--- title: "Anxious People by Fredrik Backman: review & gift guide" description: "An unsuccessful bank robber interrupts an apartment viewing. The people inside turn out to be far more complicated than a hostage situation suggests. See who it suits and why we recommend it." canonical: "https://www.mybooksindex.com/books/anxious-people/" last-updated: "2026-10-23" --- # Anxious People by Fredrik Backman: review & gift guide Canonical: https://www.mybooksindex.com/books/anxious-people/ Updated: 2026-10-23 By Fredrik Backman An unsuccessful bank robber interrupts an apartment viewing. The people inside turn out to be far more complicated than a hostage situation suggests. ## Our recommendation An ensemble comedy is often a good match for someone who enjoys watching strangers reveal themselves. Backman starts with a disastrous situation and uses it to bring very different people into close quarters. The recommendation is for readers who want humor that makes room for vulnerability. ## Who it suits Readers who enjoy interconnected lives, mistaken assumptions and comedy with an emotional centre. ## Before you choose There are themes of suicide, anxiety and financial distress. The shifting perspectives need more attention than a straightforward plot. ## Book details Genre: Literary fiction ISBN: 9781501160844 English translation: Neil Smith ## Sources and scope [Publisher or author information](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Anxious-People/Fredrik-Backman/9781501160844) This recommendation is based on publisher or author information and editorial assessment of reader fit, not a claim of a full independent reading. ## Appears on - #5 in [Good books to read on the train](https://www.mybooksindex.com/lists/best-books-to-read-on-the-train/) - #3 in [Funny books for grown-up life](https://www.mybooksindex.com/lists/funny-books-for-adults/) - #4 in [Feel-good books with a little heart](https://www.mybooksindex.com/lists/feel-good-books/) [Editorial policy](https://www.mybooksindex.com/editorial-policy/)