5 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Genealogy, 2nd Edition.

1. This edition of the book is more up-to-date, so it's actually useful somewhat. Mostly, though, it's a book written by experts for experts. There is little thought given to the practical application of genealogy -- making friends with newly found relatives, for example, and family reunions. There is no mention of the politics that go into genealogy. You can easily destroy your family by writing the wrong date for a marriage on your descendant chart, but the book totally omits important facts like that! It has a small chapter on DNA, which is nice, but it leaves out critical information on that topic, too. The "Idiot's" title of this book is misleading; the authors fail to think like a layman. Beware.



2. 
   This is a great book for beginners and experienced researchers. I recommend it to my students.
   Maria (Ree) Hopper, CG



3. As a newbie to genealogy, I find this to be a very helpful book. It points you in the directions that you should go and gives a lot of ideas that I would not have thought of.



4. These authors have the credentials to and have written a superb handbook, especially for the genealogy "newbies". Even the experienced family historian will here find MUCH help. Paul Drake JD



5. As are the others in the Idiots series, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Geneology was packed with useful info to get one started.

5 comments about Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian.

1. As a genealogist since 1980, I know how important it is to be able to cite your documenation in a correct way. This is one of the MUST HAVE books in your genealogical reference collection.



2. If you choose to do serious genealogical work--if you are deeply curious about your family origins--you have to get beyond reminiscences, assumptions, and wishful thinking. You have to know what real information exists, and how to access it. You have to become a good critical thinker, evaluating the relative merits of sources and learning how to build a case.
   
   In short, you have to become a scholar. If you are already a scholar, you're all set to investigate genealogy. If you don't usually think of yourself with a mortarboard cap on your head, don't fret--this book will help.
   
   Elizabeth Mills' book is a tightly-written reference work. It sketches a clear overview of genealogical method. It enumerates the kind of sources that exist, how to find them, and how to document and cite them appropriately. It is a kind of "Chicago Manual of Style" in brief, a compact vademecum for frequent reference.
   
   Its tightness may seem off-putting at first, but I think this is for the best. It dispels much of the fluff and fantasy that surrounds genealogy, much of the soft-focus, rose-tinted sentimentality that often replaces fact.
   
   The choice is yours; but by choosing the scholarly path, I've had personal successes in genealogy that profoundly gratify me. I wish you the same joy in your own work.



3. This is an excellent book. Short and to the point with examples of each kind of citation. Small enough to carry with you as you do research. I would love to have it on my kindle!



4. Elizabeth Shown Mills gives the beginner to expert genealogist a straight forward approach, foundation and rationale for citing sources based on her experience in a handy reference. It got me off to a great start.



5. I look forward to putting this reference book to good use. It has a lot of good information.

1 comments about Citing Ancestry.com Databases & Images Quicksheet.

1. I am glad this was recommended to me. I have Mills' book and this card is a great productivity aid.

5 comments about Trace Your Roots with DNA: Use Your DNA to Complete Your Family Tree.

1. Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak - her real name - provides an excellent introduction of what DNA can and can not do in Genetic Genealogy.
   
   Anyone starting their "Roots" research effort is advised to buy this book. It will help you save money by allowing DNA to focus on your line and not someone elses. Read the book for more details!



2. FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN GENEALOGY, THE BOOK BY MEGAN SMOLENYAK TITLED TRACE YOUR ROOTS WITH DNA IS MOST INFORMATIVE. IT IS WELL WRITTEN AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR EITHER THE BEGINNING OR PROFESSIONAL GENEALOGIST.



3. After slaving away at high school and college science classes I had completely lost any interest in the subject because I assumed it was too darn hard! But this book takes a HIGHLY complex subject, and with just a few backtracks on my part for clarity, takes, genetics, DNA, and the important differences between patriarchical/matrilineal and makes them meaningful and useful. Because I am working at establishing a tribal membership, the suggested sources and unique patterns to Native American DNA increased my confidence in applying. I am already in contact with a company they recommended for Native American tribal identification. Excellent and useful purchase.



4. Helps to clarify the most commonly used terms in genetic genealogy. But goes off-topic with details concerning paternity tests, etc. Additionally it seems to go too far in making the case for forming online groups to identify potential connections. Would be a lot better if it stuck more to the topic of using genetics in genealogy and spent more time discussing the various tests in the marketplace and the existing sites associated with them.



