The Good Neighbor

The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers
by Maxwell King
Narrator: LeVar Burton
Publication Date September 4th 2018
Source: Audible
Genres: biography
Goodreads

Fred Rogers (1928–2003) was an enormously influential figure in the history of television and in the lives of tens of millions of children. As the creator and star of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, he was a champion of compassion, equality, and kindness. Rogers was fiercely devoted to children and to taking their fears, concerns, and questions about the world seriously.  The Good Neighbor, the first full-length biography of Fred Rogers, tells the story of this utterly unique and enduring American icon. Drawing on original interviews, oral histories, and archival documents, Maxwell King traces Rogers’s personal, professional, and artistic life through decades of work, including a surprising decision to walk away from the show to make television for adults, only to return to the neighborhood with increasingly sophisticated episodes, written in collaboration with experts on childhood development. An engaging story, rich in detail, TheGoodNeighbor is the definitive portrait of a beloved figure, cherished by multiple generations.

Review

I first heard of The Good Neighbor at a trip to Costco. I always check their book section and I grabbed ahold of this book as quickly as a child would candy. However, having just gotten into audiobooks I decided to see who narrated it. LeVar Burton. My boyfriend and I looked at each other and I put the book down. How could I pass up the chance to hear LeVar Burton, host of Reading Rainbow read a biography on Mister. Rogers? As soon as my next Audible credit rolled around, The Good Neighbor was in my ears and it was love at first listen.

Having cried both times I saw the documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor? I was pretty sure my emotions would go through a similar roller coaster. I was right, this comprehensive biography brought on laughter, joy, sadness, and like the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, keeps the listener fully engaged.

The book was educational, refreshing, and nostalgic. It was a nice reminder that there are still kind helpers out there and I believe that many of Fred Rogers’ values still hold true today and are more relevent than ever.

The Good Neighbor is Chicken Soup for the Soul and upon LaVar Burton’s last word, I considered listening to the book over again. Like Fred Rogers, The Good Neighbor is special.