• Things My Son Needs to Know About the World

  • By: Fredrik Backman
  • Narrated by: Santino Fontana
  • Length: 3 hrs and 10 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (535 ratings)

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Things My Son Needs to Know About the World  By  cover art

Things My Son Needs to Know About the World

By: Fredrik Backman
Narrated by: Santino Fontana
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Publisher's summary

The number one New York Times best-selling author of A Man Called Ove shares an irresistible and moving collection of heartfelt, humorous essays about fatherhood, providing his newborn son with the perspective and tools he’ll need to make his way in the world.

Things My Son Needs to Know About the World collects the personal dispatches from the front lines of one of the most daunting experiences any man can experience: fatherhood.

As he conveys his profound awe at experiencing all the “firsts” that fill him with wonder and catch him completely unprepared, Fredrik Backman doesn’t shy away from revealing his own false steps and fatherly flaws, tackling issues both great and small, from masculinity and midlife crises to practical jokes and poop.

In between the sleep-deprived lows and wonderful highs, Backman takes a step back to share the true story of falling in love with a woman who is his complete opposite, and learning to live a life that revolves around the people you care about unconditionally. Alternating between humorous side notes and longer essays offering his son advice as he grows up and ventures out into the world, Backman relays the big and small lessons in life, including:

  • How to find the team to which you belong
  • Why airports explain everything about religion and war
  • The reason starting a band is crucial to cultivating and keeping friendships
  • How to beat Monkey Island 3
  • Why, sometimes, a dad might hold on to his son’s hand just a little too tight

This is an irresistible and insightful collection, perfect for new parents and fans of Backman’s “unparalleled understanding of human nature” (Shelf Awareness). As he eloquently reminds us, “You can be whatever you want to be, but that’s nowhere near as important as knowing that you can be exactly who you are.”

©2019 Fredrik Backman (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

What listeners say about Things My Son Needs to Know About the World

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Loved This

This book was delightful and certainly can be applied to girls. I really enjoy Fredrik Backman’s writing.

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Valorycp@hotmail.com

Sound advice and showing all the humor and humanity any of us might wish to be able to display.

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You'll want a physical copy to annotate

There are parts of this book that are so beautiful you'll want to annotate to read them to loved ones. Funny and sentimental.

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All The Feels

I loved this. Entertaining, witty, relatable, and perfectly narrated. Fredrik Backman never disappoints. Need more.

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yeah its amazing

if you do anything this weekend reading this book should be it. Backman at his absolute best

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Funny and True

Fredrick Backman nails it with every ounce of truth. Great for every Dad and Mom.

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Hilarious love letter to his son.

Achingly touching in one moment and gut cramping funny the next. I would recommend this book to any parent of any age. Heck, anyone with a relationship or a sense of humor will enjoy this read. I will listen to this again and again, loved it.

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New parents should listen

Honest and fun listen. Great story. Most likely going to share this with my son.

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This was perfection

I sat in Chick-fil-A and cried like a baby within the first five minutes. This hit hard as a father of two boys.

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Both Hilarious and Heartwarming!

I laughed out loud and shed a few tears-I loved this book! Fredrik Backman never disappoints!

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1 person found this helpful