As an alternative, the Kindle eBook is available now and can be read on any device with the free Kindle app. Want to listen? Try Audible.

Add to List

Added to

Unable to add item to List. Please try again.

Share <Embed>

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See all 3 images

Follow the Author

Richard Hill

Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA Paperback – August 17, 2012

by Richard Hill (Author)

577 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$9.89

—

Audible Audiobook, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$0.00

Free with your Audible trial

Paperback

"Please retry"

$11.94

$13.59

$3.78

Paperback, August 17, 2012

$7.96

$23.70

$1.65

Audio CD, Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$24.99

—

Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA was a Global Ebook Awards gold medal winner and a Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist. It is Richard Hill's true and intensely personal story of how he pieced together the long-kept secret of his own origins. This highly suspenseful book is a page-turning saga of personal detective work that will appeal to anyone who loves a good mystery.

But this isn't fiction. It's an engrossing account of an adoptee trying to reclaim the biological family denied him by sealed birth records. This fascinating quest, including the author's landmark use of DNA testing, takes readers on an exhilarating roller-coaster ride and concludes with a twist that rivals anything Hollywood has to offer.

Easy to read and hard to put down, Finding Family is the first book to chronicle the paradigm-shifting application of genetic genealogy to adoption search. Whether you're searching for your own roots or just craving a darn good read, Finding Family is a book you will likely devour in one sitting...and wholeheartedly recommend to others.

In the vein of a classic mystery, Hill gathers the seemingly scant evidence surrounding the circumstances of his birth. At his adoptive father's deathbed, he discovers shocking information that leads him to methodically chase down leads, which sometimes yield poignant glimpses of his birth parents, sometimes garner resistance, and as frequently flat-line in disappointment.

As his resolve shores up, the author also avails of new friends, genealogists, the Internet, and the latest DNA tests in the new field of genetic genealogy. As he closes in on the truth of his ancestry, he is able to construct a living, breathing portrait of the young woman who was faced with the decision to forsake her rights to her child, and ultimately the man whose identity had remained hidden for decades.

During the course of Hill's mission, Finding Family offers guidance, insight, and motivation for anyone engaged in a similar mission, from ways to obtain information to the many networks that can facilitate adoption searches. Best of all, the author demystifies how DNA and genetic genealogy can produce irrefutable results in determining genetic connections. In an intimate, personal voice, Hill sheds light on this new science that is helping adoptees bypass sealed records and similar stumbling blocks. It is certain to inspire those who are in search of their birth parents as well as others who are uncertain of their biological ancestry.

Richard Hill's groundbreaking use of DNA testing in adoption search was featured on the front page of The Wall Street Journal. His DNA Testing Adviser web site makes genetic genealogy understandable to all.

Print length

260 pages
Language

English
Publisher

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication date

August 17, 2012
Dimensions

6 x 0.59 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1475190832
ISBN-13

978-1475190830
See all details

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Libby Copeland
309
Paperback
$13.59
+ $35.48 shipping
In Stock.
Bill Griffeth
424
Hardcover
$22.85
Get it as soon as Friday, Aug 20
FREE Shipping by Amazon
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Blaine T. Bettinger
1,070
Paperback
$22.99
+ $35.48 shipping
In Stock.
Paul Joseph Fronczak
829
Paperback
58 offers from $5.37
Randy Lindsay
168
Hardcover
$22.49
+ $35.48 shipping
Only 18 left in stock (more on the way).
Stephen F. Anderson
96
Hardcover
$30.00
+ $15.48 shipping
In stock soon.

Customers who bought this item also bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Libby Copeland
309
Hardcover
$13.59
+ $35.48 shipping
In Stock.
Blaine T. Bettinger
1,070
Paperback
$22.99
+ $35.48 shipping
In Stock.
Bill Griffeth
424
Hardcover
$22.85
Get it as soon as Friday, Aug 20
FREE Shipping by Amazon
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Randy Lindsay
168
Hardcover
$22.49
+ $35.48 shipping
Only 18 left in stock (more on the way).
Stephen F. Anderson
96
Hardcover
$30.00
+ $15.48 shipping
In stock soon.
Paul Joseph Fronczak
829
Paperback
58 offers from $5.37

Special offers and product promotions

Amazon Business: Make the most of your Amazon Business account with exclusive tools and savings. Login now

Editorial Reviews

Review

In this debut memoir, one man embarks on a nearly three-decade quest to find his biological family...Hill's prose is clear and straightforward throughout, marked by a methodological tone that reflects his careers in science and marketing. Seamlessly and descriptively, he folds a decades-long process into a comprehensible narrative. His years of meticulous note taking translate into an inspiring story about his dedicated search for the truth.

