A Man Called Ove book cover

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Summary

A Man Called Ove
Fredrik Backman
4.38 (1174200 Reviews)
Relationship
Society
Inspiration
Psychology
Overview
Key Takeaways
Author
FAQs

Overview of A Man Called Ove

Meet Ove, the grumpy neighbor whose hidden heart captivated millions. Tom Hanks brought him to life in "A Man Called Otto," but first this Swedish sensation spent 42 weeks on the NYT Bestseller list. Why does this curmudgeon's journey make even the toughest readers "ugly cry"?

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Key takeaways

1

When Grumpiness Becomes Grace

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What does it mean to truly live after you've lost your reason for living? Ove knows the answer all too well. At fifty-nine, six months after his beloved wife Sonja's death, he's methodically planning his exit from a world that no longer makes sense. He covers the floor with plastic sheets-not for himself, but so real estate agents won't have to clean up the mess. He turns Sonja's photograph toward the shed so she won't have to watch. Even in death, he's thinking about others, though he'd never admit it. This is the beautiful paradox at the heart of Fredrik Backman's global phenomenon: a man everyone calls grumpy who possesses the most generous heart imaginable.

2

The Man Who Measured Life in Principles

3

The Woman Who Brought Color to Grayscale

4

The Making of a Stubborn Man

5

The Invasion of the Persistent

6

The Battle Worth Fighting

7

The Heart That Grew Too Large

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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comments
254
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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comments
96
likes
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

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@Jaded_Falcon
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@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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