Customer Reviews

I'm Proud of You: Life Lessons from My Friend Fred Rogers

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I grew up without much exposure to television and completely missed Mister Rogers' Neighborhood growing up. Thanks to my 22-month old, I am now a big fan of Mister Rogers and am so pleased that his legacy has endured. This book is for both admirers of Mister Rogers' work as well as those not so familiar with the wonderful man he was. The gifted author Tim Madigan captures the essence of Fred Rogers and shares the friendship they nurtured over several years. Marriage, friendship, family raising, life trials and death are all covered in this gold nugget of a book. Tim Madigan's reputation as an award-winning writer/reporter is once again confirmed! If you're prepared as a reader to embrace sensitive life topics and intermittent periods of laughter and weeping, this book is for you. I have purchased several copies of I'm Proud of You already. I am happy to report that all of my gift recipients have been moved by Tim Madigan's beautiful writing and so enriched by the story he tells.

This book is an all time favorite that has touched me deeply. Tim Madigan writes his own very personal story in a way that impacts the universal longing we all have for significant relationships.

I've long since lost count of how many times I have passed a copy of this book on to friends or to counseling clients in my work as a professional therapist.

In the fall of 1995 Tim Madigan interviewed Fred Rogers for an article he was writing on TV violence for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. It turned out to be the beginning of a friendship--mostly conducted long distance, by email and phone--that would profoundly affect Madigan and would last until Mister Rogers' death early in 2003. In I'm Proud of You Madigan discusses Mister Rogers' role in his life during their seven-year friendship, explaining how Rogers' support and unconditional love helped him through problems with his marriage and his brother's untimely death from lung cancer. Madigan quotes liberally from Rogers' correspondence and from their conversations, both of which are infused with Rogers' spirituality: Mister Rogers was an ordained minister, and references to prayer and God were a staple of his communication.

By all accounts, Fred Rogers was possessed of an otherworldly goodness. It's impossible to come away from Madigan's account or other write-ups of Mister Rogers unimpressed.

"I had always hated to swim, but didn't have the heart to say so then. So Fred led me into the club's locker room, introduced me to the attendant and a few of his other friends, found me a swimsuit that would fit, then quickly and unselfconsciously stripped off his clothes. On the way to the pool with a towel over his shoulder, he stepped on a locker room scale and smiled.

"'One-four-three,' he said. 'I've weighed exactly one hundred and forty-three pounds for as long as I can remember. Did you know that in sign language that means, 'I love you'? One finger for I; four fingers for love; three fingers for you. Isn't that wonderful?'"

He was, Madigan's book makes clear, constantly thoughtful, apparently always on the lookout for a means of expressing his support to his friends, and to their friends and family.

Madigan's life was much improved by his relationship with Mister Rogers, particularly since the friendship straddled such rough patches in Madigan's life. Madigan is honest about those difficulties, and quite willing to expose his vulnerability. Indeed, his account is so honest it sometimes feels as if the author has rubbed his raw wounds on the page. I wouldn't do it, certainly, and, truth be told, I'm tempted to feel embarrassment on his behalf. The title of the book, for example, is a reference to Fred Rogers' response to a letter Madigan wrote him in 1996, explaining how he craved acceptance from his father as a child and that he was still looking for acceptance from a father figure:

"That is the question I have of you this morning, Fred. Will you be proud of me? It would mean a great deal to me if you would. I have come to love you in a very special way. In your letters, and during our brief time together in Pittsburgh, you have done so much to teach me how to be a person and a man. And now I have this favor to ask of you.

"Will you be proud of me?"

I am of a cynical bent, and find it difficult to believe in the possibility of--or even the desirability of--unconditional love (with an exception granted for one's children). So I confess that the intensity of the relationship between these two men strikes me as strange. But the book offers an interesting look at the sort of man Fred Rogers was, from someone with a unique perspective on the subject.

-- Debra Hamel

I originally purchased this book for my "I'll get to it eventually" pile. Well when I finally picked it up I couldn't put it down. I then went out and purchased nine more copies to sent to friends all of whom are currently reading it. This book is a rare find. You have a gifted writer sharing a close personal relationship he has with Fred Rogers as they each face life's issues. Because the author shares actual notes and emails it seems like you're experiencing his life in real time. Not knowing much about Mr. Rogers, except his tv program, I was touched by the compassion he has for people. To get a glimse into his life was precious. It's equally unusual to see two men sharing so much of their personal lifes rather than the lastest box scores. For those readers who remember Mr Rogers or who have ever faced any challenges in life whether it be a less than loving parent or the death of a loved one this book is a MUST read. I can't recommend it enough.

