A moving tale of love, growth and (sometimes) Fred Rogers

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	• I'm Proud of You Tim Madigan Penguin Audio, 2006 - 1 pages average customer review:based on 32 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A moving tale of love, growth and (sometimes) Fred Rogers

Moving tale of love, growth and (sometimes) Fred Rogers

In "I'm Proud of You, " prize-winning journalist and author Tim Madigan takes us on very personal journey of growth through his personal pain. His Virgil for the journey was television's Fred Rogers of "Neighborhood of Make-believe" fame. Madigan tells of his unexpected friendship with the celebrity, whose unconditional caring, vulnerability and startling offer of friendship provided solace during times of crisis and pain for the author. Much of the book is related via published emails, letters and telephone calls that the two exchanged over a ten-year period. Madigan shows Rogers as the same completely genuine, gentle and quaint man seen on his TV show. Rogers is overtly religious (Christian, specifically) in his approach to others. As Madigan relates not infrequently, Rogers evinces an almost divine sense of love, non-judgment and complete acceptance. According to Madigan, these qualities were exactly what he needed as he struggled with childhood hurts, difficulty in his marriage and a death in his present-day family. While much of the book relates Tim's own crises, Rogers -- in the form of a gift, card or phone call -- often pokes his head into the narrative. These encounters help Tim validate and express his feelings, an extremely difficult task for males in general. In turn, Rogers bares his own soul, in the kind of mutual friendship that he often established with others.

Fred Rogers is a paradox for our modern culture. "Gentle" and "man" are nearly oxymoronic in our aggressive and high-testosterone culture. Fred took his share of knocks as people questioned his manhood and mistrusted his devotion to children. Madigan shows Fred as a man with his own difficult moments and pain, who found a path to healing through his extraordinary personality and his faith in God. Madigan highlights Rogers' friendship with Henri Nouwen, the Catholic spiritual writer, showing that gentleness and a belief in God's love for all His creatures need not be limited by denominational lines. My only criticism of the book is that it did not live up to its subtitle, "My Friendship with Fred Rogers" since much of the book transpired in Fred's absence, or was carried on at a distance. The subtitle was changed for the paper version to the more-appropriate "Life Lessons from My Friend Fred Rogers". Still, the book is a moving testimony to Fred Rogers' ability to transform another human being simply by affirming him, believing in him, and by extension, to reach out to those in that person's circle of family and friends. Madigan's moving recounting of the end of his brother's life was also quite beautiful and instructive in showing us a way to die that is courageous, healing and deeply imbued with an awareness of everyday graces.

By relating his journey to us, Tim makes his readers the indirect beneficiaries. of Fred Rogers' love and specialness. By doing so, makes his readers his neighbors, something that Fred as "Mr. Rogers" would have dearly appreciated.

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Beautiful and Touching

First off, I am surprised that I ever bothered to pick up let alone read this book. It seemed like a quick, glib read. I always admired Mr. Rogers. He was a genuine man of compassion and honesty. Tim Madigan was fortunate indeed to have had a friendship with him. Now, I am not one to read sentimental drivel or be moved by syrupy stories. Never could stomach all that Chicken Soup nonsense. The fact that I was deeply moved to tears during several passages proves that this book is neither syrupy nor drivel. I was somewhat surprised and relieved to read that quite a few other reviewers were moved to tears as well. This is a lovely story of a blessed friendship. It's inspiring. Fred Rogers was a rarity. A truly decent human being who had the capacity to make everyone he ever met feel special. Tim Madigan recounts how Fred Rogers helped and inspired him through the author's darkest days. We should all be so lucky to have that person in our lives. This book has inspired me to try and be that person in other's lives. I highly doubt I will fulfill that ideal as well as Fred Rogers but now I have this illuminating story to refer to when I find myself faltering in that aspiration. A special book!

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written

I'm Proud of You was a great read. It is the story of one man's personal journey of pain and self discovery and also of his precious friendship with Fred Rogers. It was a treat to read of "Mr Rogers" and the personal integrity and selflessness he had. Definately recommend it.

Give this book to a friend...

This is one of the best books I have ever read. It's a wonderful book about the author's friendship with Mr. Rogers. The author really shares his heart with the reader and reveals the incredible person that was the television icon and child psychologist: Fred Rogers. It's also a book about struggles that we all face: anger, depression, family disagreements and grief.

There are also a great many references to other inspirational material that I plan to also investigate. In a society where most men must deal with so many stressful things, this book is a testimony to the comfort that can come from a genuine male friendship and fellowship.

All of this is particularly meaningful to me, since it was a friend who gave me my copy of this book. I would really like to buy about ten more copies to give to more of my friends and family members.

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I'm Also Proud of You, Tim Madigan

I recently finished reading I'm Proud of You. I must say, Tim Madigan did an outstanding job with this book. One small book has made me think about so many different things. It has reminded me in such a profound way that we must live life as if tomorrow will not be. Treasure your family members as if you will not see them tomorrow. These were lessons we need to have repeated again and again.

Tim Madigan has also used the art of writing to reinforce the notion that men have feelings which should be expressed. Society has taught men to be stoic and hard. Tim reminds us that men are also individuals with emotions that need to be felt, appropriately released, and reckoned with. These emotions if not dealt with can and will often manifest itself in other forms within the lives of men.

Lastly, it was a privilege to read the story of a reporter in search of self and finding a man who uncompromisingly shared part of his self and his love. I had to pause from reading at least twice to give my emotions a minute.

It's a extraodinary story. Thank you so much Tim Madigan for sharing. I am also proud of you. Since this was such a personal experience that was unselfishly shared with the reader.

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reviews: 1, page 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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