本书记述了记述了17位小人物的生活状况，各自的悲欢离合及对婚姻、金钱、子女等的看法，也讲述着他们接触到的形形色色的城市男女的情感与城市家庭的生活，揭示了城乡的差别、传统与现代价值观与道德观的冲突与蜕变，展示了人性最深处的欲动。(This book describes the living conditions of 17 obscure characters, about their respective vicissitudes and views on marriage, money, and children. Also it tells urban family life and emotions of all sorts of urban men and women they contacted with, to reveal the differences between urban and rural areas as well as the conflict and metamorphosis between traditional and modern values and morals, and to show the desire and impetus in the deepest principle in human nature.)