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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Wonderful. Beautifully read by LeVar Burton. I already had a great appreciation for Fred Rogers, but walked away with deeper reverence and learned a great deal more than I knew on top of that.
I loved hearing more about the life of Fred Rogers, one of the icons of my childhood. I loved that the audio-book was narrated by LeVar Burton, of Reading Rainbow fame.
But as was said in other reviews, there was a great deal of content that was repeated more than once. A good editor would have improved it.
But as was said in other reviews, there was a great deal of content that was repeated more than once. A good editor would have improved it.
3.5 stars. Overall I liked the book because I enjoyed learning more about “Mister Rogers”. I had no idea he grew up near where some of my relatives live. However, this book was entirely too long - mostly because the author repeats himself a LOT and often goes off on rabbit trails about other people Fred knew and gets side tracked often. It could have been better if some unnecessary info and repeated info could have been eliminated but I’m glad I read it.
Reading 2019
Book abandoned: Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King
Okay, I have a confession to make, I was not a fan of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood as a kid. I did not want to be his neighbor, or watch the show. The theme song was one I knew, but that was it. I read lots of great reviews about the book, and saw that Tom Hanks was going to play Fred Rogers in an upcoming movie. Did you say "Tom Hanks"? Well then I am in, but have to read the book before the movie.
The book was not what I hoped for at all. It did have some interesting things to share about Fred's life (he was an awesome man), but it was so repetitive. Every chapter reiterated what was said in the previous chapters. The writing was drawn out, each chapter mired down with tedium. In order to get through the book, I started reading the first and last sentence in each paragraph. Then I decided that it was not worth it with so many books on my TBR list.
Sorry to those that enjoyed this novel, I will have to see the movie about a wonderful man without having read the whole book.
Book abandoned: Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King
Okay, I have a confession to make, I was not a fan of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood as a kid. I did not want to be his neighbor, or watch the show. The theme song was one I knew, but that was it. I read lots of great reviews about the book, and saw that Tom Hanks was going to play Fred Rogers in an upcoming movie. Did you say "Tom Hanks"? Well then I am in, but have to read the book before the movie.
The book was not what I hoped for at all. It did have some interesting things to share about Fred's life (he was an awesome man), but it was so repetitive. Every chapter reiterated what was said in the previous chapters. The writing was drawn out, each chapter mired down with tedium. In order to get through the book, I started reading the first and last sentence in each paragraph. Then I decided that it was not worth it with so many books on my TBR list.
Sorry to those that enjoyed this novel, I will have to see the movie about a wonderful man without having read the whole book.
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
Fred Rogers is an important and inspiring figure, yet this biography cut in half would have been just as impactful.
informative
medium-paced
Such a wonderful man who led a beautiful life. I loved the little anecdotes throughout this book about how Mister Rogers could melt the coldest of hearts with his signature blend of patience and kindness. We should all try to be a little more like Fred Rogers.
If it wasn’t for the repetitive writing style I would have given this 5 stars.
If it wasn’t for the repetitive writing style I would have given this 5 stars.
Mr Rogers was exactly the kind of man he portrayed on the neighborhood - that made him an exemplary human, but not a very interesting subject for a biography. There were some interesting parts to his life, including some familiar relations and his less successful projects geared towards adults, but they were mainly constrained to the last 30% of the book.
So inspiring. I loved Mr. Rogers growing up. But I remember the rumors kids at school would spread about him. How he'd actually been a sniper in the army and had killed countless men. Another was that he wore his sweaters to cover up his tattoos. Some people thought he was gay and lived a double life. People just couldn't believe that someone, especially a man, could be that kind, that calm and that sincerely devoted to children and bettering their lives without something being wrong with him. But the truth is, that's just who he was—genuine and caring down to the last molecule. He was incapable of being anything else. I wish there were more Fred Rogers's in the world. I loved learning about his childhood and passion for music and puppets, about his religious pursuits, and countless contributions to early childhood education. It's impossible to read about his life, and not see the hand of God working in him, and in the lives of those he touched. It's amazing the influence one good person can have on the world and It has filled me with so much hope.
Talk about leaving the world a better place than when you found it.
Talk about leaving the world a better place than when you found it.
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
I enjoyed this book because I wanted to learn more about Fred Rogers. I do not know that it would be an engaging read for anyone less than very interested in the topic. I found it a bit plodding. It did answer most of my questions about the man and the show.