I'm Proud of You: My Friendship with Fred Rogers (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "On a sunny Sunday afternoon, in that bleak season of 1997, I knelt in the front yard of my suburban Texas home, in a mood..." (more)
Key Phrases: Mister Rogers, Fort Worth, Fred Rogers (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Fred Rogers, the "gentle icon" of public television's Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, taught generations of children and their parents how to express feelings and relate to others in a positive way. Rogers was also an ordained Presbyterian minister who regularly studied the important spiritual thinkers and shared his faith with an eclectic range of adult friends. Madigan, a journalist with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, became one of those friends after writing a piece on Rogers and Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshan) in 1995. Soon Madigan and Rogers were corresponding, and Madigan reprints here many of their letters and e-mails. They built a warm, supportive friendship, one that nourished Madigan through his self-doubt "Furies" and the difficult death of his dear brother. As Rogers grieved for Madigan's losses and several of his own, the two taught each other about the beauty of giving and receiving "unconditional regard" from a beloved friend. So close did they become that readers may share Madigan's shock at discovering that Rogers was gravely ill—too weak for a last visit before his death in 2003. Even if readers don't feel their day-to-day lives transformed by this luminous memoir, in times of grief or of loss they'll know which book on their shelf to turn to. (Sept.)
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From Bookmarks Magazine

The title of this memoir derives from Tim Madigan's request to Mister Rogers: "Will you be proud of me?" Rogers said yes, of course, and thanked Madigan for "offering so much of yourself to me." Although I'm Proud of You could have fallen into Hallmark treacle, it instead compassionately recounts the spiritual friendship that developed between the two men and offers a portrait of Rogers's exemplary character. Especially poignant are Madigan's recounting of his personal visits with Rogers and his difficult relationship with his brother. "It's here that Madigan writes most powerfully, with raw, universal emotion," notes the New York Times Book Review. Even if the memoir's message is familiar (a few critics compared the book to Mitch Albom's Tuesdays With Morrie), it is an inspiration on many levels.

Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Gotham (August 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592402275
• ISBN-13: 978-1592402274
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #299,929 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Spiritually uplifting book, August 17, 2006

By	Marcus Valdes (Fayetteville, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I picked this book up on an impulse from the new release table at Barnes and Noble (I don't buy ALL my books on Amazon--just a lot of them). I'm glad I did. I still have a special place in my heart for Mr. Rogers. I'm sure many people my age do (I'm 36--a 70's child). I appreciate him even more now as my children watch his reruns. His soothing voice and manner are the ultimate role model. As I read this book, I could imagine his voice talking through the many letters and dialogue. The author is a very lucky man to have met him and become friends.

The other reason I was drawn to this book is I love books with personal letters. Something about letters is very revealing. I like books that are nothing but letters (Letters from a Nation for an example). This book has tons of them.

The authors narrative of his brother's cancer and his subsequent death are both a tragedy and uplifting. All in all a different sort of read than what I am used to, but good nonetheless.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I PICKED THIS UP AT THE LIBRARY ON AN IMPULSE, February 10, 2007

By	William Meisel (Jacksonville, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

figuring it would be light reading, and thinking that this won't have that much effect on me. It is now midnight and I have spent one and a half hours finishing the wonderful story of a friendship between a newspaper reporter and Mr. Rogers over a ten to fifteen year period. A previous reviewer worries about the voyeruism rife in the world nowadays, and I understand his point, but I disagree with him in this case. Spending time with this book is the closest the rest of us will get to being friends with Mr. Rogers, and the experience, even secondhand, is worth having. Recommended.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read with a Box of Tissues, September 4, 2006

By	Deborah B. Haydock (East Hartland, Connecticut) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I happened upon this book by "accident" at Barnes & Noble and couldn't finish the first few pages without crying. It is a deeply touching book laden with spiritual insights which chronicle, primarily through the correspondence of Fred Rogers and the author/journalist, Tim Madigan, their very special friendship. Mr. Fred Rogers, famous for his Mr. Rogers Neighborhood children's show, shines as a stellar example of kindness, unconditional love, and profound and open friendship. The theme of "I am Proud of You" which runs through the book is touching and poetic. The author and Mr. Rogers tackle life problems together, primarily centered on Madigan's "Furies" of possible divorce, his brother's unrelenting cancer, and his not-so-perfect relationship with his father. Great book for those coping with the complexities of grief. Forgiveness and healing abound here in the letters between these two remarkable men who build a remarkable friendship. Mr. Rogers and Mr. Madigan show us how unconditional love and joy can prevail through life's painful times. PLEASE, if you are at all intrigued by Mr. Rogers, love spiritual books, or are coping with grief, GET this book. You will want to pass it on, and by doing so, you will make the world a better place. God Bless Mr. Madigan for writing this book, and to Mr. Rogers for his remarkable soul and for giving us a good, clear glimpse into true goodness. Warning: Read with tissues.