The Deal of a Lifetime Summary
Fredrik Backman

The Deal of a Lifetime Overview

In Fredrik Backman's "The Deal of a Lifetime," an unnamed first person narrator addresses a message to his estranged son. He tells his son that he has killed someone, yet argues that this does not matter, because not all lives are equal. He goes on to relay the details of this happening. Each time he begins to express remorse, however, the narrator defends his callus actions and decisions. Because he knows that he will die soon, the narrator desperately wants to communicate honestly about his life, yet fears this vulnerability. The short story explores themes including, death, happiness, and empathy.