What if great friendships aren’t found by luck but built through effort?

Bestselling novelist Fredrik Backman, the mind behind A Man Called Ove (adapted into the Tom Hanks film A Man Called Otto), Anxious People, and the beloved Beartown series, has spent his career writing about the quiet power of ordinary people. But in his real life, he learned one of his most important lessons from his best friend of 30 years: meaningful friendship is a skill you develop, not a lottery you win.

Despite being a self-described introvert, Fredrik discovered that you don’t need hundreds of friends. You only get a few humans who truly shape your life. His newest book, My Friends, is a tribute to those relationships and the daily work of showing up for the people who matter most.

In this candid and inspiring conversation, Fredrik and I talk about the healing power of friendship, why differences make relationships stronger, the value of having friends who edit us, and the joy of being genuinely happy for someone else.

If you want to become a better friend and build deeper connections, this episode offers heartfelt lessons from one of the world’s most compassionate storytellers.

This is A Bit of Optimism.

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This episode is brought to you by the Porsche USA Macan

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To check out Fredrik’s newest book, “My Friends,” visit:

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/My-Friends/Fredrik-Backman/9781982112820

Find the full-length speech Fredrik gave for Simon & Schuster here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSuSyZ92Cjg

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