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Re:Thinking with Adam GrantCreative anxiety, self-doubt, and procrastination with Fredrik Backman | ReThinking
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At a glance
WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT
Fredrik Backman on creative anxiety, procrastination, and self-acceptance struggles
- Backman describes enduring, book-by-book crises of confidence—where each new project feels like a free fall regardless of past success.
- He reframes anxiety and moderate procrastination as functional parts of creativity, using them to edit more, think longer, and avoid rushing first ideas.
- Backman emphasizes valuing effort over outcomes day-to-day, shrinking the “world” to the next doable task and resisting the pressure of praise and expectations.
- The discussion links self-compassion to being a better partner/parent, with Backman aiming to be “okay” rather than chasing constant happiness.
- A lightning-round detour highlights his belief that video games can be broadly beneficial for kids and his practice of “scheduling grief” after a friend’s death.
IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING
5 ideasSuccess doesn’t automatically produce confidence.
Backman notes that bestseller lists and awards don’t quiet anxiety; each new book resets him to uncertainty, suggesting confidence is not a reward that arrives with external validation.
Treat anxiety as a tool, not only a threat.
He tries to “make a friend” of anxiety by using it to recheck, edit, and push for improvement—while accepting it may never fully disappear.
Reframe procrastination as persistence and incubation.
Backman’s framing—“as long as you’re procrastinating, you haven’t given up yet”—pairs with Grant’s research that moderate delay can improve creativity by forcing idea incubation.
Build a thinking routine even if you lack a writing routine.
Backman reliably creates space for mental work (driving, walking in the forest with his dog), so progress continues in-head on days when words don’t land on the page.
Value effort daily; minimize obsession with outcomes.
He focuses on doing the next thing in front of him and asks, “Did I do my best today?” to stay functional—especially when praise triggers fear of not replicating past work.
WORDS WORTH SAVING
5 quotesI still don't know if I wanna be a writer.
— Fredrik Backman
It's always, like, I start a new book, it's always just free fall.
— Fredrik Backman
Like, you can be on the bestseller list and you can get awards and it, it doesn't matter. Like, that's not how confidence works. It's not how anxiety works.
— Fredrik Backman
As long as you're procrastinating, you haven't given up yet.
— Fredrik Backman
It's to value effort and not outcome.
— Fredrik Backman
SPEAKERS
Fredrik Backman
guestSwedish novelist and author of books including "Anxious People".
Adam Grant
hostOrganizational psychologist and host of the podcast "Re:Thinking with Adam Grant".
High quality AI-generated summary created from speaker-labeled transcript.
