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Growing Up in Mr. Rogers' REAL Neighborhood: Life Lessons from the Heart of Latrobe, PA
This is NOT a history of Fred Rogers. It's not even a history of Latrobe. It includes some history, some biography and some elemental talk about things like whether Latrobe is pronounced "Lah-trobe" or "LAY-trobe." So it's more like a freewheeling conversation about what makes this one small town so special. One monumental reason is Rogers, a man visionary educators are beginning to equate with spiritual leaders like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. It tells the stories of couples he married, souls he saved and if calling him "Christ-like" is blasphemous or accurate. It has previously untold stories of Rogers being a life-saving superhero and of him being perfectly human. In a world that cries out for civility and healing, it's the only book about Mister Rogers' Neighborhood by an author who actually calls the place home.
220 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 2019
1 person is currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Chris Rodell
22 books43 followersChris Rodell is the author of "Evan & Elle in Heaven & Hell: A Long Distance Social Media Afterlife Love Story." His other books include, "Arnold Palmer: Homespun Stories Of The King,” the quirky book about his oddball friendship with one of the planet’s most popular and beloved men; In addition, he's written “Use All The Crayons! The Colorful Guide To Simple Human Happiness,” and “The Last Baby Boomer: The Story of the Ultimate Ghoul Pool,” a novel that was bestowed the 2017 TINARA Award for Outstanding Satire. In Rodell’s career as a freelance writer, he has wrestled alligators, raced Ferraris, gone skydiving, lain on beds of nails, and gained twenty pounds in one week eating like Elvis. He blogs at www.EightDaysToAmish.com. He has written for many of the most prestigious magazines in America and been rejected by the rest. He lives in Latrobe, Pa., with his wife Valerie, their daughters, Josie and Lucy, and a small loud dog named Snickers. He will write for anyone who’ll pay him. He is a PROSEtitute.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 22, 2019
This is not a book about Mr. Rogers -- not really. How could it be when the author's only very brief encounter with Mr. Rogers was cut short by Chris being hauled out of the man's office by security? It is an homage to the principles espoused by this man, who happened to be one of the icons of Chris' home town, Latrobe. It's a reflection on "life lessons." Those of us who grew up watching Mr. Rogers while eating pb&j sandwiches as the train took off for Make Believe know that the man was all about being kind, being civil, and being authentic.
By the end of the book, it struck me that the author has written one big "thank you" letter to his beloved home town and the people in it. In Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, it really is "a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood." And Chris is here to tell his friends and neighbors, "You Are My Friend, You Are Special."
Near the end of the book, Chris shares that he received a disheartening diagnose. I think it's made him reflective. He shared a commencement speech he made at a local high school recently. I knew immediately that I was going to share it with my daughter. She and I had a conversation just the other day about the very things he talked about in his speech -- living a meaningful life and being happy. Chris, I think you have it figured out. May we all get to live in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.
By the end of the book, it struck me that the author has written one big "thank you" letter to his beloved home town and the people in it. In Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, it really is "a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood." And Chris is here to tell his friends and neighbors, "You Are My Friend, You Are Special."
Near the end of the book, Chris shares that he received a disheartening diagnose. I think it's made him reflective. He shared a commencement speech he made at a local high school recently. I knew immediately that I was going to share it with my daughter. She and I had a conversation just the other day about the very things he talked about in his speech -- living a meaningful life and being happy. Chris, I think you have it figured out. May we all get to live in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.
December 17, 2020
In a world so riddled with hatred and violence it is refreshing to read of a personality who truly lived the Christian tenets of loving thy neighbor and bringing peace to all situations.
Chris Rodell pens a very human but awestruck approach to the telling of Mr. Rogers' life and how it has influenced those of Latrobe. Mr. Rogers and Arnold Palmer what beautiful people. May we all learn a lesson or two from them.
Chris Rodell pens a very human but awestruck approach to the telling of Mr. Rogers' life and how it has influenced those of Latrobe. Mr. Rogers and Arnold Palmer what beautiful people. May we all learn a lesson or two from them.
January 14, 2020
Review title: Profound and profane
Chris Rodell is a Pittsburgh journalist (for the Greensburg Tribune-Review and the National Enquirer--yes, that National Enquirer) and writer (of books on Arnold Palmer and tips for loving a happy life, among others), who moved to Latrobe, Pennsylvania early in his professional career. There he became acquainted with famous native Palmer, eventually interviewing the affable and much loved golfer numerous times, and lived in the real Mister Rogers Neighborhood, even though his one encounter with that equally famous native was less memorable. Along the way, Rodell began blogging about his adopted home town and when the time was right--that is, in time to capitalize on the recently released movie in which Tom Hanks played Fred Rogers--wove some of those blogs into this short account of Latrobe and life lessons from its famous and less so inhabitants.
Shamelessly opportunistic? At times--but also doggedly optimistic, occasionally funny, and by turns profane and, more often than might be expected, profound. I found this book when I heard the author's presentation at our local library, and he did a good job of telling about himself and weaving some of the stories from the book into the presentation without giving away all of them and leaving the reader feeling cheated. In the book he is open in admitting the book isn't about Fred Rogers, even though his name comes up in almost every chapter because of how prevalent and important his life's work and philosophy is to his community, his real life neighbors--and to all of us.
