Netting Your Ancestors : Genealogical Research on the Internet (Paperback)

by Cyndi Howells (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Netting Your Ancestors is designed not only to show you how to use the Internet in genealogical research but how to take maximum advantage of this extraordinary research tool. Written by genealogist and computer whiz Cyndi Howells, creator of the award-winning web site Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet, it is a guide to the most powerful research tool since the advent of the personal computer. This is no hollow claim, for in bringing resources from around the world right into your home, the Internet makes genealogical research possible on a global scale, in record-breaking time. With its clear, no-nonsense approach, Netting Your Ancestors answers the most fundamental questions about genealogical research on the Internet: How do I get online?What type of computer hardware and software do I need? What do I do once I'm online? Where do I start? What type of information is available? The answers to those questions, rendered in plain English, will help you to discover genealogical resources and finding-aids beyond your wildest dreams. What's more, you'll be able to communicate with researchers around the world, exchanging data that otherwise might take you a lifetime to find. To help you get the most out of your online research time, Netting Your Ancestors focuses on the three most useful components of the Internet, each of which is discussed in a separate chapter: E-mail, Mailing Lists and Newsgroups, and the World Wide Web. Within each chapter, sections are devoted to software requirements, guidelines, and the basic workings of each component, along with tips for researchers who have already been online for a while. The last section in each chapter is devoted to research strategies that will benefit both new and veteran online researchers. The ability to exchange information on a global scale and to explore vast new databases (as well as obscure factoids lurking at the edges of cyberspace) is what genealogical research on the Internet is all about. And in this book, with the aplomb and assurance of a seasoned Internet navigator, Cyndi Howells starts you out on your Internet journey of exploration and discovery, guiding you confidently toward your goal. It's a trip you'll never forget, even though you never leave home. (The author's web site, Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet, is the most comprehensive list of Internet resources for genealogy available and has been acclaimed by Newsweek magazine, Time magazine, Home PC magazine, and the History Channel.)

Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: Genealogical Publishing Company; 1st edition (1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806315466
• ISBN-13: 978-0806315461
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #858,736 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Either indispensable or redundant refresher material..., August 5, 1999

By A Customer

...depending on how Net-savvy you already are.

For those who aren't techies, Cyndi gives a very good overview of how to use the Internet to do research and conduct correspondence. That much it does very well.

For those who know how to use the Internet well, and were hoping to find lots of information and leads you couldn't get from search engines or major genealogy sites (such as her own fabulous site), you could be disappointed. Most of the information will be basic, refresher-level stuff that you probably already know.

I'd highly recommend it for people who aren't savvy with computers or the Internet -- for those folks, I'd give this 5 stars out of 5. For those who already know how to use the Internet's resources for research and information-gathering, I can only give it 2 stars. I'm guessing the book is geared toward the former, so my overall ranking of 4 stars is skewed toward a focus on the less tech-savvy among us.

In short -- very good book for those new to this information...but the information is at a very introductory level, and if you understand and accept that before diving in, you won't be disappointed.

42 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not for beginning geneologist...for the Internet novice, January 14, 2000

By A Customer

Do yourself a favor: buy this book ONLY if you have absolutely NO (and I stress NO) experience with email or the Web. This book came with the geneology software I bought from Amazon. The software is great, but I ask you, would you even buy software if you were so techno-clueless that this book would be even remotely useful? It literally explains how to access a program: "Click on Start - Programs ..."

If you know anything at all about the Internet, the book will be a waste of your time and money. (So if you found your way to this review, this book will be a waste of your time and money.) It is clearly intended for experienced geneologists who have never seen, much less used, a computer. The author claims that this book will be useful even if you have Internet experience. That is the only reason I'm giving this book one star. It's being marketed as if it were for all geneologists, but it could be useful for only a very small percentage of them.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book explaining internet researching for beginners!, October 18, 1997

By A Customer

Cyndi's book is just like her web site on genealogy researching -- very thorough. It explains the basics and also provides plenty of resources and instruction for the more advanced and experienced internet researcher looking for help in doing family history research. Don't miss this one if genealogy is your hobby!