Blurb; 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 tightThis 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.”
My Review; I have loved every book by this author so far and this did not disappoint me at all. It is a short and easy read at just over 160 pages. Parts had me laughing out loud. In this story we learn more about the author and his dad side… Parenting isn’t easy.
Within Fredrick has addressed some things he would like his son to know when he’s older. However, he does drift off now and again into funny unrelated stories. This is a book not to be taken seriously. I throughally enjoyed it. Something different! Something for his son to read and laugh at when he’s older. As parents we can all relate to at least one part of this story. Can easily be read in one sitting.
Fredrick has gone out of his genre zone here and given us something different and it’s paid off! A well deserved four stars from me. Highly recommend. Perfect for those readers with busy lives and not much time.
Between The Pages Book Club 