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book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Book on CD read by Santino Fontana
In this collection of essays, new father Backman speaks directly to his infant / toddler son about life and being a man. Some of these essays are quite humorous and self-deprecating. Some fall a little flat. But all are entertaining. He covers such subjects as bullies, getting your child to eat, being careful, the importance of best friends, and love.
Santino Fontana does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. I forgot that it wasn’t Backman himself who was reading.
In this collection of essays, new father Backman speaks directly to his infant / toddler son about life and being a man. Some of these essays are quite humorous and self-deprecating. Some fall a little flat. But all are entertaining. He covers such subjects as bullies, getting your child to eat, being careful, the importance of best friends, and love.
Santino Fontana does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. I forgot that it wasn’t Backman himself who was reading.
somebodys_fool's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
yluu's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
akshayconstantine's review against another edition
5.0
I do not remember the last time I finished a book in less than 48 hours. It might be because I am procrastinating. Then again, that could be true for any other day of the week.
Anyway, I am not a father. I am not even married. I have roomed with fathers in my lifetime. Does that count? I listened to their stories of what it is like to be a father.
This book is not my regular cup of tea, but I found the synopsis of the book interesting. And I am glad I did. The book was hilarious. There were so many times I wanted to take a photo and send it to my friends. There were a lot of pop references. So, this book might not be for everyone, but I loved it!
Anyway, I am not a father. I am not even married. I have roomed with fathers in my lifetime. Does that count? I listened to their stories of what it is like to be a father.
This book is not my regular cup of tea, but I found the synopsis of the book interesting. And I am glad I did. The book was hilarious. There were so many times I wanted to take a photo and send it to my friends. There were a lot of pop references. So, this book might not be for everyone, but I loved it!
stephanie_willis's review against another edition
4.0
“So it’s without superpowers that you come home from the hospital with your newborn child and feel utterly abandoned and terrified. You look at the hospital staff as they discharge you from the maternity ward like they’re leaving you to die in the desert. Like they’re refusing to open the door to that village of survivors at the end of I Am Legend and just letting the zombies catch up to you.”
This was such a fun, lighthearted feel good book. It wasn’t much of a story, but rather Fredrik Backman’s thoughts about life and parenthood written for his son. And if you have read any of his other books, you know he is fun and quirky.
I definitely laughed and cried and just enjoyed the feel good read!
This was such a fun, lighthearted feel good book. It wasn’t much of a story, but rather Fredrik Backman’s thoughts about life and parenthood written for his son. And if you have read any of his other books, you know he is fun and quirky.
I definitely laughed and cried and just enjoyed the feel good read!
ponch22's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up Things My Son Needs to Know about the World on impulse after seeing it on a Father’s Day end cap at my library last month because I’ve enjoyed/loved the other four novels of Fredrik Backman that I’ve read so far.
This collection of essays has Backman’s clever turns of phrases & plenty of self-deprecating humor (courtesy of translator Alice Menzies): “She smiled the way salesclerks tend to smile when I tell a great story and they don’t want to be rude.” (188) with several 1- or 2-page mini-essays between each one.
It's a super-fast read and made me chuckle several times, but I still prefer Backman's novels like Beartown, its sequel, Us Against You, and Anxious People (all translated by Neil Smith). But, I don't think I've ever read any another book that made me want to watch old Undertaker and Kane matches, so there's that.
This collection of essays has Backman’s clever turns of phrases & plenty of self-deprecating humor (courtesy of translator Alice Menzies): “She smiled the way salesclerks tend to smile when I tell a great story and they don’t want to be rude.” (188) with several 1- or 2-page mini-essays between each one.
It's a super-fast read and made me chuckle several times, but I still prefer Backman's novels like Beartown, its sequel, Us Against You, and Anxious People (all translated by Neil Smith). But, I don't think I've ever read any another book that made me want to watch old Undertaker and Kane matches, so there's that.