Have you ever heard anyone say, "It's not very good, but I think kids will like it"? It might be a book, a play, a TV show or a movie. Perhaps you've said it. Because, you know, the kids haven't seen Citizen Kane, so they'll be satisfied with Prince Puppy Pooper V. As long as there are bright colors and loud sounds, they'll like it, right?
Kids' entertainment is assumed to be a few rungs down on the quality scale, and it's assumed that those who produce entertainment for kids just couldn't cut it in the world of "grown-up" entertainment.
I loved having those assumptions challenged as I read I'm Proud of You, Tim Madigan's memoir of his friendship with Fred Rogers. Yes, that Fred Rogers. They call him "Mister Rogers". Of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood".
Fred Rogers was not looking all his life to make it the world of show business. He didn't dream of being a movie star but settled for the world of children's television. Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian minister. One day he happened to see a children's television program with a lot of noise and commotion and pie fights. He thought, "I can do better than that. And kids deserve better than that."
He realized that parents entrust their children to television at times, and that this did not always have to be a bad thing. So he made a television show that addressed children as people worthy of respect who had unique challenges and opportunities ahead of them.
His program (which became a staple of public television) addressed everything from bedwetting and bedtimes to death and divorce. He addressed children's real problems in the safe and calm world that was his neighborhood.
Watching Fred Rogers, it was easy to assume he was a simple man. Which he was -- but simple in the good and not the negative sense. His was a simplicity that came from integrity and honesty and not from being slow on the uptake.
In fact, Fred Rogers was well read and well traveled. He loved to read challenging works of theology by writers such as Henri Nouwen, Frederick Buechner and Thomas Merton. He was good friends with the pianist Van Cliburn, and he met prominent world leaders.
We have a problem in our society because we see so many of the qualities that are important as signs of weakness. Many of the qualities that characterized Fred Rogers the man and his program (gentleness, tranquility, kindness and a lack of cynicism) are perceived as out of step with the "real world" of us sophisticated adults. But these are some of the very qualities that typified the life of Christ and that we are called to emulate.
In our entertainment and conversation, we too often value a knowing snarkiness that proves we aren't vulnerable. It doesn't take long for that cynicism to sneak into the entertainment and the lives of our kids. And our kids lose out because of this.
In the book, Madigan talks about how difficult it was to talk to Fred Rogers when he was considering divorcing his wife. How could one talk to Mister Rogers about such a thing? But Fred Rogers reached out to Madigan with compassion. And he expressed gratitude to Madigan for being willing to share his pain with him.
Madigan said that he didn't want to sound sacrilegious, but he felt that when Fred Rogers cared for him, it was like Jesus was there. Which is, of course, how it should be when we care for others as well. Jesus took time to give children his best (Matthew 19:14).

This book is touching, uplifting and very interesting. All Mr. Rogers fans will enjoy the little-known details that Tim Madigan reveals about Fred Rogers the man. Fred was very influential in shaping Tim's sense of himself, which affected some very important life decisions. This reminds us all that no kindness is too small to matter. You will not want to put this book down; you can, in fact, read it all the way through if you've got about 2 hours.

This is one of the few times I borrowed a book from the library and then went and bought my own copy. When you read this, you can't help but think you are in the presence of a true Christian...for a change. This is how a Christian should live his life -- treating everyone with compassion and humility. This book is full of life lessons, and deserves to be read over and over. I think it is better than "Tuesdays with Morrie." I can't recommend it enough.

Wonderful story of the personality of Fred Rogers.....he really was the real deal! Inspirational....if only there were more people like him!

Loved the information about Mr. Rogers and his love for God and man. Tim Madigan was fortunate to have had the assignment to interview him and thus have his life changed because of the relationship that followed.

I ordered two books from different vendors for my friend and I to participate in a book club. One book arrived within two weeks and the other did not arrive until one month later-two weeks past the deadline. I had to borrow another friend's book in order to participate in the book discussion. FRUSTRATION!
I would definitely read the book. Well worth your time and with Tim Madigan's writing you experience the genuineness of Mr. Roger's care for others.
I will NOT use the vendor again.