"Six Records of a Floating Life" tells the story of Shen Fu's life in 18th century China. He records his memoirs in categories so they move circularly, each one beginning in his youth, and telling the stories in that category, and then the next starts again at the beginning to tell about its stories. In order, they are "The Joys of the Wedding Chamber" about his love for Yun, his wife; "The Pleasures of Leisure" about his more quiet hobbies of gardening, painting and keeping house; "The Sorrows of Misfortune" about his losing his father and Yun, and "The Delights of Roaming Afar" about his travels through China.