Here are 76 books that The Good Neighbor fans have personally recommended if you like The Good Neighbor. Book DNA is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Peaceful Neighbor

Tim Lybarger Author Of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

From my list on impact of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have spent over fifteen years researching, collecting, and archiving the work of Fred Rogers through the Neighborhood Archive–an online resource for all things Mister Rogers. In addition to an established working relationship with Fred Rogers Productions (Pittsburgh, PA), the Archive site itself has grown to be used by academic professionals, child development researchers, television writers, and countless others with fond memories of their visits to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Tim's book list on impact of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

Tim Lybarger Why Tim loves this book

This book is, hands down, my favorite title I’ve read when it comes to the life and career of Fred Rogers. Long provides an amazing insight into the truly selfless love that Fred Rogers showed toward everyone he encountered.

The main reason for my interest in Fred’s work is the ways in which he often bucked tradition and societal expectations in order to focus on the value and uniqueness of all individuals. Michael Long provides a look at Fred Rogers, of which most people are unaware.

By Michael G. Long ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Peaceful Neighbor as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Fred Rogers was one of the most radical pacifists of contemporary history. We do not usually think of him as radical, partly because he wore colorful, soft sweaters made by his mother. Nor do we usually imagine him as a pacifist; that adjective seems way too political to describe the host of a children's program known for its focus on feelings. We have restricted Fred Rogers to the realm of entertainment, children, and feelings, and we've ripped him out of his political and religious context. Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian minister, and although he rarely shared his religious convictions on…


If you love The Good Neighbor...

Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Book cover of Officer Clemmons

Tim Lybarger Author Of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

From my list on impact of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have spent over fifteen years researching, collecting, and archiving the work of Fred Rogers through the Neighborhood Archive–an online resource for all things Mister Rogers. In addition to an established working relationship with Fred Rogers Productions (Pittsburgh, PA), the Archive site itself has grown to be used by academic professionals, child development researchers, television writers, and countless others with fond memories of their visits to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Tim's book list on impact of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

Tim Lybarger Why Tim loves this book

While readers may remember Officer Clemmons from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the life experiences of Francois Clemmons were so far removed from the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.

Clemmons shares this memoir filled with raw emotion and unimaginable obstacles–especially when considering the historical context of the times he recalls. I’m truly inspired by Francois Clemmons, his joyful presence, and the gripping story of his life.  

By François S. Clemmons ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Officer Clemmons as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An intimate debut memoir from Mister Rogers’ most endearing and groundbreaking neighbors—Officer Clemmons, the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children’s television program.

“A heartwarming story that explores the power of friendship as well as race, sexuality, talent, and identity.” —Kirkus Reviews

When he created the role of Officer Clemmons on the award–winning television series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, François Clemmons made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children’s program. A new, wide world opened for Clemmons—but one that also required him to make painful personal choices…


Book cover of A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Tim Lybarger Author Of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

From my list on impact of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have spent over fifteen years researching, collecting, and archiving the work of Fred Rogers through the Neighborhood Archive–an online resource for all things Mister Rogers. In addition to an established working relationship with Fred Rogers Productions (Pittsburgh, PA), the Archive site itself has grown to be used by academic professionals, child development researchers, television writers, and countless others with fond memories of their visits to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Tim's book list on impact of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

Tim Lybarger Why Tim loves this book

Although the text found in this book is comprised of Fred Rogers’ own song lyrics, the illustrations are what make that title one of my absolute favorites. The vibrant and detailed artistry of the talented Luke Flowers allows these lyrics to be presented as poetry and come to life through visuals that connect with readers my own age as well as younger readers discovering Fred’s beautiful verses for the first time.

I continue to find myself thinking about the deeper meanings behind Fred’s simple lyrics as they’re presented in print form such as this.

By Fred Rogers , Luke Flowers (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 6, 7, and 8.

What is this book about?

Mister Rogers Neighborhood had a revolutionary impact on children s television, and on millions of children themselves. Through songs, puppets, and frank conversations, Mister Rogers instilled the values of kindness, patience, and self-esteem in his viewers, and most of all, taught children how loved they were, just by being themselves. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood reimagines the songs from the show as poetry, ranging from the iconic (Won t You Be My Neighbor?) to the forgotten gems. The poem are funny, sweet, silly, and sincere, dealing with topics of difficult feelings, new siblings, everyday routines, imagination, and more. Perfect…


If you love Maxwell King...

