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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
The audiobook read by LeVar Burton and featuring the Neighborhood theme song is a nostalgia trip for any 80's child.
Listened to the audiobook read by Lavar Burton. Excellent subject but some of the charm of Mr Rogers is lost in the overly detailed, repetitive writing.
Fred Rogers understood the importance of social emotional well being in children. He identified that if that need was not being met, children could not learn. I absolutely loved learning about all of the many facets of his life! He was an amazing person!
This book provides insight into the kind of human being that many of us would like to emulate. It was extra fun reading it during the time period when I watched "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood." Made me feel like I had the inside scoop. Some bits of the book are rather dry, but there are plenty of good tidbits.
I listened to the audiobook version of this and it was absolutely delightful, and recorded with great joy and interest in the subject. (Btw, LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow fame is the narrator). A great antidote to the rough times we're currently in. Highly recommend.
Audiobook read by Levar Burton. This book was a wonderful look at the life and philosophy of Mr. Rogers. And to have it read by Levar Burton... Just perfect. I adored listening to this book and remembering my time watching Mr. Rogers as a child. So good. I realize that I miss him so very much in this mad mad world.
Many of us have fond childhood memories of watching Mr. Roger's Neighborhood - a show that told us that we can be accepted exactly as we are. The book details Fred Rogers' life - from his lonely childhood of privilege, to how he bridged his passion for music, early childhood development and television, to his death from stomach cancer. What is clear is that Rogers was a gem of a human, truly unique in how he viewed the world and how he would use television as a medium to showcase values that are far too rare today. If only the media could take a page out of his book and show that this type of programming is valued... The book is fairly detailed, sometimes to a fault, as it drags in several places and needed some editing. Even so, it was nice to learn so much about a man that touched generations of children, showing that kindness is really one of the most important values a person can have.
I expected this to be a great biography, but it may have been one of the driest pieces of nonfiction I've ever read. I think the problem with this book was King spent an exorbitant amount of time writing about getting the show into production and describing various scenes, and in my opinion, not enough about Rogers himself. The redeeming chapters of this biography were those that detailed Fred's spirituality, his philosophy on educating children, and his end of life moments.
I very much enjoyed this book, especially since I heard the author speak at my library a few months ago. Although I vaguely remember The Children's Corner (early Mister Rogers/Josie Carrey) and my son missed Mister Rogers' prime, living in the Pittsburgh area, I have always been aware of Fred Rogers. The Good Neighbor highlighted not only the TV aspects, but Fred Rogers' entire life. Not without flaws, Fred was none-the-less a remarkable person. He successfully combined his deep religious faith with his vocation for childhood development and his musical talent. Though I have read countless articles and heard many news stories about Fred Rogers, I never realized the depth of all three facets of his life.
I especially enjoyed reading about Fred's daily swimming routine.
I highly recommend this book. Author Maxwell King has thoroughly researched Rogers' life and influence.
"Humility and kindness to all people originated not only through Rogers's Christianity, but also his careful study of other religions and cultures. Rogers was a student of Catholic mysticism, Buddhism, Judaism, and other faiths, and many of his admirers came to see an almost Zen-like quality in the pace of his work and his life." (9)
"McCullough [David, the author and historian], who grew up in the same time, region, and culture as Fred, adds that a key to understanding Rogers is the western Pennsylvania work ethic: 'The Pittsburgh work ethic is not a Puritan work ethic. In Pittsburgh, if you were a good worker, you were respected, you were welcome.' The Puritan ethic is more inclusive, expansive, and appreciative of a strong commitment to work." (116)
"I look at Fred as a complicated person who chose simplicity, but at the same time, Fred was a powerful, powerful person. He was spiritually powerful, but he was also interpersonally powerful. It wasn't as if Fred was continually deferring to you. It was not like that at all. Fred was very, very active in engaging you, but in the way he wanted to engage you." (305) Quote from writer Tom Junod
"Rogers's views were the culmination of years of study. Beside his bed in his Pittsburgh apartment was a tall revolving bookcase with several shelves of books he wanted to read and reread either in the evening or in the early morning, when he also read the Bible before starting his day." (314)
I want a revolving bookcase next to my bed.
In his final days
"Joanne sat on the bed once and said, 'Fred, I know the boys are going to be okay. I'll try to be,' she said. And he said, 'Oh, Joanne, you don't know what a relief that is for me to hear that.'" (347)
I especially enjoyed reading about Fred's daily swimming routine.
I highly recommend this book. Author Maxwell King has thoroughly researched Rogers' life and influence.
"Humility and kindness to all people originated not only through Rogers's Christianity, but also his careful study of other religions and cultures. Rogers was a student of Catholic mysticism, Buddhism, Judaism, and other faiths, and many of his admirers came to see an almost Zen-like quality in the pace of his work and his life." (9)
"McCullough [David, the author and historian], who grew up in the same time, region, and culture as Fred, adds that a key to understanding Rogers is the western Pennsylvania work ethic: 'The Pittsburgh work ethic is not a Puritan work ethic. In Pittsburgh, if you were a good worker, you were respected, you were welcome.' The Puritan ethic is more inclusive, expansive, and appreciative of a strong commitment to work." (116)
"I look at Fred as a complicated person who chose simplicity, but at the same time, Fred was a powerful, powerful person. He was spiritually powerful, but he was also interpersonally powerful. It wasn't as if Fred was continually deferring to you. It was not like that at all. Fred was very, very active in engaging you, but in the way he wanted to engage you." (305) Quote from writer Tom Junod
"Rogers's views were the culmination of years of study. Beside his bed in his Pittsburgh apartment was a tall revolving bookcase with several shelves of books he wanted to read and reread either in the evening or in the early morning, when he also read the Bible before starting his day." (314)
I want a revolving bookcase next to my bed.
In his final days
"Joanne sat on the bed once and said, 'Fred, I know the boys are going to be okay. I'll try to be,' she said. And he said, 'Oh, Joanne, you don't know what a relief that is for me to hear that.'" (347)