An engaging, page-turning memoir that thoughtfully puts together the pieces of a family puzzle. --Kirkus Reviews

Richard's story reads like a good mystery novel. He is methodical, creative, determined and unexpectedly funny. I couldn't put the book down.--CeCe Moore, Blogger, Your Genetic Genealogist

This book is what we used to refer to as a barn-burner! Gets ahold of you and just won't let you go!...a wonderfully executed masterpiece. Whether you are interested in genetic genealogy, adoption searches or just like a good heart-warming mystery, you'll love this book!--Roberta Estes, Blogger, DNAeXplained

"Finding Family" tells a gripping, inspirational story, but it also does more: It provides a genuinely useful self-help guide for adopted people, genealogists and anyone else who wants to explore their personal history.--Adam Pertman, Executive Director, Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute and author of Adoption Nation.

A fascinating new page-turner. [I was] completely unable to put it down... I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in genealogy, family secrets, genetic genealogy, or mystery in general. The book is a complete and entertaining saga from A to Z.--Blaine Bettinger, Blogger, The Genetic Genealogist

About the Author

Richard Hill's groundbreaking use of genetic genealogy tests in adoption search was featured on the front page of The Wall Street Journal. In order to share his success secrets and tips with other adoptees and genealogists, Hill created an educational web site, DNA-Testing-Adviser.com, which makes genetic genealogy understandable to all.

His first book, "Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA," is a memoir recounting his personal experience as an adoptee searching for his biological family. His second, "Guide to DNA Testing," presents a concise, easy-to-understand overview of genetic genealogy testing today.

Richard gives talks and interviews on DNA testing. As the unifying expert who bridges the fields of genetic genealogy and adoption search, he has become the go-to person for adoptees and others seeking to find lost relatives or confirm suspected relationships.

The author has a BS in physics, an MBA, and more than thirty years experience in marketing.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 17, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 260 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1475190832
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1475190830
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.59 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,132,536 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,079 in Adoption (Books)
- #41,903 in Memoirs (Books)

Customer Reviews:
577 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload video

Customer reviews

5 star		86%
4 star		9%
3 star		3%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star		1%

How are ratings calculated?

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Marcia L. Gorman

Couldn't put it down!

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2016

Verified Purchase

I loved this book. Unlike the author who was adopted, I just found out that my mother lied to me all my life about who my father was. I'm 66 yrs old! So needless to say, finding out this late in life was a mind blower. His story has inspired me simply because he was so tenacious about finding out who his birth parents were. The ebook also includes an addendum which explains all about DNA tests, how they work, and which one to use. I personally went with Ancestry.com, and I really like their new website. I have been able to figure out which family I came from, but like the author, I'm still trying to figure out which of the three brothers was the culprit! It's been a very valuable tool. The author's story is well written and a great drama. I think you'll enjoy it.

20 people found this helpful

Helpful

delphinium

Gripping Account of One Man's Quest to Find his Birth Family

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2021

Verified Purchase

Richard Hill's account of how he found his family using modern DNA testing is gripping as a suspense novel. Hill, who was adopted as an infant in Michigan, did not learn of his origins until a chance encounter in a doctor's office when he was 18. Later, on his deathbed, his adoptive father gave Mr. Hill some clues to his identity. What follows in "Finding Family" is the unfolding of Mr. Hill's quest to learn more, turning over stones as first a gumshoe detective and then later as a bona fide genealogical sleuth. As a backdrop to this story, it is important to note that Hill was adopted in 1946, when adoption records in the vast majority of the United States were secret. (A child surrendered for adoption was issued an original birth certificate naming his or her birth name, and the name of his or her mother, a record that was then sealed when an adoption became finalized. A second, amended birth certificate was issued, listing only the adoptee's new name, and his adoptive parents as his original mother and father.). Owing to a background in science and the understandable curiosity of all people to know and understand their origin story, Mr. Hill details his journey in finding blood relatives through direct-to-consumer testing. His chapters are short and powerful, and throughout we come to meet him as a deeply sympathetic narrator. I am not an adoptee, a birth or adoptive parent, but this story is a universal one -- and a huge bonus is that Mr. Hill includes a detailed guide about how to use DNA testing. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in knowing their roots.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Informative And Fascinating

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2021

Verified Purchase

Richard Hill was 18 years old when his family doctor let slip a family secret: he was an adopted child. A secure and happy young man looking forward to going to college, Hill was surprised but not unduly disturbed by what he had learned, and for many years rarely thought about it. Then he learned that he had a half brother somewhere, and that led him to start researching his birth family. Eventually, after many years of on again and off again searching, Hill was able to identify both of his birth parents and locate relations on both sides.

Hill began his search in the late 1970s, many years before the internet and DNA analysis simplified the genealogical process. His final verification of who his biological father really was had to wait until the early 21st century, after science had provided new tools for family researchers. His chronicle is fascinating to read.

