This book investigates how the rapid economic and structural transformation of Shanghai following the reforms of the 1990s has impacted the daily lives and social perceptions of its local residents. Jos Gamble, an expert in urban sociology and Chinese studies, utilizes ethnographic research to examine the tension between the city's historical atrophy under Communist Party rule and its modern mandate to become a global financial hub. The work argues that the physical reconstruction of the city is inextricably linked to the psychological and social adaptation of the people living within its changing borders.

Scholars and urban planners frequently cite this work for its detailed, ground-level view of Shanghai's transition, noting that it provides a necessary human dimension to macroeconomic data. It is widely regarded as a foundational text for those interested in the intersection of urban development and social change in contemporary China.