Who Do You Think You Are?: The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History

by Megan Smolenyak

The companion how-to guide to the hit TV series-with advice for anyone starting their own genealogical search. In the groundbreaking NBC series Who Do You Think You Are? seven celebrities-Sarah Jessica Parker, Emmitt Smith, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Broderick, Brooke Shields, Susan Sarandon, and Spike Lee-went on an emotional journey to trace their family history and discover who they really are, and millions of viewers caught the genealogy bug. With the official companion guide, anyone can learn how to chart their family's unique path. Featuring step-by-step instructions from Megan Smolenyak2, one of America's top genealogical researchers, this book offers everything readers need to know to start the journey into their past, from digging through old photos, to finding the best online resources.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Reference, Adult, How To, Research, Genetics

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 31, 2009

About the author

from back of the book:
Megan Smolenyak is an incurable genealogist who loves solving mysteries, making unexpected discoveries, and pushing the boundaries of conventional genealogy. A popular writer, speaker, and TV guest, she does all she can to get the g-word out there and inspire others in their quest for roots.

She lives in Florida with her husband.

Reviews

[Jimmie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent guide for finding your ancestors. Her humor was well appreciated, too. Wish I was famous so she could unravel the 3 James Guinns that were living in Virginia in the 1790s mystery.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Megan Smolenyak is amazing. And she's funny, too, which is helpful when you're writing about a potentially very dry topic like genealogy. The focus of this book is online research, which she covers about as thoroughly as anyone can in such a short book. It's copyright 2010, so it's already a little out-of-date, but most of the websites she mentions are going to be around for a good long while.

[Chelsey Cosh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Genealogy is a fickle mistress; some may have an easy time to find all the relatives they're looking for in one quick census search, while others may hunt and hunt to no avail. For the former who have no clue how to actually get there, this book is for you. However, for anyone struggling that already knows the basics, I dare say this book is useless. The only thing I learned was how valuable cindislist.com can be. Other than that, I feel that this book was quickly compiled as a companion guide for beginners who loved the celebrity genealogy TV show.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well-done book on genealogy. I thought it had some good websites to follow up on some background information be it, War, or Birth Marriage and Death Certificates. I have not seen the series, so I did not see the actors finding their ancestors. Good concept.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although not as in-depth as I had hoped, it has enough good tips and suggestions that I have ordered my own copy.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever seen the television show Who Do You Think You Are, which aired on NBC for three seasons and then was picked up after cancellation by TLC [1], where it has continued to run at least through 2016, the premise of the show is straightforward enough. A famous or notable person has a desire to find out more about some aspect of their family history and the result is televised sleuthing through cemeteries, archives, where someone is found who achieved something of lasting value, or some dark secret is uncovered that demonstrates some sort of evil, and the end result is a person coming to terms with a part of the past that they did not previously know. It's an effective television show, and I have enjoyed it myself. One of the episodes I have seen, although it is not commented on in this book, dealt with someone who I have seen claimed as a maternal ancestor who supposedly was a Mayflower passenger, only he actually arrived in New England in 1629 on a vastly more obscure ship. This book is a lot like the show, in that it is an encouragement to mostly web-based research and the occasional field trip and is written from a breezy and humorous point of view, with a fondness for black sheep and uncovering family skeletons. The book's target audience are those who are interested in genealogy [2], and if you are a part of that target, this book will likely be of great pleasure, not least because it deals with the humorous nature of someone who married someone else with an extremely rare last name, which prompts obvious questions about whether the author married her cousin (spoiler alert: she didn't).

