Richard Ford’s new book, “Hur jag hamnade här,” explores the intersection of his personal writing process and the underlying political themes within the novel form. The book delves into Ford’s upbringing and specifically how falsehoods regarding race – about Black and white people – shaped his perspective. Literary critic Ola Larsmo has reviewed the work, focusing on Ford’s self-reflection. The narrative likely examines how societal narratives surrounding race impacted Ford’s personal development and subsequently, his literary work. The book appears to offer introspection into the power of storytelling and its relationship to hidden political and social truths. It is a study of American identity and the ways in which it has been constructed and perpetuated through both silence and outright deception. Larsmo's reading offers a crucial lens through which to understand Ford’s complex examination of these issues.