Reviewing Maxwell King's The Good Neighbor (Biography of Fred Rogers)

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Third trimester baby number one consisted of hours and hours of driving back and forth between appointments and also quite a bit of time-consuming nursery prep. As you can probably imagine, that whole routine gets old pretty quickly if you don't have a good means of entertainment, and let me tell you- music only goes so far.

During these months, I decided to take it up a notch and invest in an Audible membership (you know, after seeing those advertisements when they offer you a free book for a month, hook you in, then you cancel a month later, until you inevitably see the ad again months later...the perpetual Audible cycle). During this time, however, I realized Audible helped this little inattentive ADHD brain of mine. Instead of my typical distracted way of reading, where I'd read in spurts but never finish because of the work I had to do at home, with Audible, I could work around the house while absorbing books AT THE SAME TIME. The outcome? I was reading many more books than I otherwise did before. To a book lover, this was an absolute win-win scenario.

During this Audible honeymoon period, what book would I choose to grace my Audible bookshelf first and foremost other than a book about my all-time favorite role model growing up, the legend himself, Mr. Rogers?

Behind My Love for Mr. Rogers

Mr. Rogers is a character that graced my childhood at just the right time. Just as I came into true consciousness of myself and others, I had the privilege to watch this dear man teach lessons on community, kindness, disability, love, and respect. I was around two or three and would hang on to every word of his songs and lessons. I thrived on the routine of his day: the way he would take his outdoor jacket off after coming indoors and how he'd replace it with a knit cardigan from his coat closet nearby. (I learned later that Mr. Roger's mother hand-knit each cardigan he wore on-air). I also couldn't wait until he fed his fish at the end of the episode. My little toddler self knew what to expect from him. He was unchanging and just what I needed.

Looking back, I gained much of my worldview from these simple lessons. I wish to exemplify precisely what Rogers exemplified in his ministry to children: to be someone who cherishes these little beings and views them as the valuable people they are. When I watched Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, I felt like an equal. He didn't disregard me or my feelings; instead, he uplifted the person I was growing into while protecting my childhood innocence.

This book was the book I chose with my renewed Audible membership. It gave me joy to analyze this man's life because while he didn't know me, I certainly knew him!

Reviewing The Good Neighbor by Maxwell King

So, the question you’ve all been waiting for. Did this book live up to the expectations of a hardcore Mr. Rogers fan? Cool your buns. I'm getting to that!

After getting this book, I listened to it basically everywhere I went. Prenatal appointment? I'm learning about Mr. Rogers. Grocery store run? Mr. Rogers. If I existed at a place where it was socially acceptable to have noise from my phone? Mr. Rogers.

The Good Neighbor is a biographical book, which is what I found to be so exciting. I never heard many "behind-the-man" details of the man we cherished on TV. I heard aspects of what his friends said about him: that he was just as genuine as his portrayal on the show, that he exhibited the same lessons he taught, and basically, that he was no hypocrite! However, I never knew the story behind the man. What was his family situation? What gave him such tenderness for others, especially children? These questions point to the soul of Fred Rogers.

Maxwell King did a beautiful job writing and displaying Rogers' true character. He showed his dedication to children, showing how he was more than willing to ruffle feathers if it meant protecting the wellbeing and psyche of children watching. King also displayed exactly how Freds Rogers’ struggles to fit in while younger motivated him to be that much kinder to others. It showed his musical talent, which I only just learned the extent of. It also showed the generosity of his mother to the community.

The only aspect I could critique is that the writing did tend to become preachy in certain parts, as if the author was trying to push an agenda. I wished he had just let Roger's words speak for themselves, as they would have done more justice to his beliefs.

Would you Recommend?

All in all, this book was certainly a book I'd recommend to anyone who loves Mr. Rogers or anyone who wants to get to know this man who's helped so many.

I will link the Amazon URL below if you'd love to get a copy of this book. (I do not get a commission from this link). It's here for your convenience if you want to read it yourself!

If you end up delving into this read, reach back out to me and let me know your thoughts!

Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3J6NWwe

Until next time,

Hannah