I'm a genealogist myself, and like Hill I spent many years combing through paper archives looking for records that would document my family's lineage. I've had my DNA tested at some of the same labs Hill used, too. My discoveries weren't as dramatic as Hill's. My DNA testing has confirmed some old family stories while opening up a few new mysteries, but overall my heritage as paper records and family traditions had it set down were largely confirmed. Ethnically, my DNA testing revealed me to be pretty much what I'd always assumed I would be based on the paper trail.

Hill's story reveals the great benefits, as well as the possible problems, inherent in DNA analysis. Whether you are new to the field or an established genealogist/DNA analyst, you will enjoy Finding Family.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Kindle Customer

The Search

Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2017

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed this book so very much. It told a good story and yet shared some great information regarding research into ancestry. I found myself highlighting so many passages that will aid me in my look into my past. However, my excitement is peaked over all the info regarding the research for an adopted child. My 13 year old granddaughter is adopted and her birth mother was also adopted. We know who my granddaughter's birth mother is but we know nothing about the birth father. We have no information on the birth mother's birth family...but now I feel that we have a starting spot. This research into her birth ancestry will be a great gift for my granddaughter. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction!

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

Beth

A Thrilling Ride to Finding Family and Learning How it's Done

Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2016

Verified Purchase

This is more than a story of how Mr. Hill found his family. It also contains a guide to getting your DNA tested at the end of the book. I was completely enthralled by his story of adoption, how he learned that he was adopted, his search for his mother, brother, and then his father. I didn't want to set the book down as Mr. Hill described how his searches led him down the paths he took to finding his family. Along the way he discovered half brothers and sisters as well a cousins and I cheered him on with each discovery - I smiled a lot. He was quite lucky at times in finding helpers who were dedicated to assisting adoptees find their birth families. Hill is very helpful with his information about DNA testing and how to use this relatively new tool for genealogical purposes. I was not adopted, but working on my own genealogy and family tree and found this book exciting and packed with clues for finding family information. This book will help anyone interested in looking to find their roots.

7 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Brightmount

Very engaging unputdownable read.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2016

Verified Purchase

This book was right up my street, and easy to read account of one man's search for his birth parents (or at least, for their posthumous identities). It carried particular resonance for me as I have faced many of the challenges the author had to confront in his own search. It was actually unputdownable and had me hooked from the start. Very well written without being either highbrow or dumbed down. I won't say any more as I am at risk of committing spoilers.

I would say that the Guide to DNA Testing that comes free with this book is actually very brief and no more than an introduction for someone completely new to the concept. I'm glad I didn't buy this separately as it didn't tell me anything, but as an add-on, it was worth including, even though it is vulnerable to going out of date, in fact some of it already is.

But overall, a great buy with wide appeal to anyone remotely intersted in family history.

One person found this helpful

T. Miller

A 31 year journey of self-discovery

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 17, 2020

Verified Purchase

The book is pretty much un-put-down-able. The story is told in a no-nonsense. easy-to-read, matter-of-fact style (excuse the preponderance of compound adjectives!); each short chapter tells the next exciting part of the journey in a series of short, often one-sentence paragraphs. This means it's not about literary greatness so much as 'what's the next vital clue and how will this piece help complete the jig-saw puzzle of the author's 'Who am I?' mission. An intriguing story, indeed, with many twists and turns! But it's also a story of human decency, forgiveness and acceptance.

Cal Swann

Finding Family again

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 28, 2012

Verified Purchase

I bought Richard Hill's book recently and devoured it with great interest. The similarities with my own situation were more than I had anticipated. He was adopted but found out only later, I was brought up in a family (of six) and also later discovered that my 'father' was not my biological father. It wasn't so much the detective story that highlights our parallel search, it is about the personal feelings that he expresses and the time it took, from start to finish. DNA testing is my only hope too and Richard Hill's last few chapters are really helpful. I will need to re-read those and study some more.

His book has inspired me to take up the search again, for like many people in a similar situation, I have let it simmer for years. I will obtain a much more detailed DNA profile and try again, to follow in his path. My thanks go out for his inspiring book (and it DID read like a detective novel) that I couldn't put down. I must try again...

5 people found this helpful

Debbie

Recommended

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 11, 2018

Verified Purchase

I found this book a fascinating read, and one that I couldn’t put down. It was a privilege being able to follow the journey of this man trying to find his biological family. Totally recommend it.

JnoC

Page turner

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2013

Verified Purchase

At the age of 18, Richard Hill discovered he was an adoptee when his family doctor, assuming he must know the truth about his birth, asked him, "How do you feel about being adopted?" His subsequent search for the truth about his birth parents which is detailed in this book occupied him on and off for the next 40 years and contains more twists and turns, false dawns and red herrings than most detective novels. This is a compelling read which I would recommend to anyone, not just those interested in genealogy.

2 people found this helpful

See all reviews

What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Pages with related products. See and discover other items: history of michigan, family history, stories of adoption

Follow the Author

Similar authors to follow

Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA Paperback – August 17, 2012

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Customers who bought this item also bought

Special offers and product promotions