Here is a listing of the books about our favorite North Carolina town, Mayberry.

You can purchase many of the books listed below at:

Home Grown Stories & Home Fried Lies

Author: by Mitch Jayne
Well, the Darling boys may not be known for speaking much, but here’s one who proves once again that he sure enough knows how to write. Home Grown Stories & Home Fried Lies is the latest book by Darling bass player and all-around raconteur Mitch Jayne.

Let us leave no room for doubt. This book is flat-out fantastic. If you have ever heard Mitch’s storytelling in person (and don’t forget about his super audio tapes also available at great discount prices through Weaver’s), you have had a glimpse of what’s in store for you in this special book, which will have you laughing at every turn of the page.

Mitch writes about everything from the Ozarks to Mayberry, but no matter what he writes about, it’s simply storytelling and writing at its very best. And the book is perfectly complemented throughout with with illustrations by highly-regarded artist Diana Jayne, Mitch’s talented wife. Some folks classify books like this as works of “humor.” This book transcends that description. It is completely hilarious, but also nostalgic, insightful, wise, and any other adjective you want to use that describes a meaningful work of art.

Don’t be surprised if this book wins all kinds of awards. But the real reward is simply in reading the book. This handsome paperback is 280 pages. Get it and see if you don’t start smiling instantly.

Barney Fife and Other Characters I Have Known

Authors: by Don Knotts; foreword by Andy Griffith
This is one of the most special items we’ve ever been fortunate enough to offer in at Weaver's or in The Bullet. Just having a book in which Don Knotts has recorded his reflections on his life is special enough. Plus there are 220 pages and lots of photos from Don’s personal collection in this softcover book from Berkley Boulevard Books.

Aunt Bee's Mealtime in Mayberry

Authors: Ken Beck & Jim Clark
Hardback (with dust jacket). This third Aunt Bee cookbook is 220 pages and contains 144 all-new Mayberry-style recipes. There are also 117 color and black-and-white photos, 83 of which have never before been seen in print! The photos span all eight seasons of TAGS. The cookbook also includes excerpts of episode dialogue dealing with food, cooking, and eating in Mayberry.

Though a few of the classic photos and bits of dialogue have been used in other books, most are being published here for the very first time. And all but one of the recipes (Doug's Great White Beans) are brand new.

The cookbook highlights (in chronological order) 72 of the show's episodes that feature food -- beginning with "The New Housekeeper" in the first season and continuing through "Sam for Town Council" in the final season. Photos and dialogue from the episodes are accompanied by recipes for the actual foods seen or discussed in the episodes. So you can quite literally eat your way through all eight seasons of the show!

From fried chicken and homemade pickles to butterscotch pecan pie and chocolate cake, from apple pie and meat loaf to taters and spaghetti, this cookbook has the recipes, dialogue, and photos to bring Mayberry memories to life. (And remember what Barney ordered at the fancy French restaurant in Raleigh? Well, for better or worse, you'll find it in this cookbook!)

Life's Lessons From Mayberry

Authors: Len & John Oszustowicz
A Book of Wisdom and Wit from America's Favorite Small Town! The perfect type of item for a gift, this 122-page hardcover book is written with affection by two TAGSRWC members, who are also the authors of Barney Fife's Guide to Life, Love and Self-Defense. (It's an officially licensed book by Mayberry Enterprises, too.) The book is filled with Mayberryish sayings that are punctuated with familiar pictures from Mayberry. Scratching your head for a gift idea? This attractive-looking book may be just the item you're groping for.

THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW BOOK: 35TH Anniversary Edition

Authors: Ken Beck & Jim Clark
This revised edition of the original trivia manual features a moving foreword by Paul Harvey, many new photos (including several in color and of characters not previously pictured!). The book's format is 100 percent Mayberry trivia with detailed biographies of Mayberry characters, episode summaries (in the order that they're shown in reruns), quizzes, alphabetical town directories and more. (It also contains the most complete published listing of TAGSRWC chapter names this side of our web site.)

THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW

Author: Richard Kelly
The first and still-definitive study of the show, this 280-page paperback examines the show's origins and production and its continuing popularity. Plus it has two complete scripts from the show (one was never filmed!), thoughtful comments from the cast and crew, and a concise episode guide.