Book cover of The Duty of Memory

The Duty of Memory by Vicki Olsen,

Separating the true stories from the myths, The Duty of Memory provides a deeper understanding of the diverse motivations that drove ordinary people to join an underground network of French Resistants despite terrible odds and horrifying consequences.

This book takes the reader inside the true story of men and women…

Book cover of I'm Proud of You

Tim Lybarger Author Of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

From my list on impact of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have spent over fifteen years researching, collecting, and archiving the work of Fred Rogers through the Neighborhood Archive–an online resource for all things Mister Rogers. In addition to an established working relationship with Fred Rogers Productions (Pittsburgh, PA), the Archive site itself has grown to be used by academic professionals, child development researchers, television writers, and countless others with fond memories of their visits to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Tim's book list on impact of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

Tim Lybarger Why Tim loves this book

When I first started to research the life and work of Fred Rogers, I was almost immediately faced with the realization that he was so much more than just the host of a children’s television program.

This is one of the first accounts I recall coming across that shared details of a personal relationship with Fred and the indescribable impact he had on the author. Tim Madigan is one of the countless people whose lives were changed by knowing Fred Rogers and his book was the first to confirm for me the depths to which a friendship with Fred could impact a person’s heart and soul.

By Tim Madigan ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked I'm Proud of You as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

It began as another newspaper assignment, a celebrity profile of the children’s television icon. But in Fred Rogers, Texas journalist Tim Madigan found more than a fascinating subject. From their first meeting in 1995, at Rogers’ invitation, the two became unlikely friends, a deep and abiding relationship that lasted until Rogers’ death in 2003.In that time, Madigan found Rogers to be much more than the calm and compassionate personality of television. He was a person of unique human greatness who embodied love, compassion and wisdom his every waking moment. He was the transcendent being who guided Madigan through periods of…


Book cover of Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said

Nicolas Lietzau Author Of Dreams of the Dying: The Dark Corners of Our Minds

From my list on best mind bending books I’ve ever read.

Why am I passionate about this?

Quoting Aristotle when writing about yourself probably comes off as pretentious, but looking back at how I became a writer, his idea of how good stories must be “surprising yet inevitable” rings true: from a childhood split in rural Bavaria, where dark German fairytales sparked my love for books to experiments with lucid dreaming that ended in a loss of reality, my ending up as a game writer and novelist focused on the mind and dreams does sound somewhat inevitable—even if it took me some detours and distractions to get there. Now, I couldn’t be happier. 😊

Nicolas' book list on best mind bending books I’ve ever read

Nicolas Lietzau Why Nicolas loves this book

From the strange title to the premise of a futuristic television star who suddenly no one remembers, this book, is the essence of why PKD remains one of my favorite authors: futurism, psychology, and existential angst distilled into a mind-bending cocktail whose characters somehow still feel perfectly grounded and believable. 

By Philip K. Dick ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Jason Taverner has a glittering TV career, millions of fans, great wealth and something close to eternal youth. He is one of a handful of brilliant, beautiful people, the product of top-secret government experiments forty years earlier. But suddenly, all records of him vanish. He becomes a man with no identity, in a police state where everyone us closely monitored. Can he ever be rich and famous again? Or was that life just an illusion?


Book cover of Confessions of a Dangerous Mind: An Unauthorized Autobiography

Tone Milazzo Author Of The Faith Machine

From my list on spies in strange places.

Why am I passionate about this?

Spies are everywhere across the panorama of fictional tropes, in fantasy, science fiction, horror, and historical fiction. Spies are like salt. No matter the genre, drop a little espionage into the mix, and it tastes better. There’s an inherent complexity to a spy, a dichotomy baked into the profession, simultaneously a criminal and an agent of the government. A spy could be a one-man-army, a smooth-talker, or someone inside your computer network, but no matter who they really are, they’re never who they seem. The spy plays with identity, loyalty, and integrity in ways that the worst of us do but is safely compartmentalized in fiction for our enjoyment.

Tone's book list on spies in strange places

Tone Milazzo Why Tone loves this book

If you’re too young to remember The Gong Show, it was the American Idol of its day. Equally as fake, but upfront about its fraudulent nature.

Back on the subject of pushing genre boundaries, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind is Chuck Barris’ “unauthorized autobiography.” Get your head around that concept. Barris was the producer/host of both The Gong Show and The Dating Game. If that doesn’t sound like a full slate, Barris claims he was a CIA assassin during this time.