5. I agree with most of the positive statements made here by other reviewers. But, genetic genealogy is a field that is growing by leaps and bounds and much of the information in this book -- published more than 5 years ago as I write this review -- is outdated. Some websites they list as resources no longer work. Some statistics they quote are no longer valid.
   
   So, if you're looking for a book to introduce you to the general topic, there's lots of great information to be found here. But if you buy this book, be prepared to be frustrated, as I was, by the amount of things that have changed since it was published.
   
   I look forward to a second, updated edition!

5 comments about Quicksheet Citing Online Historical Resources.

1. Elizebeth Mills is increasingly referred to as one of the main citation sources for genealogical methods and standards. While this 2 sheet laminated card does help, I wasn't thrilled when I received it.
   
   Opening my wondeful Amazon box (with other goodies) it was "oh yeah, hmm".
   
   The sheet is not really worth the money cause it misses some elements of citation - especially if you are international - rather than being based in the US.
   
   But then again, for the time, effort and expense of getting your own copy laminated it might be a bad option.
   
   Personally, I feel this double sided sheet should have been added and available for free in conjunction with her book "Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian" ISBN-10: 0806315431
   
   Conclusion: Have a review yourself with the "Search Inside" and see whether it suits you.



2. I needed an update guide of "How To" for citing online sources for my history research. It was better than I had hoped. It covered several types of sourecs material I had not considered. I believe it a good backup for larger style manuals.



3. Great, easy to use summary for citing sources of not just genealogy but other subjects as well. Plastic coated, just right for those of us that drink and sometimes eat at our computers. A must have - like all the other nonfiction items by this author.



4. This is one of the handiest items I have yet purchased for a quick guide to historical resources! Thanks.



5. This is a very portable, concise reference sheet to use when doing my family history research. It is protected from spills and easy to use.

5 comments about The Family Tree Problem Solver: Proven Methods for Scaling the Inevitable Brick Wall.

1. As a genealogy reference or guide I found this book to be a dud.
   
   It has almost the worst Index I have ever seen. Sources that are mentioned in the text are not in the index nor clearly explained.
   
   As an example the source I know as the "Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature" was mentioned, more than once, under an odd acronym and I did not find any explanation or comment on the acronym or the different title.



2. This book is a cut above many popular genealogy "how to" books.
   
   I'm really picky about genealogy books, and this one is excellent. Most books don't discuss carefully evaluating evidence and really thinking through problems associated with conflicting information, burned counties, brick walls etc. The "thinking" in this book and the examples of alternative sources one may not be familiar with are what is outstanding. In addition, Ms. Rising's examples are clear, easy to follow and informative, and there are many of them. Her research methods are applicable to ANY time period you are working in. I disagree with another reviewer who complained that this book won't help someone with "late" immigrant ancestors.
   
   I'm an experienced genealogist and a trained researcher who has been working for 25 years on my family lines. The land chapter, in particular, and the chapter on working in the years between the Revolutionary War and 1850, gave me several directions to go in knocking down some brick walls.
   
   Beginners as well as experienced researchers will benefit from this book. What will help doing genealogy research most of all is knowing how to evaluate what you have and how to recognize what else you need. This book does much more!



3. Excellent resource for American ancestors from 1800-1900. She discussed techniques and common pitfalls that were very helpful despite my having many years of good solid experience.



4. This book had some good suggestions, but it dealt with her specific problems. It gave me some good ideas.



5. I love the problem solving techniques that this book demonstrates. The author provides step by step instructions and case studies that help with some of the more difficult problems in genealogical research. I have recommended it in classes that I teach on methodology because I think it is so helpful.

4 comments about The Official Guide to Ancestry.com.

1. The book is a good reference to have on hand to clarify a point or search a question.



2. I am of two minds when it comes to an "official guide" to any site on the World Wide Web. First, a website can consist of as many pages as necessary to cover the subject, and there can be as many interconnections between pages as necessary to guide the user. Second, the nature of hyperlinking is such that any properly designed website shouldn't need a guide. It should be so logically organized that navigation is obvious, and it should include its own internal "help" system. At least, that's the theory. In practice, even a site as generally well designed as Ancestry (and it is well designed) can eventually become so large, with so many layers, that it can be daunting even to an experienced genealogical web surfer.
   
