'Pick a Color' is a novel that takes place over a single day at a nail salon
NPR's Book of the Day explores Souvankham Thammavongsa's novel "Pick a Color," which follows Ning, a former prizefighter who now manages a nail salon. The episode examines how Ning applies her boxing experience to her current role, from managing the salon's space to reading client behavior, while revealing the complex inner lives of salon workers who observe and discuss their clients' stories.
Drawing from her background as the child of Lao immigrants who came to Canada through a Thai refugee camp, Thammavongsa crafts a narrative that challenges common perceptions of nail salon workers. The episode delves into how the author's personal experiences, including her mother's time as a factory worker, influenced her portrayal of workers who maintain their dignity while navigating professional demands and personal challenges.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Oct 13, 2025 episode of the NPR's Book of the Day
Sign up for Shortform to access the whole episode summary along with additional materials like counterarguments and context.
1-Page Summary
Novel "Pick a Color" and Its Unique Perspective
"Pick a Color" introduces readers to Ning, a former prizefighter turned nail salon manager who brings her boxing experience into her current role. The novel shows how Ning applies strategic lessons from boxing to her salon work, from controlling space during eyebrow treatments to reading clients' intentions as they enter.
The Complex World of Nail Salon Workers
The narrative reveals how salon workers, though often perceived as background figures, lead rich and complex lives. While clients openly share their stories during treatments, they remain unaware that workers carefully observe and discuss these conversations among themselves. The novel shows how workers like Ning find comfort in salon routines while managing their own personal challenges, including loneliness.
Author's Background and Motivation
Souvankham Thammavongsa, born in a Thai refugee camp to Lao parents and immigrated to Canada as a child, draws inspiration from her parents' experiences as working-class immigrants. Through characters like Ning, Thammavongsa challenges stereotypical perceptions of nail salon workers, portraying them as complex individuals with rich inner lives. Her work, influenced by her mother who found dignity in factory work, advocates for marginalized voices and urges readers to recognize the depth and intelligence of often-overlooked workers in society.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can adopt strategic thinking from one area of your life to another by identifying core principles that made you successful in one context and brainstorming how they can be applied to a new challenge. For example, if you're good at planning travel itineraries, use that foresight and attention to detail to organize your weekly meal prep or work schedule.
- Enhance your empathy and understanding of others by actively listening to the stories of people you interact with daily, such as baristas, bus drivers, or colleagues. Ask them open-ended questions about their day or experiences, which can lead to a deeper appreciation of the diverse lives around you.
- Advocate for the recognition of individuals in overlooked professions by sharing their stories and contributions on social media or within your community. You could write a blog post or create a video tribute that highlights the skills and dedication of workers in roles that are often undervalued, like custodial staff or delivery drivers.
Get access to the context and additional materials
Novel "Pick a Color" and Main Character Ning
"Pick a Color" introduces readers to Ning, a character with a complex background and a thought-provoking personal journey set in the unique environment of a nail salon.
Novel Follows Ning, Nail Salon Manager
Ning, the main character in the novel "Pick a Color," is not the typical nail salon manager. Before managing the salon, she was a prizefighter, an experience that influences her current role in unexpected ways.
Ning Uses Boxing Lessons In Her Salon Work
The novel reveals how Ning utilizes the strategic lessons from her boxing days in her nail salon duties. She applies the concept of controlling the center line, which is critical in boxing, to seemingly mundane tasks like eyebrow hair removal. Similarly, the lesson to protect oneself at all times in the ring is paralleled with her ability to read the intentions of clients as they enter the salon—a crucial skill for maintaining both professional and personal boundaries.
Ning Finds Comfort in Nail Salon Routines Despite Her Loneliness
Ning has embraced the routine of the nail salon, where she finds a respite from her loneliness. The ring of the telephone is symbolic, representing a connection to the outside world and making her feel needed and valued. Her solitary nature allows her to enjoy her own company while taking solace in the structured environment of the nail salon.
The Novel Explores the Loneliness and Lives of Nail Salon Clients
The narrative unveils the complexities in the lives of the nail salon clients, who openly share their stories and seek comfort or advice from the workers.
Clients Share Details, Unaware Workers Discuss
As the clients relax and begin to confide ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Novel "Pick a Color" and Main Character Ning
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can draw inspiration from your past experiences to innovate in your current role, just like Ning used boxing strategies in her salon management. For instance, if you previously worked in customer service, use your communication skills to enhance team collaboration in your current job, regardless of the industry.
