The Genealogy Handbook: The Complete Guide to Tracing Your Family Tree (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The most extensive and Internet-savvy resource of its kind. This book delivers critical tools and proven techniques for research with results. Editorial consultant Ancestry.com, the world's leading resource for family history online, teaches how to navigate the Internet to find the information you need.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Readers Digest (May 3, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762103086
• ISBN-13: 978-0762103089
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #855,963 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent launching point for your genealogical research, May 14, 2007

By	Robert Reid (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Genealogy Handbook: The Complete Guide to Tracing Your Family Tree (Paperback)

I'm just getting started with my Genealogical research, and after feeling a bit overwhelmed with the possibilities, I bought a couple of books to help me develop a "roadmap."

Given the conciseness of this text and the beautiful graphic design and layout, I was expecting this to be shorter on substance than my other (much lengthier) book, "How to Do Everything with Your Genealogy." However, the old family photographs and pictures of census records and immigration documents are inspiring, while the mini-case studies help put the descriptive text in context. The eight concise chapters seem to cover the essential range of topics, including interviewing and collection techniques, archiving, creating family trees, using the internet as a tool, and planning a genealogy research trip. Family history research is not rocket science, and while much of what is described is common sense, this book focuses on pointing out key internet and library resources and recommending methods for interviewing as well as making use of the experience of naturally helpful librarians and archivists.

I was particularly impressed by the clarity and relevance of the chapter on internet searches, which assumes no previous background and probably well accommodates even the largely senior demographic of family historians. Relevant sub-topics include a conceptual overview of how email works, basic netiquette, and pointers to helpful online resources. Appropriately, computer technology is a dominant theme throughout the book, and the author makes particular note that with modern technology, genealogical research is a whole lot less tedious than it used to be. One example of a good idea I hadn't thought of, is bringing a digital camera on research trips to take snapshots of archival documents.

I'm sure I'll come back to this book as a "reference" during various stages of my search, but that didn't stop me from reading this from cover to cover.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Genealogy Handbook: The Complete Guide to Tracing Your Famil, July 10, 2002

By	"xanadid" (Lacey, WA USA) - See all my reviews

Yes, I agree, this is the best beginning genealogy book. I wanted to give my mother something practical, yet not overwhelming, so she could start researching our roots. I found this book in my local library and had trouble returning it! Reader's Digest is the publisher and there is no dispute to the quality of material within. It is easy to read, chapters are logical, and the indices are an added bonus. A great purchase, especially at the Amazon price.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Genealoyy Resourse, January 9, 2007

By	Vincent G. Hollister, Jr. - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Genealogy Handbook: The Complete Guide to Tracing Your Family Tree (Paperback)

I found the book initally at my local library and decided it was very usefull and wanted my own copy so I found it at [...]. It very well layed out and would be an excellent guide for begineers to genealogly as well as a resourse of info for the experienced geanologist as well.