   George Morgan, a well-known Florida genealogist, book author, and columnist, began doing research back in the 1960s, when "research" meant many trips to the courthouse and the library and waiting for replies to correspondence. Recent, younger converts to the hobby may find it difficult to imagine such a thing, but that's how it was. Ancestry was one of the earliest multi-database resources to appear online and is now part of the Generations Network, a huge conglomerate (in genealogical terms) that includes nearly a dozen previously separate database sites, plus Family Tree Maker and Ancestry Publishing. The Ancestry site itself includes more than 23,000 databases and transcribed books, with many more being constantly added, and the company has done the online researcher the service of making the templates nearly identical that give access to them. This book follows the obvious logical structure of devoting a chapter to each broad category: Census records, birth/marriage/death, immigration, directories and membership lists, newspaper and periodicals, court records, land, military, PERSI. maps, and local and family histories. Other chapters give advice on starting your first family tree on the site itself (something I don't recommend for reasons of access and lack of backup), on how to work with the many kinds of digitized records at Ancestry (much improved over the early days), using the Learning Center (lots of freebies here), and how to most efficiently spend your money at the Ancestry Store. The text of the book is generally well thought out and the sales pitch (Ancestry itself is the publisher, don't forget) is reasonably subtle.
   
   One thing: Don't forget that Ancestry is not a free research service, it's a business. If you live in a small town far away from large research libraries -- and especially if you need to do research in a far corner of the country -- a subscription is going to be far cheaper than gasoline. Plus, you can work online at any time of the day or night. But also don't forget that in many states the state library makes available a subscription to Ancestry to city and county libraries all around the state, and that anyone with a library card can therefore access any database at Ancestry for free by visiting their local library. (But no, you generally can't logon to the library's access point from home.)
   
   I can recommend this volume to anyone new to the websites it describes, although most of what is available on the site can be discovered simply by "walking around." It would especially make a good auxiliary gift if you're planning on giving someone in your family a gift subscription to Ancestry for Christmas.



3. I have been using Ancestry for a couple of years, but needed some help figuring out how to accomplish certain tasks. This book had the relevant information. I would recommend it to both new and old users of Ancestry.com



4. tHIS IS A REFERENCE BOOK TO KEEP RIGHT BESIDWE YOU WHEN YOU ARE WORKING WITH [...]. tHEY HAVE SO MUCH INFO AND YOU NEED HELP TO FOLOOW THE TRAILS. tHIS IS AN EXCELLENT MAP.

3 comments about The Official Guide to Family Tree Maker.

1. Pederson has hit the jackpot with her new guide. It is very esy to follow and is a merked improvement over earlier guides. Learning to se it is quite easy and has the informaation necessary to find waht you need. I recommend it highly.



2. You will really need this guide if you are going to make use of all the features of Family Tree Maker 2010. This is a full featured program, but it does not come with a suitable guide book. Get this book and discover all the great things you can accomplish with Family Tree Maker 2010.



3. Packaged well, received it in a timely manner and the price was even better! Cheaper than all other areas. I now have used the program and absolutely love it! Will order again from Amazon as I have before.

No comments about Who Do You Think You Are?: The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History.

5 comments about The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy: A complete resource to using the Web to trace your family history (Everything Series).

1. This book is great. It tells a lot of stuff I already knew about researching family history, but I also learned a lot just in the first Chapter! This is a must have for serious researchers!



2. I am a librarian and have bought a lot of books on genealogy but this one is fantastic. It is loaded with websites and ideas and to have it all in one place is just staggering. The author did a great job.



3. THIS HANDBOOK IS A GREAT ASSET TO SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT IN GENEALOGY (AS I AM). IN FACT, I PURCHASED 2 COPIES; ONE FOR ME AND ONE FOR MY SISTER. NOW WE BOTH CAN BURN UP THE NET!



4. This was my first book on Genealogy I purchased and it has been a big help, after I had started my family tree. It's packed with great information and on-line resourses and also, some samples of family tree research. A must have for your Genealogy library.



5. Started researching family history a couple years ago, but was't making much headway. This book really has helped me get going and is improving my results. I purchased the book along with the Family tree maker 2010 software which is a much better than the previous editions. A great book to buy.