The contents of this book are pretty light compared to some texts, like the more demanding Great Course on the same subject, but the book is an effective and entertaining encouragement to those who looking to engage in the process of hunting down their family history like sleuths, about which I would like to say more later. After an introduction the author encourages readers to prepare for their ancestor hunt. Then the author talks about looking online at various resources, learning to love the census, dealing with the vital statistics of birth, marriage, and death (usually in reverse order), examining whether relatives served in the military, looking across the pond at the old country roots of ancestors, before closing with chapters that offer a discussion of the best of the rest of the resources that are available (including local courts), what it looks like to sleuth, and what work one needs to do to pass on one's research to others for future benefit. The book is hilarious, and also includes plenty of discussion of some stars who are photographed on the book's cover like show producer Lisa Kudrow (of Friends fame), Spike Lee, and Matthew Broderick, among others in an inset. The book even taught me an entertaining new word, "censuswhacking," used to describe the idle search for genealogical information of people because of famous or unusual names for one's own personal enjoyment. Consider that a habit I plan on continuing now that I have a name for it.

Aside from its humor value, and the way that the author used various terms that made genealogy a lot more fun, as mentioned above, this book is noteworthy for another reason that is worth discussing at some length. Professionally, I am a data analyst who seeks to find insight and patterns among what to others may seem like random data. Among my more striking and unusual tastes as a reader is a certain fondness for mystery novels [3]. This particular book managed to tie some of those interests together, by reminding me that a genealogist is someone who is a sleuth with regards to family history, someone who seeks to uncover the truth, often cloaked in mystery and deception, of the past of one's own family, with the knowledge that there will be thrills as well as disappointments and even scandal. We better understand ourselves by understanding where we came from, and that requires an openness to hunting and exploring and sleuthing and being willing to accept that what one finds may well be intensely shocking, and will allow one to find a better place within the world, and an understanding of the context of one's background. This is a worthwhile endeavor, and a worthwhile book to encourage others to take it up.

[1] It should be noted that the American television show I am referring to was a spin-off of a British original, and that other versions of the show exist in other countries as well.

[2] See, for example:

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[3] https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

[Lori Voshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book needs a reprint and update! I had to read this for a class and while there is a lot of useful information that is still current, there is a lot that is not. There are dead links and obsolete information and there is only information up to the 1930 census---and the 1950 census was released last year! I gave this book 3 stars because there are still vital and relevant tips and information, but I couldn't give it a higher rating because of the drawbacks listed above.

[Chris Sunderland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently started volunteering at our Friends of the Library book shop and came across this book during my shift. Having done some research on my family tree and bumping into dead ends, pardon the pun, on some of my relatives, I picked up this book. Megan Smolenyak is a Chief Genealogical Consultant and true to her title, she provided all sorts of avenues to pursue to get me back on the right track for those elusive relatives.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally this was probably a pretty good book; lots of great tips for those getting started in genealogical research, many still applicable today. The edition I read was copyrighted 2009. 9 years later a lot of the website references may not be available and so much more has be done in the world or records digitization that this book could stand for an update!

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this tv series. I am a genealogy geek at heart and absolutely LOVE searching old records for my family. It's one of those past times that simply sucks you in and the next thing you know, you have been searching online records for 12 hours and you have no idea where the time went. I thought this was a wonderful companion to the series and had some great tips.

[Kevin Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been interested in genealogy for a while. This is a great starting point for researching your family. There a lot of internet links (Some are outdated, but that is understandably difficult to keep up in a book.), that is super helpful in finding information. I loved this book and the examples the author used to illustrate her points...

[Allyson Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This “companion to the NBC series” is a primer on how to do genealogical research. It’s glammed up a bit with some celebrity profiles (Matthew Broderick, Spike Lee, and more) and tales of their family research. It lists some interesting resources. I’ll probably keep this book around for reference for a while, though it doesn’t have much that seems new.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, had I read it in 2009 when it was first published. Interesting reading it 17 years after it came out, knowing how much the genealogy field has evolved and grown. In 2026, much of the book is extremely dated, but the fundamentals of genealogical research presented are still relevant, even if adaptations to modern sources need to be made.

[Gwen Kubberness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love genealogy, been doing it for over 30 years, I even have a Criminal Genealogy blog I write and I do talks on Criminal Genealogy for those looking for their dead ancestors criminal records. I am friends with Megan in the genealogy community and she is so sweet and an awesome researcher. This book was a joy to read.

[Kate Standiford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great survey of what is going on in the world of genealogy research. It's already a little out of date as some website changes have occurred, but the content is rich and the enthusiasm of the author is contagious.