Say you wrote an autobiography, but it lacks in the excitement department. Say you also wrote a spy novel, but it came in at half the length a publisher’s looking for. A great solution for both problems; mash them together!

By Chuck Barris ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Confessions of a Dangerous Mind as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Suspense, excess, danger and exuberant fun come together in Chuck Barris' unlikely autobiography - the tale of a wildly flamboyant 1970s television producer, better known as the infamous host of The Gong Show. What most people don't know is that Barris allegedly spent close to two decades as a decorated covert assassin for the CIA.

Barris, who achieved tremendous success as the creator and producer of hit TV game shows such as The Dating Game and The Newlywed Game, claims to have joined the CIA as an agent in the early 1960s, infiltrated the Civil Rights Movement, met with militant…


If you love The Good Neighbor...

Book cover of The Deviant Prison: Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary and the Origins of America's Modern Penal System, 1829-1913

The Deviant Prison by Ashley Rubin,

What were America's first prisons like? How did penal reformers, prison administrators, and politicians deal with the challenges of confining human beings in long-term captivity as punishment--what they saw as a humane intervention?

The Deviant Prison centers on one early prison: Eastern State Penitentiary. Built in Philadelphia, one of the…

Book cover of One Day

Tammy Treichel Author Of Hutong Heartthrobs

From my list on the human heart and romantic relationships.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have always been a romantic at heart, although it took time for me to realize and act on this as I was conditioned from an early age to be scholarly and rational (life-allowing). One of my favorite silent films as a teenager was a love story that focuses on a forbidden relationship between a British girl and a Chinese man at the turn of the twentieth century, called Broken Blossoms; it left an indelible impression. Eventually, I myself became involved in a life-changing romantic relationship with a Chinese man. I now love exploring the vicissitudes of the human heart at the crossroads of cultural differences in my writing.

Tammy's book list on the human heart and romantic relationships

Tammy Treichel Why Tammy loves this book

This book is about a young man and woman who had a chance encounter as university students and became close friends. This book follows a will-they-won’t-they trajectory and struck a deep chord with me because it shows how one serendipitous encounter can change your life forever and how relationships of all nature are dynamic, subject to ebb and flow. The differences in character between the protagonists—bookish, no-nonsense Emma and the laissez-faire playboy Dexter—also added to the dramatic and romantic tension.

This novel has a strange mix of lightness and depth that I found very satisfying. I also enjoyed the 2011 movie based on the book starring Anne Hathaway; it’s what drew my attention to the book in the first place.

By David Nicholls ,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked One Day as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'ONE DAY is destined to be a modern classic' - Daily Mirror Twenty years, two people, ONE DAY. The multi-million copy bestseller that captures the experiences of a generation. 'I can imagine you at forty,' she said, a hint of malice in her voice. 'I can picture it right now.' He smiled without opening his eyes. 'Go on then.' 15th July 1988. Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And…


Book cover of Love That Story: Observations from a Gorgeously Queer Life

Mary E. Twomey Author Of Angry Girl

From my list on “LGBTQ people are allowed to exist” reads.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have an inclusive family with LGBTCuties whom I love dearly. I write and read paranormal romance, but quickly realized that my family might not be able to connect with my favorite genre because they don’t often see themselves represented as anything more than tragic plot points. I gaped at the horror that was hard to face, and realized I had work to do. Paranormal romance has enough room for all of us, so I set out to ensure that my children have books to read in my favorite genre, so we can all be one silly, magical family together, casting spells and looking around every corner for shifters and vampires.

Mary's book list on “LGBTQ people are allowed to exist” reads

Mary E. Twomey Why Mary loves this book

Did you think I would only recommend one Queer Eye book on my list? Do you know me at all?

Love That Story has a lot of laughs, of course, but like the author, the depths of compassion laced with gentle education speaks to the heart of everything I wish I’d always known. Do not read unless you want to better understand this lovely soul. You might just finish this book as a better version of yourself.

By Jonathan Van Ness ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Love That Story as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness dives into his favourite subjects in Love That Story, a collection of heartfelt and entertaining essays.

From experiencing heartbreaking grief to uncovering the hidden LGBTQ history of his hometown, Quincy, from overcoming body image issues and living with HIV to cultivating his personal style, JVN speaks out a wide range of topics with heart, honesty and flair.

