Why Reading Fredrik Backman’s Books Will Make You a Better Person
These are the books you won’t be able to stop yourself from hugging after you’ve finished reading
If I’d have to name one writer who had a great influence on me as a human being, it would be Fredrik Backman. I discovered his books a few years ago through my mom — she’s my Goodreads when it comes to book recommendations.
All of Backman’s books focus on the amazingly complicated, beautiful, funny, unexpected, and sometimes tragic experience that we call life while featuring quirky characters who try to do their best at living it. That’s exactly where the magic of these books lies.
These are the stories that will take you through the ups and downs of life and leave you wanting to hug the book, the cat, the dog, and really every other person within the perimeter of your house.
You’ll most likely find yourself laughing out loud at page twelve, only to feel something tugging lightly at your heartstrings a few pages later and reminding you of all those little things that make us so fragile.
Without giving too much away, here are 5 things you’ll learn from Fredrik Backman’s books that will help you become a better person:
1. Adults will pretend they have it all together. Most of them don’t, so stop being so hard on yourself.
Being a grown-up is complicated. We’re supposed to get through the day while somehow balancing our home life, work life, social life, and our social media life so that before we go to sleep, we can say we’ve done a decent job.
In truth, being human is a full-time job in itself. However, we don’t always acknowledge that. So sometimes we push ourselves even harder when we should instead take a break, rethink our strategy, and maybe even ask for help.
Admitting that you don’t have it all together doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re just growing up and still figuring out how everything works.
2. If you can help someone — even your grumpy old neighbour — please do it.
Most of the time, we’re not aware of the impact we have on one another. Or of the impact we could have on someone else’s life.
While we might not be able to change the world overnight, we can, however, change it bit by bit whenever we get the chance. A community and its individuals thrive only when we reach out and start helping one another.
Yes, even that ornery old lady that lives in the flat above you.
3. You don’t have to deal with pain on your own.
We all have to deal with loneliness, fear, anxiety, sadness, or pain at some point in our lives. But it’s easier not to have to do that alone. Having or building a support network helps you work through those negative emotions much faster and eventually heal.
There are people out there that will take the time to listen to your story, and just that can make you feel lighter. They won’t always do it because they’ve been in a similar situation but because they’re human too and they know very well how hurting feels like.
More often than not, sharing that pain brings people closer, even if they’re quite different from each other.
4. Be kind to those around you, even idiots.
There’s much more we have in common with strangers than we’d ever guess. Just like us, they try to do their best at being good parents, good spouses, good friends, and above all, good people.
It’s not always that easy to figure out what decision to make or what we are supposed to say or do, which leaves us feeling like complete idiots from time to time.
But that’s ok, we’re doing our best.
5. Don’t try to rob a bank.
I think this is kind of self-explanatory, but I had to mention it. Not that I would ever think you’d do that.
Yet, life is messy and full of unexpected situations when the most terrible idea seems like the only solution you have left.
If this happens, read number 3 again.
Ranking Fredrik Backman’s books — which novel to read first?
It’s high time I mentioned my favourite Fredrik Backman books.
Again, I’m trying my best not to give any spoilers, while still making you curious and excited to start reading them.
Note: There’s no order in which you should read these. They’ll steal your heart anyway.
A Man Called Ove
“They say the best men are born out of their faults and that they often improve later on, more than if they’d never done anything wrong.”
Ove is the typical grumpy old man that knows exactly how the world should be. That’s why he always feels like he’s surrounded by idiots and doesn’t shy away from voicing his opinion to his neighbours, shop assistants or random joggers passing his house. But there’s much more to Ove than that.
Britt-Marie Was Here
“The reason for her love of maps. It’s half worn away, the dot, and the red color is bleached. Yet it’s there, flung down there on the map halfway between the lower left corner and its center, and next to it is written, ‘You are here’. Sometimes it’s easier to go on living, not even knowing who you are, when at least you know precisely where you are while you go on not knowing.”
Britt-Marie doesn’t mean to be fussy or difficult, she just expects things to be done the right way. Even when it comes to arranging the cutlery drawer.
Her minutely organised life comes apart when she discovers that her husband, Kent, has cheated on her. That’s when Britt-Marie decides to do something she’d never thought she’d do: she leaves her home and tries to rebuild her life on her own.
My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologies
“Having a grandmother is like having an army. This is a grandchild’s ultimate privilege: knowing that someone is on your side, always, whatever the details. Even when you are wrong. Especially then, in fact.”
Elsa’s grandmother is not crazy as most people would think, she’s a superhero and her only best friend. But what happens when superheroes get cancer and there’s no one left to guide Elsa in Land-of-Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas?
Elsa’s greatest adventure begins when her grandmother leaves her a series of letters apologising to those people she’s wronged. With each letter she delivers, the girl starts to discover the truth behind her grandmother’s fairytales.
Anxious People
“This story is about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots. So it needs saying from the outset that it’s always very easy to declare that other people are idiots, but only if you forget how idiotically difficult being human is.”
It all starts in a small town in Sweden, where an idiot tries to rob a bank just before New Year’s Eve and fails. Then the bank robbery accidentally transforms into a hostage situation involving anxious people and people who love idiots. And a bridge. And a rabbit. And too much wine.
And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer
“Isn’t that the best of all life’s ages, an old man thinks as he looks at his grandchild. When a boy is just big enough to know how the world works but still young enough to refuse to accept it.”
Grandpa and Noah are sitting on a bench in a square that keeps getting smaller and less familiar every day.
Grandpa tries to share his most precious memories of his wife as his thoughts slip in and out of reach. Meanwhile, Noah tries to comfort his grandfather when he gets lost and scared while also learning how to say his goodbye.
These are the books that I hope will make you feel less uncomfortable when talking to a stranger. The books that will teach you all about empathy and the power of human connection and stay with you for years to come.
Because that’s what great stories do.