If you lived in Latrobe (Rodell addresses the question of whether the town's name is pronounced "Lah-trobe" or "Lay-trobe", see Chapter 11) during Mister Rogers lifetime, it would be impossible to ignore, so Rodell includes a chapter giving addresses of important landmarks (see Chapter 4). He addresses the question of whether the two famous native sons (just 18 months different in age in the small town environs) were friends (Chapter 7). And in one of his most profound moments Rodell describes the influence of Fred Rogers on his own life:
He is indeed, despite the cynical reputation of many in his journalistic profession, a good-natured optimist and his essential contentment with life shines through his writing. This is so even when he writes about a 2018 diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. This self-published volume could have used a bit more proof-reading for grammatical correctness, but if you are a fan of Fred Rogers or of his home town this is well worth the reading.
Chris Rodell is a Pittsburgh journalist (for the Greensburg Tribune-Review and the National Enquirer--yes, that National Enquirer) and writer (of books on Arnold Palmer and tips for loving a happy life, among others), who moved to Latrobe, Pennsylvania early in his professional career. There he became acquainted with famous native Palmer, eventually interviewing the affable and much loved golfer numerous times, and lived in the real Mister Rogers Neighborhood, even though his one encounter with that equally famous native was less memorable. Along the way, Rodell began blogging about his adopted home town and when the time was right--that is, in time to capitalize on the recently released movie in which Tom Hanks played Fred Rogers--wove some of those blogs into this short account of Latrobe and life lessons from its famous and less so inhabitants.
Shamelessly opportunistic? At times--but also doggedly optimistic, occasionally funny, and by turns profane and, more often than might be expected, profound. I found this book when I heard the author's presentation at our local library, and he did a good job of telling about himself and weaving some of the stories from the book into the presentation without giving away all of them and leaving the reader feeling cheated. In the book he is open in admitting the book isn't about Fred Rogers, even though his name comes up in almost every chapter because of how prevalent and important his life's work and philosophy is to his community, his real life neighbors--and to all of us.
If you lived in Latrobe (Rodell addresses the question of whether the town's name is pronounced "Lah-trobe" or "Lay-trobe", see Chapter 11) during Mister Rogers lifetime, it would be impossible to ignore, so Rodell includes a chapter giving addresses of important landmarks (see Chapter 4). He addresses the question of whether the two famous native sons (just 18 months different in age in the small town environs) were friends (Chapter 7). And in one of his most profound moments Rodell describes the influence of Fred Rogers on his own life:
I'm better than I was and, I swear, that's thanks to Fred Rogers and the people here in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. [Am I] Great? That's a steep hill for a guy prone to so much strategic laziness. Rather than great, I'm more apt to describe myself as cheerful, optimistic, blessed, proud, persistent, eager, buoyant, content and maybe a dozen or so other words that imply happiness.
So not great. Better than that.
Grateful. (p. 156-157)
He is indeed, despite the cynical reputation of many in his journalistic profession, a good-natured optimist and his essential contentment with life shines through his writing. This is so even when he writes about a 2018 diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. This self-published volume could have used a bit more proof-reading for grammatical correctness, but if you are a fan of Fred Rogers or of his home town this is well worth the reading.
January 27, 2020
Filled with stories about Fred Rogers and Latrobe, the town that he grew up in, and the life lessons that can be learned from them both is the crux of this charming little book.
Latrobe is known for several things: the invention of the banana split, Arnold Palmer, and Fred Rogers. Lest it is questioned that it is also known as the home of Rolling Rock beer, it is no longer made there. It is made in New Jersey now, but I digress.
Fred Rogers, like Arnold Palmer, is another Latrobe legend. He is known for his children's show on PBS, Mister Rogers Neighborhood. He is also known as a kind man, who lived a life of kindness.
Lessons from Fred Rogers include being kind to all; recognize the specialness of each person, and being kind to all. Let me repeat: be kind to everyone!
Essays on life lessons are interspersed with Chris Rodell's humor and empathic writing. During the reading, I learned so much about the town and the way it has affected Chris, his family, and all those who live there.
We could all learn from the lessons imparted, and although it was read in a sequential order, it could be picked up and read at random.
Latrobe is known for several things: the invention of the banana split, Arnold Palmer, and Fred Rogers. Lest it is questioned that it is also known as the home of Rolling Rock beer, it is no longer made there. It is made in New Jersey now, but I digress.
Fred Rogers, like Arnold Palmer, is another Latrobe legend. He is known for his children's show on PBS, Mister Rogers Neighborhood. He is also known as a kind man, who lived a life of kindness.
Lessons from Fred Rogers include being kind to all; recognize the specialness of each person, and being kind to all. Let me repeat: be kind to everyone!
Essays on life lessons are interspersed with Chris Rodell's humor and empathic writing. During the reading, I learned so much about the town and the way it has affected Chris, his family, and all those who live there.
We could all learn from the lessons imparted, and although it was read in a sequential order, it could be picked up and read at random.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews