Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers

Fred Rogers is truly a treasure to Mankind but unfortunately I came to know about him in my thirties so I thought I could know more about this wonderful man and so I bought this book and this book offered more than I expected and in certain pages my eyes were filled with tears.Mr.Maxwell had done a wonderful job.This book is a must in every reader's library.Worth it

An excellent and detailed account of Fred’s life and career, but sadly not that engaging and definitely needed more actual quotes from Fred, who is sadly mostly silent throughout the book. Too many facts, not enough Fred.

In a 30 year plus career Fred Rogers provided iconic weekly TV shows that connected with millions of American children and their parents . He received countless awards , has had a comet named after him, his influence and his foundation continue to inspire broadcasters and educationalists and Tom Hanks starred in a distinguished 2019 biography. Until then I suspect very few of us in the UK had heard of him. This is a remarkable book about an even more remarkable man . King charts you through his Pennsylvania privileged roots and education through to his career in broadcasting and the influence of his faith and an unswerving commitment to make a positive contribution to the emotional well being of pre school children via what was the new medium of television. Even as something of an outsider I was gripped by the characters in Fred’s life and the pioneering early years of television and an approach that contrasts to the crass commercially driven broadcasting that children are subjected to today. The book is a tribute but acknowledges Rogers flaws and failures , but through some excellent research and priceless contributions it appears to do justice to a unique individual . I found myself developing a real emotional investment in Fred Rogers - and wanted him to ‘ be my friend’, such was the quality of this narrative.

This is a definitive biography of Fred Rogers, bringing into focus the span of his entire life with ease, warmth and authority. The author did an excellent job creating a wonderful read, filled with details that will stay with the reader. We really need this biography to help keep Fred Roger's work and outlook alive. You will come away from this book with a deeper and richer appreciation of the varied landscape of his life and work. And you'll be richer for it. This book is important. A must read for people in all walks of life who care about children and our world. "The Good Neighbor", is a great book about an amazing human. Enjoy!

I read this for a book group, after having seen the movie last year. I absolutely loved the movie, but this book is an ordeal to get through - though clearly not for the huge fan base I see in the other reviews. I love a well-written bio - oh, if only this task had fallen to David McCullough. The repetitiveness is oppressive. The uncritical voice of the author never should have made it to print - the gushing praise is thin on examples to support the beatification effort he seems to be on. I must concede that the author seems to be a bit limited by the advanced age of many of his sources, which he quotes assiduously. Maxwell King clearly is trying to write the story of a great hero. Fred Rogers was a good man, but given the resources he had, and the doors opened and aid continuously given by others of power and influence, this is not the stuff to spin a credible tale of heroic struggle and conquest. It still could have made a good story in the right hands.