The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy, Second Edition [Paperback]

Rhonda McClure (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide | Publication Date: January 1, 2002

You're no idiot, of course. You know that back in the "old country", wherever that may be, there are probably ancient parchments listing your ancestors--and if you could go back, you could trace your lineage to its source. But when it comes to setting off on your personal expedition, time and finances keep you "rooted" in the here and now. Don't give up on discovering where you came from! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy is a fun, easy-to-follow guide to sleuthing around cyberspace to learn about your past--a cost-effective alternative to packing a trunk and setting sail. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you want to learn more about your family, now's the time to start. With the advent of the Internet, there's more information available than ever before, and it's easier to access now than in the good old days of musty libraries and records halls. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy by Rhonda McClure will have you wired and digging up dirt (or gold) in just an hour or two. Even the most ardent computer-hater will have to admit that the search is simpler, and McClure makes the case clearly. Her charming prose is well complemented by online images and hint boxes scattered liberally on each page. Specific sites are mentioned as well as general means of searching for family data, so even if one site disappears you can still get what you need. The book covers the basics of both gathering family data and online searches, so if you're not quite up to speed on one or the other, you can quickly figure it out. After you've browsed a bit and started collecting information, the later chapters help you to communicate with other researchers, mining government records, and even publishing your own results online. It's not hard to learn plenty about your family's history; whether you want to get in touch with your roots, glean medical information to improve your own health, or give your kids something to think about, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy is for you. --Rob Lightner --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

You're no idiot, of course. You know that back in the "old country", wherever that may be, there are probably ancient parchments listing your ancestors--and if you could go back, you could trace your lineage to its source. But when it comes to setting off on your personal expedition, time and finances keep you "rooted" in the here and now. Don't give up on discovering where you came from! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy is a fun, easy-to-follow guide to sleuthing around cyberspace to learn about your past--a cost-effective alternative to packing a trunk and setting sail. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get: --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 434 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 2nd edition (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028642678
• ISBN-13: 978-0028642673
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,029,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for the classroom, February 28, 2001

By 

James L. Rader (Antelope, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Geneaology (Paperback)

I have been using this book in a class I teach at the local Adult Education center. The class is 10 sessions of 3 hours each and the book provides a comprehensive overview on Genealogy on the internet. The author's information is well written and todate 75 students have enjoyed this book with me...

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Long In The Tooth in 2010, May 29, 2010

By 

William T. Cole Jr. "wcole67" (Naples, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Geneaology (Paperback)

I purchased this used book from a bookseller at Amazon for a very low price although the shipping cost was a bit of a hit. The book was delivered quickly and in mint, "Like New" condition. No problems there.
The problem however (which is entirely my fault) is that the book was published ten years ago (in 2000). When you are talking about "online genealogy", it means much of the book material is now really obsolete in 2010. Even though the book is "long in the tooth" there still are a FEW hints for internet surfers who are brand new to online genealogy. Generally however, the book is extremely dated and not of much use to anyone with a little experience researching genealogy on the internet. One example: "Google Search" is hardly noted (it's included in a list of a half dozen other search engines and that's it).
Probably a good read 10 years ago but it's now "way over the hill". I should have checked more carefully before purchasing.

18 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good resource book, October 24, 2000

By 

Water Monkey "Marc B." (Santa Clarita, Ca.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Geneaology (Paperback)

Online Genealogy is a fun hobby that is increasing in popularity. It use to be a hassle trying to contact libraries and record halls by mail or telephone.

The "Idiot's Guide..." will show you everything you need to know to get started setting up your family tree. Make sure you have as much detail, about your history, available when you begin your search, to make things easier.

If you already belong to a genealogy club, this book might seem redundant. But it is a nice reference to have when you don't feel like searching your bookmarks for a specific page.

I bought this for my mother, and she found it very useful. Of course she still writes half of her bookmarks down on paper.