MAYBERRY, MY HOME TOWN

Author: Stephen J. Spignesi
This oversized, 272-page encyclopedia of Mayberry information (including an A-Z trivia index cross-referenced to specific episodes) is a really handy reference. It has ultra-sharp photos and lots of charts, stats and cast interviews, plus test your skills on the huge trivia quiz.

INSIDE MAYBERRY: "THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW" HANDBOOK

Authors: Dan Harrison & Bill Habeeb
This excellent book went out of print in 1995, but TAGSRWC was able to locate some additional copies. This fun 280-page paperback provides a neat mixture of episode trivia and behind-the-scenes information. It also has episode summaries and handy guides to the appearances of primary cast members and to the writers and directors for every episode. Get this one while you still can because, once our current stock is gone, that'll be all we can get.

THE OFFICIAL ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW SCRAPBOOK

Author: Lee Pfeiffer
This popular 250-page oversized paperback book has tons of photos (recent ones and vintage ones) relating to the show. There are cast interviews, a section on memorabilia, an episode guide and lots of assorted tidbits. Sure to please any Mayberry fan.

THE DEFINITIVE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW REFERENCE

Authors: Dale Robinson & David Fernandes
This 316-page hardcover reference book (its suggested retail price is $45.00, but it's more likely to be found in better libraries than in most bookstores) is one of our fastest-selling books ever. And for good reason. It offers the most complete episode guide of any of the Mayberry books currently on the market. Fact-filled episode summaries are accompanied by cast notes and trivia for each episode. There also is a section with profiles of the cast, writers and production team for the show, plus a section on memorabilia. If you plan to have only one Mayberry book in your library, this is the one. (Of course, the selection of Mayberry books that you keep in your den and your kitchen is another matter.)

BARNEY FIFE'S GUIDE TO LIFE, LOVE, AND SELF-DEFENSE

Authors: Len & John Oszustowicz
This 165-page hardcover book is a lighthearted look at the world as Barney might see it. Everything you need to know to model your life after Barney's is in this book. Makes a terrific gift for any Barney fan!

RON HOWARD: CHILD STAR & HOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR 

Author: Barbara Kramer
A library-quality Biography of Ron Howard. The 100-page hardback book covers his entire career to date and includes several photographs from throughout his life. It's printed on high-quality paper, has a full-color cover photo of Ron, and is handsomely bound.

Mayberry 101: BEHIND THE SCENES OF A TV CLASSIC

Author: Neal Brower
This wonderful book by Neal Brower is must reading for any fan of Mayberry. Neal's columns for The Bullet were the seed of inspiration for what has grown to become this sensational book. At 528 pages, it's the thickest book yet about Mayberry. Neal received substantial input from the writers of the episodes themselves, as well as actors and members of the production crew. Mayberry 101 visits 79 episodes written by top-drawer writing teams Jim Fritzell & Everett Greenbaum, Harvey Bullock & Ray Saffian Allan, and Bill Idelson & Sam Bobrick. It's a gold mine of new behind-the-scenes information from key people who were actually involved in creating the Mayberry moments that fans have loved for more than three decades. Simply don't miss this gem!

And the Show Goes On

Author: Sheldon Leonard
This 215-page hardback is the late TAGS executive producer's autobiography. There are two sections of photographs and the Foreword is written by Andy Griffith. An absolutely first-class book by the big man behind the scenes of Mayberry and other TV classics.

Cue the Bunny on the Rainbow: Tales from TV's Most Prolific Sitcom Director

Author: Alan Rafkin
This hardback book (172 pages) by the director of 27 TAGS episodes offers a briskly frank look at the behind-the-scenes world of TV. Alan Rafkin has only nice things to say about working on shows such as TAGS, "M*A*S*H," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Murphy Brown," and others. But he has some pretty gritty (and sometimes strongly worded) things to say about some of the other 75 or so shows he's worked on and some of their stars and crew. It's a revealing look at the making of TV sitcoms yesterday and today. Even though it's not all Mayberry, it makes for interesting and informative reading.

