The Answer Is No

by Fredrik Backman

All he did was to remove the one thing that makes almost all people unhappy: other people. Whatever they want, the answer is no.

more than anything else, humans have historically proved to be in-need-of-therapy animals.

Every morning he wakes up in his bed with the entire blanket on him. Because Lucas doesn’t have relationships. No loved ones, no unloved ones, no one at

Because do you know what children are? Another human being.

It’s not that Lucas hates other people. He just really enjoys being where other people aren’t.

the great virus of civilization: neighbors.

Well, I’ve had my dose of lunatics next door.

Being smart is the worst thing one can be in modern society. All it ever means is more work.

I’d like to vigorously agree.

I think most people who want to be happy try to add things to their lives. But really what maybe they should be doing is taking something away.”

This line deserves readers, not skimmers.

the easiest way to be happy is to think about time in about eight-hour increments, and to always have something to look forward to at the end of those hours:

Well that's an idea!

“I miss making up. I don’t miss the fights, I don’t miss nagging and arguing and getting upset about the ways in which we’re so different, but I miss . . . making up. It’s like we’re choosing each other all over again when that happens.”

A rather surpising and surprising thought on the magic of good relationships and the romance of keeping it alive.