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As someone who loves funny books for dads (hey, I even wrote one), I’m always on the lookout for authors who blend humor and sincerity to their parenting anecdotes. I’d already enjoyed Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove. That well known book that made me laugh, tear up, and reconsider yelling at strangers in my neighborhood. So when I found Things My Son Needs to Know About the World available as an audiobook through my library, I grabbed it to see how Swedish Dad-isms differ from American Gaffigisms.
This book isn’t a parenting manual. It’s more like a slightly panicked, deeply affectionate love letter from a new dad who has no idea what he’s doing. (I can totally relate.) And it’s pretty darn funny.
My Things My Son Needs to Know About the World Book Review
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Things My Son Needs to Know About the World Book Summary
Fredrik Backman’s Things My Son Needs to Know About the World is a short, funny, and surprisingly tender collection of essays written as life advice to his newborn son. It’s not a traditional parenting guide. It’s more like a dad’s emotional survival manual. It’s packed with awkward confessions, deeply personal reflections, and a bunch of humor – often through poop references.
Backman covers a wide range of topics: the importance of soccer fandom, IKEA furniture assembly, how to handle heartbreak, the weirdness of being a man, and why dressing yourself is harder than it looks. (The soccer and IKEA references remind you, this isn’t from the perspective of a Midwestern Dad who talks about sports too much.) Backman is honest about his own flaws, fears, and insecurities, especially around the overwhelming responsibility of being a new Dad.
Who is Fredrik Backman?
Fredrik Backman is a Swedish author best known for writing heartfelt, character-driven novels. He mixes in humor, melancholy, and deep themes. He first rose to international fame with his debut novel, A Man Called Ove, a story about a grumpy but lovable old man whose life is quietly transformed by his neighbors. The book became a worldwide bestseller and was adapted twice into film (most recently as A Man Called Otto, starring Tom Hanks.)
Backman’s other books, including Beartown, Anxious People, and My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, have also earned critical and popular acclaim for their blend of emotional depth and dry wit. In Things My Son Needs to Know About the World, he takes a more personal turn, offering a collection of humorous essays written for his son. He still manages to capture the same heart and insight as his novels (just with more poop jokes.)
More funny books for parents!
…or maybe just for Moms.
Now onto the rating! Things My Son Needs to Know About the World – Book Review:
My innovative system for rating humor books is explained here
Wholesomeness Score: 4/5
Pretty darn wholesome. The essays are warm, sincere, and rooted in genuine affection for his kid. However, Backman does sprinkle in the occasional swear. Nothing excessive, just enough to remind you he’s a real human who has stepped on Legos at 2 A.M.
Hilarity Score: 4/5
Funny – which is the whole point of the book. But not all jokes stuck their landing with me. At times, it feels like Backman is testing out fresh material at an open-mic night. But typically, the rants are silly, relatable, and entertaining.
Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 4/5
Right up my alley: Good ol’ dad-humor essays at their finest. It’s got a great mix of silliness and sincerity, with plenty of self-deprecating anecdotes. I’m a sucker for the bite-sized essay format and the occasional off-the-rails rant, and Backman delivers both.
Things I liked:
- Poop jokes
- Universal Dad humor (but not the simple, cheese Dad jokes!)
- Bite-sized book (easy read, or easy audiobook listen in my case.)
Things I didn’t like:
- Fredrik Backman didn’t narrate his own audiobook (at least not the English version) and that threw me off more than I expected. Since this is a nonfiction, essay-style collection, I really wanted his voice (literal voice) telling his stories. The narration was fine, but without Backman’s Swedish accent and delivery, the whole thing felt a little less authentic to my ears. My brain kept saying, “Wait… shouldn’t the author be reading this?”
Conclusion: Things My Son Needs to Know About the World – Book Review
In the end, Things My Son Needs to Know About the World felt like sitting through a stand-up set devoted entirely to “clueless dad moments”. Backman is funny, warm, sincere, and occasionally profound.
It threw me off a bit that Backman himself doesn’t narrate it. I get it, but still, when you’re expecting Swedish Dad Energy and get a different voice entirely, it takes a minute.
Not every joke landed for me, but I suppose, that’s parenting in a way. A lot of swings, some glorious misses, and a few unexpected home runs. Overall, it’s an easy, funny read (or listen.)
Do you have a favorite funny book for Dads? Let me know in the comments so I can add to my list!
Scott Johnson is a Midwestern humorist, author of Essays Out of Left Field, and the mind behind scottjohnsonauthor.com. He’s also a husband, dad of three, and Data Systems Administrator (whatever that is). Scott is on a mission to find and read all the funny books. He shares his thoughts on those books, author life, and other delightful randomness with his readers on his website.
