本书以在城市中取得成功的农村流动人口为例，对社会网络与社会流动以及社会融合之间的动态关系进行了深入分析。关注的重点是他们怎样在城市里取得成功，如何在城市里生活，以及他们的经济成功对其价值观、生活方式和社会融合等方面的影响。本书的实证材料来自对三十个从农村到北京经商并取得成功的家庭的深度访谈。
本书在社会网络研究领域，深入探讨了社会网络和社会流动的动态关系，并对影响地位获得的关系类型进行了分析；在社会融合研究领域，对社会网络与社会融合以及经济地位与社会地位的相关性进行了深入分析。研究发现，群体间的社会融合很大程度上体现在个人网络关系的建立上，然而，个人网络的扩展，不仅受限于其经济地位，更受限于其社会地位。而且，经济地位与社会地位并非密切相关。
Chapter 1 Introduction
Rural-Urban Migration in Transitional China
A New Point of View
Organisation of the Book
Chapter 2 Social Networks and Social Mobility
Introduction
Social Network Studies in the West
Social Network Studies in China
Social Networks and Social Mobility
Conclusions
Chapter 3 Patterns of Geographic Mobility
Introduction
The Fieldwork
The Families
The Markets and the Businesses
Patterns of Geographic Mobility
Conclusions
Chapter 4 Culture, Social Relations and Group Migration
Introduction
Social Relations in the Chinese Cultural Context
Social Relations and Group Migration
Family Businesses
Conclusions
Chapter 5 Establishing Businesses in Beijing
Introduction
Advantages in Doing Business
Setting Up Businesses in Beijing
Network Construction
Conclusions
Chapter 6 Social Contacts and Social Circles
Introduction
Consequences of Social Mobility on Social Relationships
Contact with Kin
Contact with Friends
Contact with Locals
Conclusions
Chapter 7 Pragmatic Lifestyles and Social Perspectives
Introduction
Social Mobility and Social Adaptation
Pragmatic Lifestyles
Social Perspectives
Conclusions
Chapter 8 Conclusion
The Key Findings
Looking Backwards and Forwards
References
Appendix: The Interview Schedule