Confessions of a New York Taxi Driver

by Eugene Salomon

He's taken all sorts of people for a ride; Mafiosi, hookers, the rich and famous, down and outs, young lovers, old lovers, animals, fare dodgers, tourists from every corner of the globe, lifetime New Yorkers, passengers in a rush, and others with no particular place to go.

Driving a cab for more than 30 years, Eugene has accumulated a remarkable collection of stories, He shares the very best in this unforgettable memoir.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Travel, New York, Autobiography, Biography, Unfinished

391 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Apratim Mukherjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never been to New York.So this book provided an insight into life of New York City.Further,I also got a glimpse of the life of not only a NYC taxi driver but also any cabbie around the world.
The book is a collection of short encounters between a cab driver and a passenger.Each story has a certain amount of humour with it and sometimes I was laughing.But the last chapter was a bit sentimental.So I would say its an honest effort in displaying the life of a cab driver.
I am rewarding this honesty with five stars.

[D.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Confessions of a New York Taxi driver is just what I have come to expect from The Friday Project's "Confessions" book list - 100s of page of entertainment. This is a perfect commuter or holiday read due to the fact that each chapter is a complete standalone story with a linking narrative running through the book.The stories in this book made me laugh out loud at times but the author also has several insightful and important messages that he drives home (pun intended) disguised as a good story.

[Steen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be very interesting. I never really thought about what type of characters a taxi driver must come across on any given day, especially not in a city as big and as busy as New York City. I found some of the stories sweet, funny, shocking and interesting. I am especially shocked to learn that people actually have sex in taxi cabs! I find that pretty disturbing! What are these people thinking? I've been in New York taxi cabs! ~shudders. Although I am sure that the chances of me being in one where that happened is pretty slim. At least I hope! I think he said that there were about 30,000+ taxi cabs in New York at any given time. It could be more I can't remember the exact total but regardless I can't even fathom that number!

This was a fun, entertaining read. I don't know how he could be in that field for as long as he did. From my experience working in retail it only takes one crappy customer to ruin your whole day. But then again I guess you never have a dull moment as a taxi driver no matter what city or town you are working in.

I liked that the chapters are short and don't take that long to read. Reading this book makes me really want to watch the TV show Taxi that was on in the late 70's early 80's with Danny Devito, Judd Hirsch, Tony Danza and many more. I was pretty young when it was originally on, but after reading this book it would be fun to rewatch again.

[Hana Nur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Positive aspects
-Light read
-Very organized
-Has a flow to it
-Categorized well
-Quite funny
-Interesting experiences
-The cover is cute
-Gives rare insight into the life of a taxi driver


Negative aspects
-Gets boring as you go halfway
-There are stories that are unnecessarily included. It can be edited out and improved.
-A bit too long and people may become less interested to finish it.

[my.bookshelf.87 · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Confessions Of A New York Taxi Driver' is a collection of anecdotes rather than confessions. Eugene Solomon has been driving cabs in New York since the 1970s, so he has plenty of stories to tell and observations too on how the city has changed over the years.

This was an easy and enjoyable read. I didn't appreciate reading about certain activities he witnessed on the backseats.. Luckily, this smuttiness is only written about in the first few pages or I wouldn't have bothered to read on. Overall, a fun read about one of my favourite places.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not so much a book of confessions, but rather a book of anecdotes, written by a long-standing New York City cab driver.

Some of the stories are very funny, whereas others are quite cringe-worthy. The book is mostly lighthearted and easy to read. As a fan of New York City, I enjoyed reading it.

My main criticism (or should I say dislike) of this book are the several ‘sexual’ comments made by the author throughout the book. Now I’m no prude and I don’t offend easily, but they did make me feel a little uncomfortable, especially when referring to those couples who have had sex in the back of his taxi! In fact, there was an entire chapter on the subject. That didn’t prevent me from enjoying this book, but did influence my rating of it.

