Cover Image: Things My Son Needs to Know about the World

Things My Son Needs to Know about the World

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

A truly fantastic read from beginning to end. This is one to add to your collection and cherish. I will be reading this again and again, whenever I need a reminder of what love is!

Was this review helpful?

Funny and beautifully written story about the joys (and frustrations) of parenting. Thank you to the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I wasn’t too sure how to feel about this. I felt like it translated weird and just didn’t jive well with me which caught me off guard with Backman.

Was this review helpful?

What a lovely little gem of a book about life, parenthood, love, and learning to ride the waves along the way. Perfect for parents but, as a non-parent, it’s still a great read.


(I know this is super old! I’m trying to catch up on my outstanding netgalley reads! Sorry!)

Was this review helpful?

<i>Things My Son Needs to Know About the World</i>, (Atria Books), by Fredrik Backman is a collection of experiences Backman has had throughout his experience as a father. This book would make an excellent gift for your dad. Backman hits all the points he usually makes with his writing style such as emotion and humor. As you read through his story of fatherhood you'll laugh and cry right along with him. This is a super quick read I think most people would be able to relate to in some way

Was this review helpful?

This was just a cute little collection of essays, letters and conversations Fredrik Backman is leaving for his son and I loved his fictional writing but this literally felt like he was having a conversation with me. It was great! I love his work no matter what he writes!

Was this review helpful?

AMAZING! This funny, inciteful book had me laughing the entire time. Backman artfully crafted a book that used real life stories and experiences to teach life long lessons to his son. Plenty of literary Easter eggs for those who have read some of his other books. Narrator for the audio was spot on! Loved everything about this one.

Was this review helpful?

I'm a huge fan of Fredrik Backman and this book was no exception. While my kids are grown with families of their own, this was a fun book to read and reminisce about the days when I was in the thick of child rearing.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book! It's such a hilarious depiction of those days of early parenthood. There were some chapters I liked more than others, but overall it was a funny, quick read.

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately I've just lost interest in this book. I just don't think it's a book I need to spend time on anymore, and I don't think my review would be positive. It sounds like a dry book that's not for me.

Was this review helpful?

I read this while pregnant with my first child and I was crying happy tears. Maybe because of hormones but also because this book is beautifully written with an amazing message. Now that my baby is here, I appreciate this even more because it is so relatable. Backman has quickly become one of my favorite authors because of his incredible writing and beautiful, complex message.

Was this review helpful?

This was a delightful read. I found myself laughing out loud frequently. And it didn't matter if I was curled up in my recliner at home, in the doctor's office waiting to be seen, or dining in a restaurant. It was that entertaining that I couldn't stifle the laughter.

I hope Fredrik Backman's children will grow up appreciating their father's talent, self-effacing sense of humor, and his gentle humility.

This is a wonderful and quick read that I highly recommend to readers...especially if you have...or have had...young children. You will be treated to a fun afternoon getting a glimpse into the author and his familyu.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Hilarious. I love this author. Fredrik Backman has a way with words. Makes it so easy & enjoyable to read his books. I've read them all & look forward to the next one.

Was this review helpful?

This is really freaking hilarious. I wish I had read it before now. It made me laugh out loud. At the end I was listening to Iron Maiden on Spotify and craving hot dogs. It was kind of amazing. In a really good way.

Was this review helpful?

I had access to this, last spring through the Publisher, on Netgalley. I was approved at the same time that things went terribly wrong with my pregnancy. I didn’t even remember it until months later. By then, it was too late and it was archived on Netgalley. I did purchase this a couple weeks ago. Backman is always an author I buy the books, even if I get an ARC. His books are just amazing.

This book was hilarious! I’m kind of glad I didn’t read it then and waited until now. I have my own son and have some of the experiences he has had. It was quite hilarious! There’s a lot that reminded me of my husband too. Especially, when I would go to bed at 7pm in early pregnancy, and he would stay up late playing video games next to me. He loved that. haha.

I don’t know if it’s exhaustion (I get slap happy) but I was dying laughing so many times. I can’t tell you how many times I laughed! I really enjoyed it. For this reason, I definitely was going to give it 5 stars. I enjoyed it so much.

Like all his books, his writing is just so good. He knows how to talk about the most mundane things and turn it into a life lesson. Some of them are pretty big lessons too. At times, I would wonder where he was going with something and BAM, it would hit you. Pretty great stuff.

I did make my husband read some of the things and he would laugh too. I think this is good for all fathers and mothers. Pretty much, parenting is a crazy ride and hard as all get out, but completely and utterly worth it.

“The realization that you will, from that moment on, draw all your breaths through someone else’s lungs hits you harder when you aren’t prepared”

YES, 100%!!
This is a shorter book and so fast paced. I devoured it! I would say, without all the breaks I had to take, it took me less than two hours to read this one. If you want a really fun and light read, this is for you. If you have kids and want a laugh, read this one!

Was this review helpful?

I have read four previous books by Fredrik Backman and rated three out of the four with five stars. Things My Son Needs to Know about the World is no exception even though it is a nonfiction collection of essays and not a novel. The book ranges from corny and cheesy to pensive and serious. In a world where negativity is so prevalent, I will take this positive message of love.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2019/12/things-my-son-needs-to-know-about-world.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

First I"ll start by saying I love Backman! He's so witty, funny and writes such amazing characters. This collection of essays are notes to his son, as the title clearly states... As a parent, I could relate to a lot of what he was writing about and even smiled and chuckled a few times. But I think it felt a little forced at times, kind of creating more drama or exaggerating situations a bit to make things a bit funnier and then it felt a little more forced and less genuine to me. It almost pains me to write that because I find his fiction writing to be so genuine and true to the characters he creates. I feel like this was probably a very personal project for him and I think there will be lots of people who will love this and parents who will completely relate. I liked it alright but it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

I am a huge fan of Fredrik Backman but I didn't love these snippets. I have a feeling I am not the target audience, The stories are short and sweet, but never the funny or heartwarming stories I was expecting. I suppose I was just disappointed because of the obsession I have for all of Backman's other books.
I can't recommend this one, but I know he'll be back with something awesome soon.

Was this review helpful?

This was fun. Mostly lighter short stories that the author has compiled for his son. It was a unique way to get to know the author in a bit more detail. That last big story (no spoilers) was especially personal and tugged on the heartstrings. Small book, but some big advice.

Was this review helpful?

This book had so much in it that I loved! First, the fact that it is written by Fredrik Bachman! Second, that it is a true story. FInally, having two sons I found so much information that I have shared with my sons and will share that I haven't based on this book.

Was this review helpful?