Reviews

Things My Son Needs to Know about the World by Fredrik Backman

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abhireadingnotes's review against another edition

5.0

Backman is a one of my favorite fiction writers. But he also writes great non-fiction. This is a collection of essays to his son. Fun read. Lots of life advice and more.

leighr16_'s review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

kessler21's review against another edition

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5.0

This book is funny. Can you believe it, Backman writing humor? I laughed all through this book. Its a collection of short stories explaining different lessons to his son, broken up by small paragraphs or sentences or scenes. Some of the stories begin and I wondered, "where is this going?" What does this have to do with the title of this lesson?" But Backman always brings the moral back around and many times I felt like I learned something - at the very least, a different perspective.

I loved most of the lessons but my favorites are "What you Need to Know about Good and Evil", "What you need To Know about God and Airports", What you Need to Know about IKEA", and "What You Need to Know about Stuff".

Another of my favorite parts is all the late 80s and 90s references to books, movies, songs, and WWE. Backman is 38 years old and I am 31.

Despite the humor, the book also has undertones of anxieties and insecurities that Backman feels regarding being a parent, a husband, a role model.

5 Stars, Great book. I can't wait for another work by Backman.