every time I read a Backman book, it makes me appreciate the people around me so much more.

The title explains what this book is about and it is exactly that, a dad telling his son… things about the world. That really is it. There is no better way to say it.

So I understand that maybe other people were expecting something else and that’s why they didn’t enjoy it as much. But it was exactly what I wanted from this book and I loved it. Given that I read this on a whim.

I’m going to reiterate something in a previous Backman review when I said that an underlying theme in all of his books is simply “we’re all just trying our best” as human beings and this book is no exception. I don’t read many nonfiction books but when I do, this is the kind that I liked. This really had the author bearing his soul in the pages for all of us to consume.

I felt like I was peeking into someone’s life but at the same time find myself being able to relate to almost every single little thing. Because I find that something we almost always forget as children is that: our parents just want what’s best for us. It’s a fairly easy thing to understand but we usually don’t know how much that goes into the little things. I found myself looking back at almost every single little thing that my own parents have ever done for me.

Everything felt so real and raw, while touching your heart, that you probably would have found me smiling while crying. As someone who is extremely close to their parents, especially my own dad, I cannot imagine how someone could have managed to get through this book without shedding a tear or at least smiling.

Other than that it discusses masculinity, toxic masculinity, family, relationships, parenthood,… a lot as you may have expected (or not).

Once again, extremely well done and at this rate, I am going to run out of Backman books to read. I guess that’s what rereading is for.

“I just want you to know that I love you. Once you’re older, you’ll realize that I made an endless line of mistakes during your childhood. I know that. I’ve resigned myself to it. But I just want you to know that I did my very, very best.”

↣ When you’re in the mood to… feel your feelings while having fun at it, read a Backman book and we can wallow in our softheartedness together. It’s also a quick read so why not? ↢