Lessons from a life well lived Perhaps the world’s largest neighborhood was the one invented by Fred Rogers. You, of course, know him as Mister Rogers, and for half a century his neighborhood was the kind of place you wished you had grown up in. But there was more to Fred Rogers than his cardigan sweater, blue boat shoes, perpetual smile and soothing voice. Behind the persona was a genuine person who actually believed everything he espoused on television.
In her book, The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers, Amy Hollingsworth reveals a highly educated, eloquent, complex man of simple faith and pleasant disposition. Fred Rogers, Hollingsworth writes, liked to take his time. He believed hurrying caused a child’s soul to become hard and resistant, while going slow nourished the soul. In our hurry-up world, Rogers’ message rang true for toddlers and mommies alike. Hollingsworth, who first met Rogers during a television interview and went on to become close friends with him, writes with a smooth familiarity that makes the reader feel that he is hearing about a mutual friend over a hot cup of coffee. The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers is a fitting tribute to a true pioneer in the field of children’s television.
Mike Parker writes from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