He not only shares his personal experiences, but with the help of conversations with experts, he also offers captivating perspectives on the wide number of issues we are dealing with today: the current nature of race issues…


Book cover of Something Sensational to Read in the Train

David Stuart Davies Author Of The Dead of Winter

From my list on raising the spirits.

Why am I passionate about this?

My writing life is a mixture. I have written novels of crime fiction, many featuring Sherlock Holmes, as well as a variety of sleuths of my own creation. I was editor of the monthly journal of the Crime Writers’ Association for twenty years and have written several plays, non-fiction books as well introductions to numerous literary collections. While I admit that my writings veer towards the serious and dramatic, in my social life I think of myself as a light-hearted fellow and as an antidote to my own dark fiction I enjoy having my spirits lifted by witty and amusing tales that help to raise the spirits.

David's book list on raising the spirits

David Stuart Davies Why David loves this book

If you know of Gyles Brandreth, the writer, broadcaster, and polymath you will know what to expect from any work of his. Subtitled The Diary of a Lifetime it contains extracts from his diaries from 1959 to the year 2000. It is a wonderful book to dip into, one that is full of enthusiasm and positivity. It is quite amazing the number of famous people that Brandreth has encountered over the years—not just names from showbusiness but artists, writers, politicians, sportspeople, and royalty. The book is stuffed with anecdotes most of which are highly amusing and are often presented in a self-deprecating manner.

By Gyles Brandreth ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Something Sensational to Read in the Train as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This is a diary packed with famous names and extraordinary stories. It is also rich in incidental detail and wonderful observation, providing both a compelling record of five remarkable decades and a revealing, often hilarious and sometimes moving account of Gyles Brandreth's unusual life -- as a child living in London in the 'swinging' sixties, as a jumper-wearing TV presenter, as an MP and government whip, and as a royal biographer who has enjoyed unique access to the Queen and her family. Something Sensational to Read on the Train takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride from the era of…


If you love Maxwell King...

Book cover of Pioneer Paddles of the Colonial South

Pioneer Paddles of the Colonial South by William D. Auman,

Award-winning novelist William Auman, author of If Trees Could Testify..., takes the reader on a time-traveling odyssey featuring 345 bodies of water in six states within the historical context through which they unfold.

Journey into remaining Colonial-era wilderness with stories of pirate treasure, epic frontiersmen, Indigenous Peoples, and Revolutionary…

Book cover of Crying with Laughter: My Life Story

Tony Flood Author Of My Life with The Stars: Sizzling secrets spilled!

From my list on the secrets of showbiz and sports stars.

Why am I passionate about this?

I love comedy, showbusiness, mystery and fantasy stories, and sport—and these varied interests have resulted in me writing in various genres as both a journalist and author. My books have all been thoroughly researched and that has helped my crime thrillers receive glowing endorsements from best-selling writer Peter James in the case of Triple Tease and national newspaper journalist Stuart Pink in the case of Stitch Up! - Killer or Victim? My other books have also received excellent endorsements and reviews—fantasy adventure Secret Potion and Laughs and Tears Galore Short Stories and Poems With Twists, written jointly with my wife Heather Flood, best known for her children's books.

Tony's book list on the secrets of showbiz and sports stars

Tony Flood Why Tony loves this book

I loved comedian Bob Monkhouse's frankness as his autobiography revealed not only his often hilarious life story, but also the very painful personal tragedies he experienced.

When he was nine years old he fell in his garden and broke his leg, causing him to scream in agony. His mother ran out to him, but smacked him round the head and told him: “Quiet, Robert! What will the neighbours think?”

Fortunately, Bob showed kindness and love to his own son Gary who suffered from cerebral palsy, which meant part of his brain was permanently damaged and he was unable to control his limbs or speak.

Yet Bob made me—and the nationlaugh with his stand-up comedy routines, film roles, and amusing anecdotes.

By Bob Monkhouse ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Crying with Laughter as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This is Bob Monkhouse's classic autobiography. One of Britain's most enduring and famous comedians tells us in his own inimitable style the fascinating and often hilarious story of his life. From disclosures of very painful personal tragedies to extraordinary and outrageously funny anecdotes about the stars he knew, his confessions are blisteringly honest, touching - and often shocking. Crying With Laughter combines heartache with hilarity, sexy showbiz revelations with genuinely moving tales of the hard times, and typically funny jokes with sobering personal reflections, to create a passionate, witty and sparkling account of an extraordinary man's extraordinary life.


Book cover of Peaceful Neighbor
Book cover of Officer Clemmons
Book cover of A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

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