The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers

Front Cover
Abrams, Sep 4, 2018 - Biography & Autobiography - 434 pages
The New York Times bestseller: "A superb, thoughtful biography" of the creator and star of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (David McCullough).
Fred Rogers was an enormously influential figure in the history of television and in the lives of tens of millions of children. Through his long-running television program, 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.
King explores Rogers's surprising decision to walk away from his 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, The Good Neighbor is the definitive portrait of a beloved figure, cherished by multiple generations.

Contents

Freddy
Breathing Room
College Days
Love and Music
Basic Training
The Childrens Corner
OnAir Ministry
Dr Margaret McFarland
On Hiatus
Hes Back
Behind the Scenes in the Neighborhood
Fred Rogers Musician
Mister Rogerss Family Values
Fearless Authenticity
Swimming
PART V

Toronto and the CBC CONTENTS
PART I
PART III
The Birth of Mister Rogers Neighborhood
The Pastore Hearing
Language and Meaning
Mister Rogers Boss and Teacher
Puppet World
PART IV
The Legacy
The End of the Neighborhood
Americas Favorite Neighbor
Mister Rogers Lives
A Personal Note on the Importance of Fred Rogers
Acknowledgments
Notes
Index of Searchable Terms
Copyright

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About the author (2018)

Maxwell King is the CEO of the Pittsburgh Foundation. After a career in journalism, including eight years as editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer, King served as president of the Pittsburgh-based Heinz Endowments for nearly a decade.

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