[Amy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book from abovethetreeline (Edelweiss) in exchange for an honest review

this book was a great book, but it didn't wow me.


this is a true story about stories of a cabbie. This man is an American, so i liked this book ever more. what else i liked about this book is that he was honest. I found myself laughing at some of the stories.


as the stories progressed, i found it harder and harder to read. It was as if the stories were "trying" to hard. I also found that the book would just go off in a rant and i found myself thinking.. what did i just read?

this book covers everything from sex, to famous couples, to how certain makes and model cabs are no longer in service.

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read as digital ARC.

Often times, when I'm ringing up customers at the bookstore, they'll mention the thing they do for a living. I always say, "You should write a book about that. I would totally read it." And I would. I found this book fascinating, right up there with Waiter Rant, Retail Hell, etc... Eugene is a genius story collector. He lays out the individual incidents and wider-sweeping observations beautifully. I literally started the book, thought, "This looks long..." and then proceeded to read the entire thing in a matter of hours because I could not put it down. Literally so good I wish Eugene had several other professions so I could read about them too.

[Paige Cullen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5*

I really don't have much to say about this book. I didn't enjoy it at all.

I appreciate the idea and concept of the book and, don't get me wrong, some of the stories were very interesting... but they only lasted for around 3-5 pages and then it would move on to the next story.

I also felt that Solomon used up all his good stories at the start of the book, then once it had gotten half way through it got very dull.

I put this down halfway through and don't have any intention of picking it back up any time soon.

This book gets 2 stars because some of the stories were very enjoyable, but they didn't really save the book for me...

[Liane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book even though its not something I would usually have picked up.
I dont know what made me pick it up as I was looking for a Cathy Glass book!
Once I started though I couldnt put it down! Short chapters of individual stories about different events over the many years of driving a cab around NYC. told straight from the heart it is so easy to read and you almost feel like you either know the driver personally or you were there when it happened.

I'm now following his online blog and loving all the additional stories!

[ReadingGirlReviews (Gina) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After my short time living in NYC I found that I really could connect with these stories. For a memoir, it deserves 4 1/2 stars, because not only did it keep my attention, it made me want more, and not many memoirs can do that. I really enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun read as well as anyone planning to go to NYC and is not familiar with the cab "system." (We actually had to learn all these tricks ourselves - this man is not kidding - wish I knew this earlier!)

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this book a 3.5. It was a fun one to read. Eugene Salomon has been a taxi driver in New York City since 1977. He has probably seen it all. He writes about his experiences of being a driver. He shares his stories in his book "Confessions of a New York Taxi Driver. He breaks them into chapters. such as the drunks who puke in his car, the snobs, the oddball stories. some are sad, others funny. Imagine he could fill a few books with all his stories. There are some pretty good ones in here.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Salomon has been driving a taxi since the 1970s and this is a collection of tales from his blog about the different people he's carted around New York. I wouldn't say to people that you have to read this book but it's a pleasant enough diversion if you want something light.

[Suzy Salomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Dad's book! And I didn't give it 5 stars just because he's my dad, it really is that good! Coming to the USA January 28th!

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really easy time-passer. I’m surprised I enjoyed this but Eugene Salomon has a way of telling his stories that just made me want to hear more and more!

[D.M. Busek · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, it's an adorable read. Then - on a more personal/practical note: I always wanted to memorize the NYC street system (Manhattan grid). So I finally went to google maps and carefully studied it. Fine, though I'd done it before and then forgot it again. But this time, the next day, I stumbled upon this book in a discarded bin of a library. A blessing, or, as the author would put it, a karma. There are street numbers and turns on every page and I - based on my newly acquired google map knowledge - could actually follow his routes and visualize them perfectly, without ever having been in NYC. Such a wholesome learning experience.

[Jenny Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, this man must have had a fascinating career, I imagine he would be very interesting to talk to! I have enjoyed three books in this series now and have a few more in my “to read” pile.

[Lynnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me tell you a story. My Husband and I go to a local Restaurant/Bar sometimes (he more than I). It is a bit upscale but affordable with a casual dress code. During the afternoon on my Hubby's day off and my kid was in school (when I was a stay at home mom) we would visit this lovely place, sit at the bar and order food and drinks. Every weekday till 4pm there was the same bartender. She is amazing. She can remember everyone's name, favorite drink order, favorite food, mug number, routine and just about anything else you proffered. She is fast, efficient and everyone's friend. Now I know from some of the conversations she has had with me that she is intelligent and later found out that she has four college degrees. But this is the profession she chooses. Then there is the other side to her. She loves to party (hard), lives in an apartment with her aging boyfriend (though she is a boomer herself) and never takes herself to seriously. But I did not even mention the best thing about her. She is an artist of the liquid variety. Whenever I go in there, she simply asks "what are you in the mood for today" and I will answer with a simple one word answer. Usually something like Fruity, Fun, Summery or sweet but not too sweet. Once I even said "I want to taste the alcohol." Then she gets to work and gives me her latest creation. I have yet to turn away one of her concoctions.

Now you are probably wondering why I am telling the story of a complex bartender when I need to review a book about a cab driver. Because they are the same. Eugene Saloman is a complex man. There were times in the beginning that I thought he was a bit creepy. But as the book went on, I realized he is a complex man. I liked him. His stories are fun. He would probably appreciate that I felt like I was on not just a tour of New York City but time travelling it as well. With each new date I sat trying to think of what I was doing as this was happen to him. I LOVE NEW YORK. I am a city girl not living in a city and hating that fact, but I do it for my family. Thanks to Eugene, I was able to take a ride in a city I love living his experiences as though they were my own. He is witty and the book is well written. I say that all can find something to take away from these tales, be it that you are glad that you live where you do, that you wished you lived there, glad to go along for the ride or even revisit old stomping grounds. I also believe that we can all learn a bit of tolerance and understanding in the melting pot that is New York.

Great Job Eugene and thank you for the ride!

[Carianne Carleo-Evangelist · Rating 4 out of 5]

aka a two-in-one review because I started and finished two books in the last three days

Confessions of a New York Taxi Driver by Eugene Salomon and Jennifer Joyner’s Designated Fat Girl: A MemoirDesignated Fat Girl. Two very different subjects but the right level of reading depth I was in the mood for this weekend. I started with Joyner’s on Friday and packed a dead-tree copy of Salomon’s for a walk when I knew my iPad battery wasn’t charged. I finished that this morning and then Joyner’s this afternoon. At the gym, no less.

Eugene Salomon, on the other hand both blogs (including on hot-button topics like Uber) and writes for TIME.I hoped his photo blog would have one of the infamous llama, alas no such luck. Converting from a blog wasn’t an issue in this case as the book was mostly an anthology of his stories grouped by themes. It was a very good and quick read and I loved that Salomon put a date in each story to set the context for his story. Although this was only published in 2013, it’s mostly the story of an NYC long gone. Jackie O being gone for 20+ years though is just sad. As an aside, I got this at the wonderful Tenement Museum Shop-great place to direct deposit your wallet when looking for your next good read.

[Yee · Rating 2 out of 5]

https://chyneyee.com/2016/08/14/confe...

I felt this book was interesting at the beginning and I was really excited reading it. As the stories progressed, I got distracted and it was getting harder and harder for me to focus on what I was reading at that time. As I continued reading the book, I felt the writing style is monotonous. The stories weren’t that bad but it will be much better if the stories were written in a more interesting manner.

Also, it was quite difficult for non-American readers to visualise those stories as they have no ideas for any of the street names in New York but at the same time, it’s understandable that the author needs to include the relevant information to support his stories. However, I didn’t feel disappointed after reading this book because the stories weren’t that bad but it’s just too challenging for the author to tell his true stories in a written format despite he has been trying real hard by adding his imaginations and sense of humour in his stories.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. Before reading it, I didn't think a taxi driver's experiences could really be all that interesting. It turns out that it's all a matter of perspective.

The author clearly loves New York City with a passion, and this comes through tremendously well in the writing. He gives a rich and varied account of the people and situations he's encountered over the years. Some are weird and wonderful, some rather funny, and some quite philosophical in their own way.

The collection of stories isn't arranged in a stale chronological order. On the contrary, the narrative regularly jumps back and forth throughout the 80's and 90's, and even into the 00's, but it manages to retain a good flow throughout.