TAGS Related Books

The Cop Cookbook

Authors: Greta Garner-Hewitt, Ken Beck, and Jim Clark
Arresting Recipes from the World's Favorite Cops, Good Guys, and Private Eyes, Foreword by Robert Stack This brand new cookbook features 325 recipes (and more than 200 photos) from over 150 TV and movie actors who have played cops (from the 1950s to today), plus recipes from real police chiefs and other cops from all 50 states. The Mayberry connection is made with recipes from Don Knotts and James Best as well as Mayberry guest stars Buddy Ebsen and Richard X. Slattery. (There was even a legitimate reason to include a photo of Ron Howard!) There's also a super sketch of Barney Fife by TAGSRWC member Rod Sadler, who's an actual police sketch artist. If you like TV and movie cops (from Police Woman, Columbo and Dirty Harry to from Joe Friday, Jessica Fletcher and Andy Sipowicz, you're likely to enjoy this 240-page spiral paperback.

AUNT BEE'S MAYBERRY COOKBOOK

Authors: Ken Beck & Jim Clark
Chock-full of delicious recipes (more than 300) from top cooks around the country (including over three dozen contributed by Mayberry actors and crew). This is a complete cookbook, filled with lots of trivia and topped off with photos and episode dialogue about food, cooking and eating in Mayberry.

Postcards From Aunt Bee's Mayberry Cookbook

Authors: Ken Beck & Jim Clark
Each of the 30 postcards has a photo (about half in black and white, and half in color) and a favorite recipe from the original cookbook. A swell stocking stuffer.

AUNT BEE'S DELIGHTFUL DESSERTS

Authors: Ken Beck & Jim Clark
Released in 1996, this spiral-bound follow-up cookbook to the original Aunt Bee's Mayberry Cookbook six years ago has 276 pages jammed with more than 350 mouth-watering desserts, including almost six dozen from 45 different Mayberry stars. Top that with a whopping 136 photographs (including some never published anywhere before!), episode dialogue, trivia, and an episode checklist, and you'll know that Aunt Bee has been busy in the kitchen so that we'll be able actually to taste the sweet flavor of Mayberry.

GOOBER IN A NUTSHELL

Authors: George Lindsey with Ken Beck & Jim Clark
(autographed by George) George reveals his life's story from growing up in Jasper, Ala., through Broadway, Hollywood, Mayberry, "Hee Haw," his work with Special Olympics and more. The 210-page paperback is loaded with interesting anecdotes and experiences and more than 11 dozen photos -- most never before published. You're guaranteed to learn more about Goober, Mayberry and both the humorous and serious sides of George's entire life when you read this book.

EVERYBODY BACK ON THE TRUCK!: The Story of the Dillards

Author: Lee Grant
This 168-page history of the Dillards is filled with great information about the Darling bluegrass group -- with a substantial portion devoted to their time in Mayberry. Lots of first-hand comments from the original Dillards and from Maggie Peterson and Denver Pyle, who also wrote the Foreword. Dozens of rare photos. Includes the never before published words to songs that made Charlene cry, which are sure to make you laugh. Outstanding!

IN THE KITCHEN WITH ELINOR DONAHUE

Author: Elinor Donahue with Ken Beck & Jim Clark
This 262-page coobook/memoirs is a delight for all fans of Elinor, the first season of Mayberry, Hollywood history and outstanding recipes. Contains more than 185 exceptionally good recipes, 260 classic photographs and terrific anecdote from Elinor’s entire career and life. Enchanting, informative and delicious!

A Guide to Television’s "Mayberry R.F.D."

Authors: Dale Robinson & David Fernandes
The second terrific Mayberry book by David Fernandes and Dale Robinson (authors of The Definitive Andy Griffith Show Reference), is 225 fact-filled pages of fun reading for any fan of Mayberry. This library-quality volume is the first book devoted entirely to the "R.F.D." years of Mayberry. It provides detailed, episode-by-episode information about everything you might ever want to know about what happens in "Mayberry R.F.D." It has extensive notes about the show’s cast, crew and guest stars, plus there’s a beautiful foreword by Arlene Golonka.

