Customer Reviews

How to Find Almost Anyone, Anywhere, Revised and Updated Edition

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you are completely unfamiliar with the internet, you may find this book useful. Otherwise, it is a waste of money. There is quite a bit of preaching in this book such as "When these needs [of a mother AND father] aren't met, development is thwarted..." While this may be true, that should be an entirely different book from this one. Advice such as, learn her date of birth (to find mother) or register at a fee based reunion site (of course to the financial benefit of the author!!) is offered and all I thought was that I could have thought of any of her advice without ever having bought the book. Several letters with happy ending responses are also a part of the book, but no step-by-step assistance is in this book anywhere. As a matter of fact, in the first paragraph, the author says we should all buy a different book on finding people...I wish I had never spent the money!

Novice searchers who believe they will find extensive help within the covers of this book will be quite disappointed. Although Ms. Tillman does provide some lists of federal and state offices that maintain various information useful to experienced researchers, she gives little direction in how to access the databases. She suggests you go to your local library and ask the reference librarian for assistance. She suggests you might gain information about the person you are seeking through friends or relatives of that person without explaining how you might find those friends and relatives. Her case studies indicate that she has been successful in finding some people by using their Social Security number, but she doesn't tell how to find that number if it is unknown nor does she tell how to use it if it is known. Also contributing to the book's lack of utility is the fact that it has no index. Ms. Tillman's basic summary is that there is a lot of information "out there" that you can use (somehow) to find people, but if you aren't successful, you can always hire a professional search firm (like hers!) to find the person for you.

This book was more than just helpful to me. I had been a private investigator for a couple of years before I found this book and read it. She manages to pack an immense amount of information in the less the 170 actual learning pages(the rest has addresses, phone numbers and names of various sources of information). I suggest this book for anybody, whether they are looking for a long-lost friend/relative, attemping to, or already are, become a private investigator, or you just like to know how to find people. This book will give you ideas and places to start, but doesn't go so far as to actually do it all for you. After finishing this book, you still need to think about how to get some of the information you may need, but she has shown you where to get it. This book will always be in my library.

This is the third (How To Find) book written by this author to help a novice searcher and is a follow up to the original hardback book (which is found in most libraries and bookstores). The original hardback book is referred to often by many professional investigators and has the basics needed to find almost anyone (providing the searcher has good information to work with) and will remain a great source of information. Those who are familiar with the internet know that information on the web changes rapidly and of course there is no way a book written in 1998 can include all the current information available in 2001, however this book can be used as a tool or guide to provide information and insight that will lead to more information. These books are intended to help the searcher using many techniques. The comments and "preachings" by the author are intended to encourage the reader and hopefully suggest ways that will successfully reunite long lost families and friends. This author believes in sharing her knowledge and experience to help others.

I've just completed reading this wonderful book from the library and had to have my own copy. I'm in the process of starting my own investigation company and I refer to it daily. Similar books are miles behind this one!! Good job Ms Tillman!

For someone like me who didn't have a clue where to start, this book steered me in the right direction. I found my birthmother's brother by sending for his driver's license which I had no clue you could do. The addresses in it are quite helpful. The book stimulates your mind and gives you things to do; keep busy and keep looking, shows you where to look and how to go about it. Thanks Norma!!

I just found my adopted sister and my grandfather who fathered my mother during the war. Everything I needed and used was listed in this book. I did, however, used my computer and the internet to access these resources. Everything she said was true. I found her advice and support to those searching comforting.

I checked this out at a local library and did not purchase this book. So here is my review...

It is good, but it has a lot of letters wanting her to find their family or friends. I admit that I did cry through the mother letters (people that want to find their mothers). Those were touching.

It is a bit outdated and needs to be rewritten in a more updated version. Laws have changed and she needs to address that. However, she does point out the seed suggestion. You have to start somewhere. If you have the most pertinent information to begin with, you should be able to find anyone.

Ms. Tillman provides encouragement and suggestions for evey type of search you are likely to encounter. Her theme is that every problem contains the seed for the solution and we just need to find it. Did you know that with four pieces of information you are almost guaranteed success in locating your missing person? These are the person's name, date of birth, Social Security number and last known address. She shares correspondence which include her answers to writers but also stimulates your imagination to find your own answers. She reminds us that most missing persons are not actually missing - they just don't know anyone is looking for them!