Perhaps the highest praise I can give this book is to say that it really made me feel like I've gotten to know New York City, at least a little. I've never been there before, but now I'm quite determined to visit it at least once. And if I do, now I'll know how much to tip the taxi drivers. :)

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so much of a confessional this book is more a series of anecdotes from a long serving New York City yellow cab driver.
Surprisingly well written, the stories are layered according to categories Salomon applies to events or character traits experienced over a thirty year period. Written with a great deal of tolerance and empathy with all of mankind, and even animalkind, which enters his world of work, Salomon's success as a writer stems from his genuine interest in the people who enter his cab, treating celebrities and common people equally and finding literary merit in their lives and situations even when his patience is stretched to the limits.
There are no great revelations, or confessions, therein and the book is a light, enjoyable read for those who appreciate city life and people watching, and serves a testament to a dying breed of original New York cab drivers newcomers to the city expect to find but rarely encounter.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I once read an article about a pizza delivery guy's most entertaining stories in the Citypages (Minneapolis' version of The Village Voice), and this is a similar concept. Definitely an entertaining exploration of all the crazy New York has to offer within that space known as the back of the taxi cab. I love thinking about how well Gene must know the city, given his 30+ year tenure as a cab driver. While the stories do get a bit repetitive after awhile, this was exactly the kind of digestible fun I needed on the side. It's hard to select a favorite story, as he covers so much territory, but I did enjoy his categorization of the different types of hails and his rationale behind scoring said hails based on their technique and style.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I do not drive, I have been riding in taxis since my teenage years, I thought it would be interesting to read a NY taxi drivers perspective of things. This book is divided into many different topics, which makes it easy to put down and pick back up again. There were parts of this book that made me laugh out loud, and I even cried a tear when the driver described a passenger being driven to the airport due to the sudden death of his mother. This is a ride worth taking, but not sure it would be as interesting if you have not been to NY before. I had just returned from NY when I read this so I think that contributed to some of its charm.

[Marie Knock]

Well - I have abandoned this book - it's not worth my time continuing to read it. The author wrongly assumes we want to hear about people having sex in the back of taxis - when he is not discussing this, he is listing all the celebs he has had in his cab. The Paul Simon tale captured my attention but that was it. If you fancy a book in this genre I would recommend Blood, sweat and tea and confessions of a GP. They are at least laugh out loud funny or horrifying in places.

Very disappointing and not at all engaging. Not worthy of one star.

[SJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ultimately forgettable, but briefly amusing window into the life of a seasoned New York cabbie. I was as interested in the history of NYC from the author's experiences as I was about the lewd and crude details of humanity. I won't remember I read this in a year and it didn't change my life. But it was charming and easy to digest. Definitely a good commuter... Er... Or toilet book choice for when you want to be distracted, but don't want to have to think too much.

[Tommie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first couple chapters had me skeptical and I actually considered that I may not make it through this book. The author kicks it off with "sex" stories and although they weren't too explicit, it was too predictable. I'm glad I stuck with it because it turned out to be a great collection of people stories that are interesting and very entertaining. It's an easy read and although I've never been in NYC for any length of time, this book made me feel like I would feel completely at home there.

[Neha Gupta · Rating 3 out of 5]

What does a man do who loves and lives his job. He writes about it. Bring a taxi driver is also a beautiful thing - meeting new people of different cultures, countries, generations, religions, strata, society, styles, behaviors and temperaments mixed with a guy who has a temperament of his own.

Read the book review here: http://storywala.blogspot.com/2016/09...

[Laura Clode · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favourite in the confessions of a.... Series but it tells honest and real life stories from the drivers perspectives and all the things they have to go through on a daily basis. I liked how they categorised the passengers and the needs of each person I found that entertaining however the anecdotes were not quite as funny as I had hoped for. However and easy and enjoyable read, you can pick it up and leave it whenever.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say this book is a solid 3.5 stars.
Split into small stories this is an interesting collection written to prolong the reader's suspense.
As with any collection of shorter stories some recollections are better than others but it's an entertaining and not badly written book ideal for when you can't face a mammoth novel or a light hearted chuckle to while away your commute - I have to confess I have had some funny looks as I snigger to myself.