Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. Acknowledgments ix
4. Introduction. To the Fishing Hole 1
5. Part One: The Place
6. Chapter One. A World unto Itself 21
7. Chapter Two. Against Change 35
8. Chapter Three. Stopping the Story 47
9. Chapter Four. Great Pages in History 56
10. Chapter Five. From R.F.D. to R.I.P. 67
11. Interlude: The Road to Mayberry 79
12. Part Two: The People
13. Chapter One. Sheriff without a Gun (Andy) 89
14. Chapter Two. Imagination (Mr. McBeevee) 97
15. Chapter Three. Life Imitates Fife (Barney) 99
16. Chapter Four. A Face in the Crowd (Mr. Schwump) 107
17. Chapter Five. Growing Up, Growing Old (Opie and Floyd) 109
18. Chapter Six. Old Geezers (Judd and Asa) 118
19. Chapter Seven. Mayberry Maidens (Aunt Bee, Helen Crump, and Thelma Lou) 120
20. Chapter Eight. Beasts of the Southern Wild (Ernest T. Bass and the Darling) 126
21. Chapter Nine. Otis Regrets (Otis Campbell) 133
22. Chapter Ten. Love in the Country (Gomer, Goober, and Howard) 136
23. Chapter Eleven. Trashy Women (Daphne and Skippy) 141
24. Conclusion. Old Sam 143
25. Epilogue. A Cuban in Mayberry 147
26. Appendix. List of Episodes 153
27. Notes 161
28. Index 171