- Create a daily routine that brings you comfort and structure, similar to Ning's solace in salon routines. Start with something simple like a morning coffee ritual or an evening walk, which can provide a sense of stability and satisfaction in your day-to-day life.
- Practice active listening in your interactions to understand the c ...
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
The Dynamics and Experiences of Nail Salon Workers
In a thought-provoking novel, Tamavangsa brings nail salon workers from the background of literary narratives to the forefront, offering a deeper look at their lives and experiences.
Nail Salon Workers Often Portrayed As Background Characters Brought To Forefront In This Novel
Nail salon workers are often depicted as inconspicuous figures or props within the scope of literature, but Tamavangsa's novel changes that perception dramatically. The writer engages readers to the extent that they feel an immersive connection, almost as if they themselves are part of the salon workforce.
The Novel Highlights the Intelligence and Humanity of Undervalued Workers
The author draws a compelling distinction between mere knowledge and the actual application of it, which she defines as intelligence. Nel captures this difference, exemplifying the thoughtfulness and ingenuity of workers who are frequently overlooked and undervalued for their contributions.
Salon Workers Build Relationships and Support Systems
Within the narrative, salon workers like Nel engage in an informal yet vital camaraderie, forming supportive relationships as they confront daily workplace challenges. These connections underscore the significance of interpersonal networks in environments that are often dismissed by the broader society.
Novel Spotlights Nail Salon Workers Navigating Client Dynamics
Tamavangsa's novel sensitively portrays the complex interactions between nail salon workers and their clients, revealing a delicate balance of service and perception.
Read and Respond To Clients' Nee ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
The Dynamics and Experiences of Nail Salon Workers
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can practice active listening next time you visit a service provider to better understand their perspective. When engaging with workers, such as those at a nail salon, make a conscious effort to listen to their stories or comments without interrupting. This helps you appreciate their intelligence and humanity, much like the novel's portrayal of salon workers.
- Start a personal project where you document the stories of people in service roles you encounter in your daily life. This could be through journaling or audio recordings, with their consent, focusing on their experiences and the skills they use in their jobs. It's a way to acknowledge and learn from the diverse backgrounds and challenges they face, similar to how the novel gives a voice to nail salon workers.
- Make it a habit to observe and reflect on the dynamics of your interactions ...
Get access to the context and additional materials
The Author's Personal Background and Motivations For Writing
Souvankham Thammavongsa shares her unique background and the driving forces behind her literary work, urging readers to see the overlooked with new eyes.
Author Souvankham Thammavongsa Was Born In a Thai Refugee Camp and Immigrated To Canada As a Child
The author reveals that she was born to Lao parents in a Thai refugee camp and migrated to Canada when she was just one year old.
Inspired by Her Parents, She Highlights Workers' Intelligence and Dignity
Thammavongsa draws inspiration from her parents, especially her mother who found pride and joy in her factory work. Her mother saw her role in making cakes not just as a job, but as a part of others' celebrations, thus instilling a sense of dignity and intelligence inherent in the labor of everyday workers like herself.
Outsider Author's Journey Sparks Advocacy For Marginalized Voices
Having navigated her path to becoming an author without formal guidance, selling her self-published books door-to-door, Thammavongsa's experience reflects her commitment to advocating for marginalized voices, similar to those of her parents.
Challenge the Perception of Nail Salon Workers
The author seeks to challenge the stereotyped perceptions of people working in nail salons through her vivid characters.
Workers as Complex Individuals With Rich Inner Lives
Through the character of Ning, Thammavongsa portrays nail salon workers as complex individuals who bring their history, thoughts, and rich inner lives to their daily wor ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
The Author's Personal Background and Motivations For Writing
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can start a personal journal to document the stories of people you encounter in everyday life, focusing on those in service roles. By actively listening and noting down their experiences, you'll develop a deeper understanding of the complex lives behind the roles that society often undervalues. For example, strike up a conversation with your barista or the person who cuts your hair, and with their permission, write about their aspirations and challenges.
- Create a book club with friends or colleagues that focuses on literature by authors from diverse backgrounds, particularly those who write about marginalized communities. This will help you explore different perspectives and foster empathy. Choose one book a month and meet to discuss the characters, the environments they navigate, and the societal implications of their stories.
- Volunteer at a local community center or organization that serves i ...
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Create Summaries for anything on the web
Download the Shortform Chrome extension for your browser