THE JEAN CARSON STORY: MORE THAN JUST A FUN GIRL FROM MT. PILOT

Author: Lee Grant with Jean Carson
(limited edition, numbered and autographed by both Jean and Lee) You know her best as deep-voiced fun girl Daphne ("Hello, Doll!"), but, beyond Mayberry, Jean Carson has had a thrilling show business career and life -- all shared through well-chosen words and rare photos in this fun book.

LIFE AFTER LUCY: THE TRUE STORY OF KEITH THIBODEAUX

Author: Keith Thibodeaux with Audrey T. Hingley
Keith played Little Ricky on Lucy but we know him as Johnny Paul Jason, Opie's best friend. He talks mostly about "I Love Lucy" but there's enough TAGS talk to warrant a read.

THE ANDY GRIFFITH STORY: AN ILLUSTRATED BIOGRAPHY

Author: Terry Collins
(autographed by Terry Collins) This 168-page paperback is a loving account of Andy Griffith's career and public life. Illustrated by artist Bill Neville, the book traces Andy Griffith's career from hometown Mt. Airy through Mayberry and on to "Matlock." It's a book all Mayberry fans will be proud to have in their collections.

TV Sets

Author: Mark Bennett
This recent book doesn't deal with just Mayberry, but eight of the book's 132 pages are devoted to Mayberry. This is a book of blueprints of homes, towns and businesses of most of the top sitcoms from the 1950s to 1970s. Mark Bennett has studiously watched all of the old shows, and pieced together the layouts into real blueprints of these TV sets. It makes for fascinating reading and studying. Trivia buffs can compare his drawings to their own visions of the various sets, and debate which of the finer points of one layout or another they might take issue with.

The Bluegrass Music Cookbook

Authors: Penny Parsons, Ken Beck and Jim Clark
This cookbook is jam-packed with more than 400 recipes and 200 photos from nearly 200 performers from the entire history of bluegrass music. Because bluegrass music has strong ties to Mayberry (plus the book is written by three TAGSRWC Goobers), we figured we’d make the book available through The Bullet. There are recipes and photos from all of the original Dillards and photos and recipes of Country Boys (aka the Kentucky Colonels) members Roland White and LeRoy McNees. The book also found a reason to include a photo from Mayberry Days in Mt. Airy, plus several other Mayberry surprises. On top of all that, there are some fantastic recipes from a Who’s Who of bluegrass music -- from Bill Monroe to Alison Krauss. In addition, there are numerous sidebars and bits of trivia on all aspects of bluegrass music.

AN UP TO DATE BIOGRAPHY OF THE ORIGINAL DILLARDS AND OTHER OZARK LIES (Vol.II)

Author: Mitch Jayne
(Note: Not available from Weaver's) Mitch was the bass playing darling boy. I guess there must be a Vol. I out there, too?

OLD FISH HAWK

Author: Mitch Jayne
(Note: Not available from Weaver's but Weaver's does stock the audiotapes of the book. Look at the Darling Boy Talks link .) Will remind you of Huck Finn. Mitch was the bass playing darling boy. Also on audio tape and there was a movie made about this book that is now on video.

MAYBERRY HUMOR ACROSS THE USA

Author: Jeanne Swanner Robertson
(autographed) As a popular humorist on the national speaking circuit (and as a former Miss North Carolina), Jeanne has spent years collecting some of the most unusual and hilarious references and real-life parallels to Mayberry -- all guaranteed to make you smile and many to make you think. With dozens upon dozens of hilarious stories and anecdotes and multiple allusions (some "nave" and others purposely obtuse) pertaining to every episode of the show, this clever, 346-page hardback (suggested retail price $19.95) provides hours of entertaining reading. It has been a big hit with fans since being introduced in 1995.

MAYBERRY MEDLEY: A TASTE AND TOUR OF MOUNT AIRY

Author:  Surry Arts Council
This cookbook was compiled by the Surry Arts Council in Andy Griffith's hometown of Mount Airy, N.C. It contains over 300 favorite recipes, from appetizers through desserts, from good cooks throughout Surry County. The book also contains lots of photos of local landmarks, Mayberry Days and other local festivals.