and the variety and similarities of the human experience. He affirms:

“I hope you nod your head in the moments when you learn or see the truths of life in the stories I share, because ultimately, we are all ordinary people, whether we are simply on the way to work, school or taking a trip for business or pleasure to a distant land. The human experience is the same no matter where we are or what we do. And part of the wonder and pleasure of creating stories is the privilege of touching the lives of others. “

I think my favorite stories were in the first chapter of the book, “Freaks Come Out at Night.” Here Jonathan tells his stories of religious people who don’t seem to practice what they preach, strippers who need a ride home, and people who take what Jonathan calls “the journey of shame” – a trip home after spending the night in a lover’s house. Many of these stories made me laugh or shake my head, but they also revealed a very human side of Jonathan’s passengers.

Successive chapters include Jonathan’s experiences that drive people to do business; many are ordinary people who prefer to take Uber or Lyft to work rather than having the expense of owning a car; others are in Hawaii on business. A chapter on celebrity sightings will leave you in awe of people who will choose the carpool over a private limousine or even a taxi.

And then there is the chapter on taxi drivers. The new ridesharing economy has really hurt the taxi business and as a result Jonathan has had some unpleasant encounters with disgruntled taxi drivers who feel like he’s stealing their ticket. It is not uncommon for you to receive a request to pick someone up from a hotel and park directly at the door for your passenger only to see a series of taxis waiting in line for someone to give them a ticket. He has also learned to avoid taking breaks in parking lots frequented by taxi drivers.

Another interesting chapter focuses on his run-ins with law enforcement. As Jonathan points out, the more you drive, the more likely you are to be stopped by the police, and as a result, he has had that experience multiple times. Fortunately, all his encounters with the forces of order have been quite positive, despite everything.

There are many other entertaining stories in this book and I enjoyed the variety. I loved that Jonathan finds it interesting to meet all the diverse people he has had the opportunity to drive with and how he often shares similar interests with them. I also appreciated the seriousness with which she took her job, she is happy to help people in need of a ride and feels good that she can get people, like those who are intoxicated, safely where they need to be.

Jonathan has a final chapter on how being a rideshare driver means working alone, so you don’t really have coworkers. As a result, it explains how rideshare drivers have come together online to share stories and support each other.

Also, the appendices on the back are packed with helpful information for anyone who might be interested in becoming a rideshare driver. (Jonathan has written another book on how to be a successful rideshare driver titled Driving Profits and Making Bank and offers rideshare classes.) There is also information on special offers and referrals, as well as other ways to earn money like carpooling. driver or through related companies.

Whether you’re thinking of getting into the rideshare business or just looking for some entertaining tales to brighten up your day, you’ll find yourself laughing and even giving a little thought to the human condition after reading Tales from Behind the Wheel. : Year one.

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