How to Be Good

Best Seller
A wise and hilarious novel morality and what it means to be a "goof person" from the bestselling author of Dickens and Prince, Just Like you, Funny Girl and High Fidelity.

A brutally truthful, compassionate novel about the heart, mind, and soul of a woman who, confronted by her husband’s sudden and extreme spiritual conversion, is forced to learn “how to be good”—whatever that means, and for better or worse…

Katie Carr is a good person…sort of. For years her husband’s been selfish, sarcastic, and underemployed. 

But now David’s changed. He’s become a good person, too—really good. He’s found a spiritual leader. He has become kind, soft-spoken, and earnest. Katie isn’t sure if this is deeply felt conversion, a brain tumor—or David’s most brilliantly vicious manipulation yet. Because she’s finding it more and more difficult to live with David—and with herself. 
  • WINNER
    IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
  • WINNER
    New York Times Notable Book
  • WINNER
    W. H. Smith Book Award
"Hornby is a writer who dares to be witty, intelligent and emotionally generous all at once."—The New York Times Book Review"

A darkly funny and thought-provoking ride."—USA Today

"A bitingly clever novel of ideas...[a] profound, worrying, hilarious, sophisticated, compulsive novel."—The Sunday Times (UK)

"Daringly different."—New York Daily News

"How to be good? How to be bloody marvelous more like."—The Mail on Sunday(UK)

"Breezily hilarious and thought-provoking at the same time."—New York Magazine

"Seriousness spiked with humor...a page-turner."—The Washington Times

"A thorny parable...very funny and shrewd."—Salon.com



© Parisa Taghizadeh
Nick Hornby is the author of seven other bestselling novels, including High Fidelity, About a Boy, and A Long Way Down, as well as several works of nonfiction. Many of his books have been turned into successful films and TV series. He has been Oscar-nominated twice, for his screenplays of An Education and Brooklyn. His ten-part, short-form TV series, State of the Union, directed by Stephen Frears, has recently been broadcast by the Sundance Channel and the BBC, and has won three Emmys. He lives in London. View titles by Nick Hornby

About

A wise and hilarious novel morality and what it means to be a "goof person" from the bestselling author of Dickens and Prince, Just Like you, Funny Girl and High Fidelity.

A brutally truthful, compassionate novel about the heart, mind, and soul of a woman who, confronted by her husband’s sudden and extreme spiritual conversion, is forced to learn “how to be good”—whatever that means, and for better or worse…

Katie Carr is a good person…sort of. For years her husband’s been selfish, sarcastic, and underemployed. 

But now David’s changed. He’s become a good person, too—really good. He’s found a spiritual leader. He has become kind, soft-spoken, and earnest. Katie isn’t sure if this is deeply felt conversion, a brain tumor—or David’s most brilliantly vicious manipulation yet. Because she’s finding it more and more difficult to live with David—and with herself. 

Awards

  • WINNER
    IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
  • WINNER
    New York Times Notable Book
  • WINNER
    W. H. Smith Book Award

Reviews

"Hornby is a writer who dares to be witty, intelligent and emotionally generous all at once."—The New York Times Book Review"

A darkly funny and thought-provoking ride."—USA Today

"A bitingly clever novel of ideas...[a] profound, worrying, hilarious, sophisticated, compulsive novel."—The Sunday Times (UK)

"Daringly different."—New York Daily News

"How to be good? How to be bloody marvelous more like."—The Mail on Sunday(UK)

"Breezily hilarious and thought-provoking at the same time."—New York Magazine

"Seriousness spiked with humor...a page-turner."—The Washington Times

"A thorny parable...very funny and shrewd."—Salon.com



Author

© Parisa Taghizadeh
Nick Hornby is the author of seven other bestselling novels, including High Fidelity, About a Boy, and A Long Way Down, as well as several works of nonfiction. Many of his books have been turned into successful films and TV series. He has been Oscar-nominated twice, for his screenplays of An Education and Brooklyn. His ten-part, short-form TV series, State of the Union, directed by Stephen Frears, has recently been broadcast by the Sundance Channel and the BBC, and has won three Emmys. He lives in London. View titles by Nick Hornby