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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Yes, I’m part of the percentage who watched Mr. Rogers as a child. I knew him as an iconic figure on television, and probably laughed along with those who mocked his persona (apparently, he found those impersonations funny as well). But after watching the recent documentary on Rogers, “Won’t You be My Neighbor?”, and now this latest biography, I came to know the true relevance of what he did for early educational programming. What perhaps amazes me most is that he could have made so much more money by moving to a larger network and commercializing his show; but he refused to market and advertise to children, those just weren’t his priorities. This was an enlightening read; pretty comprehensive, even including myths surrounding Fred Rogers (were those sweaters his mom knit covering up tattoos?) But no, he was the genuine deal, devoted to human kindness and non-profit work; he was just the way he was, which is how he loved us. And the next time someone mocks Mr. Rogers I’ll be sure to counter with a, “did you know?” factoid! Sara Z.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
First half was interesting and writing and narration is good. Second half was just too much of the same information over and over.
OH MY GOD THE AUDIOBOOK IS NARRATED BY LeVAR BURTON! It's literally all of my PBS childhood dreams come true!
This is a comprehensive biography and the first of its kind, looking at Fred Rogers life as a whole, with an eye for forwarding the work of his legacy foundation, Family Communications Inc, now the Fred Rogers Foundation. In some ways, I think Fred Rogers would have balked at this publication, but at the same time, I found so much to appreciate. He was a strange person, almost caught in time, but he owned his strangeness: his childlike wonder and playfulness, his dedication to direct speech, his creativity and imagination. He owned it and he made something of it. I very much appreciated his constant soul searching, how he wanted to use his gifts to the best of his ability and was always questioning if he had done enough, and if HE was enough.
It's hard not to leave a glowing review when this hit all of my nostalgia buttons. The intro/outro music on the audiobook for each CD is the theme from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, with Fred's voice singing. It kind of hit me in all the feels.
This is a comprehensive biography and the first of its kind, looking at Fred Rogers life as a whole, with an eye for forwarding the work of his legacy foundation, Family Communications Inc, now the Fred Rogers Foundation. In some ways, I think Fred Rogers would have balked at this publication, but at the same time, I found so much to appreciate. He was a strange person, almost caught in time, but he owned his strangeness: his childlike wonder and playfulness, his dedication to direct speech, his creativity and imagination. He owned it and he made something of it. I very much appreciated his constant soul searching, how he wanted to use his gifts to the best of his ability and was always questioning if he had done enough, and if HE was enough.
It's hard not to leave a glowing review when this hit all of my nostalgia buttons. The intro/outro music on the audiobook for each CD is the theme from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, with Fred's voice singing. It kind of hit me in all the feels.
I learned a lot about Fred Rogers and his educational philosophy, but it felt repetitive. Phrases and snippets of stories were repeated several times, and characters were given their distinguishing descriptors too many times, as if the author expected we weren't really tracking it all. Plus, there's just a little bit of trickiness in creating a saint of him. He was a fabulously wealthy man who believed truly in the work and the ethos of The Neighborhood as he brought it to us, and I respect that. But was not actually perfect, and this bio was pretty much just praise and more praise. I didn't want some trashy roast of him and his family, but this felt actually overwhelming in its positivity.
Fred Rogers is an inspiration for me. And there are parts of this biography that were really touching. Unfortunately, the style and level of detail focusing on corporate television culture have just made those moments feel too few and far between. I don’t have the time or motivation to continue this right now. The film on the other hand is magnificent. Moving on...
As a kid, I saw Mr. Rogers as a bit of achild's nerdy dork and didn't really watch his shows. My journey and experiences as a parent, now grandparent, has made me highly sensitive to how we love, teach, and encourage children. Fred Rogers gets this. Who he was, what he did and how he gifted this in his lifetime is amazing. This is a great book, a must read for parents.
I enjoyed the story and learned a lot that I didn't know about Mr. Rogers that only made me appreciate his leadership and show all the more. The writing was a bit repetitive at times and could have been better. I loved LeVar Burton's narration!
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
I was shocked to learn that Mr Rogers came from such a wealthy background. As I listened all I could think was about how many people would be as creative as he was given the financial stability he was born into. If only we had more equitable income distribution we may have more Fred Rogers in our lives. I'm glad he had the background he did so he could provide the support to young parents that Mr Rogers Neighborhood provided and I'm also glad he was early on the all inclusive bandwagon. I wish we had more Fred Rogers in our lives.