Richard D. Thom

About the Author

Richard D. Thom is a seasoned travel writer and observer of global cultures, whose journeys have taken him through the heartlands of Asia and beyond. With a keen eye for the interplay between human endeavor and societal transformation, Thom's narratives blend personal anecdotes with insightful commentary on the lives of ordinary people amid extraordinary changes. His debut book, Slag, Coal Dust, and Cabbages: By Train Through China's Workers' Paradise 1995-2007, chronicles over a decade of rail adventures across China, capturing the grit and resilience of its working class during a pivotal era of economic reform. Drawing from his background in journalism and anthropology, Thom's writing illuminates the textures of forgotten landscapes and the voices of those shaping them, offering readers a vivid window into worlds both distant and intimately human.