Things My Son Needs to Know About the World

By: Fredrik Backman

Narrated by: Santino Fontana

Length: 3 hrs and 10 mins

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

Not my favorite Frederick Backman book

This was a sweet, poignant and often funny dedication to Frederic’s first child. I appreciated the heart but didn’t not find this book nearly as captivating as his others. Bear town series was electric, A Man Called Ove just so unique and fun, Britt Marie and My Grandmother both also unique and so moving. Some of my favorite books. This one was more mediocre.

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.

another great story by Fredrik Backman!

this book is funny, touching, and so true! I loved his insight into Parenthood. I only wish it were longer :-)

yeah its amazing

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

What a shame!

I am a huge fan of Bachman! That made it all the more disappointing and sad that this book full of “crap” should be what he chooses as lessons for his son. I thought this would be a great book to share with my nephew who is a new father. It was humorous at the beginning, but it never went beyond rankings. Too bad Backman can’t take this back. Read instead And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer.

Funny and True

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

Loved This

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

Way funnier than I expected 🍺🦕 🍼🌭⚽️

Have been a big fan of this author since I read A Man Called Ove. I knew he had mad skills as a novelist, his characters are so well written you remember them years after finishing the books. This will be the fifth book of his I’ve read, but until this one I had no idea he could also bang out really excellent comedic essays. Not every essay in this collection is funny, but many are. His stories about his baby son, his adored wife, and his fits and starts as a new parent are personal, self deprecating, relatable, funny, and very well done.

As he teaches his son about the world he casts a broad net....dinosaurs, soccer, hotdogs, American wrestling, airports, bullies, IKEA, and why sometimes small singing plastic giraffes have to go live on a farm, all come into play. As does lack of sleep, sometimes lack of judgement, and some really weird food choices.

Give me time, it’s likely I will read every single book he writes. The narrator, who I believe recently won a Tony, did an outstanding job.

Not Ove

I loved A Man Called Ove. This was all right but not great. It’s like mild Dave Barry.

I am a HUGE Backman fan...

I love Fredrick Backman and have read or listened to all of his books. I saw this one and pre-ordered it a month before the release. But I'm disappointed and sad to say so.
It felt like a teenage father was writing it based on the audio performance. The whole thing felt very amateur and new-writer ish. I know it was written for a child but it was not endearing enough. There were a few moments of Backman magic that shone through when he spoke of his wife toward the end. But overall it was not worth my time. Might mean the world to his son and wife but not likely going to be a hit from anyone else's standpoint.