The World According to Mr. Rogers: Important Things to Remember

From Publishers Weekly
When he died in early 2003, Rogers was one of the most recognizable (and beloved) people on television, even though Mister Rogers' Neighborhood had actually stopped production a few years earlier. This small volume collects many of his writings-from songs he wrote for the show to his acceptance speech at the Television Hall of Fame-organized around themes like "The Courage to Be Yourself" and "We Are All Neighbors." The format is occasionally tantalizing: When he said, "I'm proud of you for the times you came in second, or third, or fourth, but what you did was the best you had ever done," was he talking to his TV neighbors, or to one of his own children? The few biographical hints his writings offer about the show's origins and his personal life, plus an introductory reminiscence by his widow, may leave many readers eager for a full biography. Every message is infused with a simplicity and sincerity that any child could understand, as when he describes September 11 as "what some people do when they don't know anything else to do with their anger." But ultimately the book isn't for kids, it's for adults who watched the show as children-and reminds readers that before we learned everything we needed to know in kindergarten, or had our first taste of chicken soup for the soul, Rogers taught valuable lessons about playing make-believe, keeping one's promises, finding strength through helping others and not being afraid to cry. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Judy Lin, AP
"Words of courage and inspiration -- simple statements that made Mister Rogers a household name."


Los Angeles Times
"Humanity-Affirming thoughts"


Tim Madigan, Knight Ridder News Service
"Life stories in bite-size pieces [that] shares the gentle philosophy that made Rogers one of America's most-beloved public figures."


San Diego Union-Tribune
"Bits of philosophy and advice from a man who lived a life we could all emulate."


Book Description
A timeless collection of wisdom on love, friendship, respect, individuality, and honesty from the man who has been a friend to generations of Americans. There are few personalities who evoke such universal feelings of warmth as Fred Rogers. An enduring presence in American homes for over 30 years, his plainspoken wisdom continues to guide and comfort many. The World According to Mister Rogers distills the legacy and singular worldview of this beloved American figure. An inspiring collection of stories, anecdotes, and insights -- with sections devoted to love, friendship, respect, individuality, and honesty, The World According to Mister Rogers reminds us that there is much more in life that unites us than divides us. Culled from Fred Rogers' speeches, program transcripts, books, letters, and interviews, along with some of his never-before-published writings, The World According to Mister Rogers is a testament to the legacy of a man who served and continues to serve as a role model to millions. "The world needs a sense of worth, and it will achieve it only by its people feeling that they are worthwhile." "The older I get, the more convinced I am that the space between communicating human beings can be hallowed ground." "The more I think about it, the more I wonder if God and neighbor are somehow One. ‘Loving God, Loving neighbor' -- the same thing? For me, coming to recognize that God loves every neighbor is the ultimate appreciation!"


About the Author
Fred Rogers, host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood for over 30 years, earned a degree in music composition and was a floor manager at NBC-TV on their earliest shows. He studied at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Child Development and was an ordained Presbyterian minister with the unique charge to work with children and families through mass media. Rogers received every major award in television for which he was eligible, including being inducted into the Television Hall of Fame, and was also the recipient of a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Although Rogers died in 2003, Family Communications, Inc., the non-profit company he founded, continues his work promoting the healthy emotional, social, and intellectual development of children.


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When he died in early 2003, Rogers was one of the most recognizable (and beloved) people on television, even though Mister Rogers' Neighborhood had actually stopped production a few years earlier. This small volume collects many of his writings-from songs he wrote for the show to his acceptance speech at the Television Hall of Fame-organized around themes like "The Courage to Be Yourself" and "We Are All Neighbors." The format is occasionally tantalizing: When he said, "I'm proud of you for the times you came in second, or third, or fourth, but what you did was the best you had ever done," was he talking to his TV neighbors, or to one of his own children? The few biographical hints his writings offer about the show's origins and his personal life, plus an introductory reminiscence by his widow, may leave many readers eager for a full biography. Every message is infused with a simplicity and sincerity that any child could understand, as when he describes September 11 as "what some people do when they don't know anything else to do with their anger." But ultimately the book isn't for kids, it's for adults who watched the show as children-and reminds readers that before we learned everything we needed to know in kindergarten, or had our first taste of chicken soup for the soul, Rogers taught valuable lessons about playing make-believe, keeping one's promises, finding strength through helping others and not being afraid to cry. (Oct.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.


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