August 28, 2007

Taxi Cab Professions

“Hack,” by Melissa Plaut

In the back of taxis, New Yorkers contemplate eternal quandaries: “How much do I tip?” “Is the driver eavesdropping?” “What is that smell?”

Melissa Plaut reveals the answers in Hack: How I Stopped Worrying About What to Do with My Life and Started Driving a Yellow Cab. The 28-year-old decided to take the road less traveled — which turned out to be the roads more traveled — after abandoning (being laid off from) her soulless advertising job.

Along the way she encounters countless unsavory characters, including the guy who exposes himself, the girl who explores herself (“Yes! Yes! Don’t stop!”), and 101 variations on the a-hole jobber.

While Hack may provide more insight into your journey to JFK (avoid the Van Wyck) than your journey of life (avoid getting eggs thrown at you), Plaut’s misadventures will keep you entertained. And possibly solve some of those pressing questions.

No, the FDR really isn’t faster during rush hour.

Available online at amazon.com or your local bookstore.