Issue 28.09
I few years ago I received a flyer from Deseret Book announcing a new book titled Crash Course in Family History by Paul Larsen. Being interested in any kind of family history book, I ordered a copy online. I was really impressed with the book, so when Deseret Book asked for an online review of the book, I was glad to do so. Part of my review said that this was just what we had been waiting for because the book contains information not conveniently found elsewhere, but this author had compiled it all in one easy-to-use place.
That is how I first met the author, Paul Larsen, he called to thank me for the review. Recently, while he was working on the third edition of his book, he asked me to do a peer review of the entire book before it went to the printer. I read the whole book and tried many of the web sites it lists in the Best of the Internet chapter. It took me awhile to get through the chapter on adding new branches because I kept finding new sites that I hadn’t seen before and I had to stop and try them out! It was amazing to see that he had sites that I hadn’t even heard of and it gave me many new directions for my research. I added a few sites he had missed and he was very willing to update the book and make it as comprehensive as possible.
The book is a great resource directory for everyone interested in genealogy and family history work, expert and novice alike. It contains up-to-date information for connecting to your ancestors using today’s technology. It is easy to understand and follow and has photos, illustrations, and quotes throughout the book. Paul has added a screen shot of each web page so you can easily see if it looks familiar to you, or if it is a new one that you will want to visit.
Chapters include: Introduction, Identify Your Ancestors, Add New Branches to Your Family Tree, Connect with the Lives and Stories of Your Ancestors, A Directory of Software and Tools, Best of the Internet, The Best LDS Web Sites, Organizing Your Information, Leaving an Enduring Legacy, Other Rewarding Opportunities and a Glossary of Family History Terms.
If you are serious about learning how to do family history, this is the book for you. It is available ($34.95) at http://www.easyfamilyhistory.com/ or at leading bookstores everywhere. For more information contact sales@easyfamilyhistory.com or 801-358-6692.
Shanna Sullivan Jones is a professional genealogist now accepting new clients. For additional information, Shanna can be reached at (435) 628-4900 or shannasjones@msn.com.