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Things My Son Needs to Know about the World

Read by Santino Fontana

About The Book

The #1 New York Times bestselling 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 mid-life 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 you belong to
-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 onto 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.”

Appearances

MAY 6
19:00:00
in person
First United Methodist Church
In Person
77 W Washington St
Chicago, IL 60602
MAY 7
19:00:00
in person
UWM Union Wisconsin Room
In Person
2200 E Kenwood Blvd
Milwaukee, WI 53211
MAY 8
18:30:00
in person
The Historic Artcraft Theatre
In Person
57 N MAIN ST
Franklin, IN 46131
MAY 9
19:00:00
in person
Kirkwood Performing Arts Center
In Person
210 E MONROE AVE
KIRKWOOD, MO 63122
MAY 10
19:00:00
in person
Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library
In Person
800 Vine St
CINCINNATI, OH 45202
MAY 12
18:30:00
in person
Montgomery Bell Academy Paschall Theater
In Person
4001 Harding Pike
Nashville, TN 37205
MAY 13
19:30:00
in person
Dallas Museum of Arts -Arts & Letters Series
In Person
1717 N Harwood St
Dallas, TX 75201
MAY 14
18:00:00
in person
Roswell Presbyterian Church
In Person
755 Mimosa Blvd.
Roswell, GA 30075
MAY 15
19:00:00
in person
First on Fifth
In Person
501 W 5TH ST
Winston Salem, NC 27101
MAY 16
19:00:00
in person
Cuyahoga County Public Library
In Person
Parma-Snow Branch | Sari Feldman Theater
2121 Snow Road
Parma, OH 44134
MAY 17
19:00:00
in person
Good Shepherd Chapel
In Person
901 EDEN RD
LANCASTER, PA 17601
MAY 19
18:00:00
in person
B&N Union Square
In Person
33 East 17th Street
New York, NY 10003

About The Author

Morgan Norman
Fredrik Backman

Fredrik Backman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, Britt-Marie Was Here, Beartown, Us Against You, Anxious People, The Winners, My Friends, as well as two novellas and one work of nonfiction. His books are published in more than forty countries. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and two children. Connect with him on Facebook and X @BackmanLand and on Instagram @Backmansk.

About The Reader

Santino Fontana

Why We Love It

“If you’ve read Fredrik’s novels, you can already guess that the advice he has for his newborn son isn’t the far typically found in books like this. The voice is funny, completely honest, and full of heartfelt emotion. Fans will adore this book because it offers many of the same pleasures as his fiction—a mixture of humor and observations about the human condition that ring true.” —Peter B., Editor-in-Chief, on Things My Son Needs to Know About the World

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (May 7, 2019)
  • Length: 3 disks
  • Runtime: 3 hours and 10 minutes
  • ISBN13: 9781508258681

Resources and Downloads

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