[Kelli Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful in my search

[Cecellia Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically good, but references are largely out of date.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but websites and some information are already out of date.

[Linn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book to learn what is genealogy in a good humoured way. The author gives a lot os examples and even where to find information. The only drawback is that some of the chapters are dedicated mainly for people who live in the US, but since she suggested a lot of blogs, websites etc, I think I might find the information I need through newsletters of those websites or network with other people who are also tracing their cultural background.

[Erica Eberhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking on the job of researching your family can be awfully overwhelming when you're presented with all of the historical documents- or lack there of. You might find yourself wondering how to set out on the journey, what the next step could be, or even considering backing out of the adventure entirely. However, Megan Smolenyak has made the adventure as easy as possible in this handy book. Through tips on websites to use and information on how to read the documents you are presented with the task suddenly becomes less mind boggling. I've worked on the history of my family for quite some time and wasn't getting anywhere until I began using many of the websites Smolenyak suggested. Now I have traced part of my family back to 1400 while previously I had only made it back as far as 1900! For anyone who could be heading off into their family's history this would be a great book to start with. Even if you use it to browse through or go directly to the chapters that cover the area you need help in the book overall makes this job not seem as daunting as it at times can be.

[Jill Manske · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is based on the NBC television program of the same name, which follows celebrities who are tracing their ancestral roots. It's filled with helpful tips and recommended web sites for starting your own journey into genealogy. In fact, upon finishing the book, I was so inspired, I went to Ancestry.com and got started. The book was extremely helpful in pointing out how to get started, how to solve problems, and the importance of checking sources of information about ancestors. It's easy to get caught up into the drama of finding lost relatives, using hints provided by Ancestry.com, and forget about Smolenyak's warnings about double checking facts. I had gone back multiple generations before realizing that the one of my "relatives" at the start was not the right person. Arggghhh! This is an excellent book for those interested in finding out more about their families' roots. I highly recommend it. But beware; you might find yourself spending hours online digging into the family tree.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, I pick up a book with "expectations" of what is inside, only to find out I was wrong. I expected this book to be a series of stories about famous people finding their roots. The book has an insert with several brief stories like that but the book is actually a handbook/guide on how to do genealogy or an introduction to genealogy. I thought the author had an excellent and informative writing style. I enjoyed all of her stories and examples. I skimmed a good deal of the other details because, as I stated, I hadn't picked up the book "wanting" a handbook on genealogy. If I had, I would probably have rated this a five.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book to learn about family history. While this is connected to the TV show of the same name, the only time it mentioned the TV show is in a small glossy insert where it explains some of the celebrities' stories.

It's a good book for beginning to intermediate genealogists. Some of the middle gets dry (but how exciting can vital and census records get?), but otherwise it's pretty engaging. It explains the purpose of family history, some sites you can use for a variety of tasks, an explanation on finding and using basic records and some random tips and stories. I would recommend this for people thinking about dipping a toe in the family history pool.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

One might might be tempted to think this book is an attempt to capitalize on the success of the TV series of the same title, Who Do You Think You Are?, and fail in quality, but that would be an incorrect assumption.

This book is a great resource for the less experienced in genealogical research. The author is a renowned researcher, and she does a great job of starting at point A and moving through each aspect of research with countless links and websites to help you. There is a a LOT of information packed into this 148 page ebook. Highly recommend.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. I have been interested in genealogy for a number of years and am currently working on Volume 3 of my family history.

The television series last year and again this year by the same name as the book sparked my interest anew in doing more research on my ancestors.

Although I have taken two classes in genealogy and have done much research on my family, I still found new tips and new web sites mentioned in this book. The author shared hints that I haven't seen in other books, things that one might not find on one's own for years.

[Dee Renee Chesnut · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a companion guide to the NBC series, and the middle section retells the stories of the episodes of the first season.
This book is also a 200-page guide to researching your own family tree, suggestions for the software that makes recording the history so much easier than paper filing, and suggestions for websites (fee-based and free) that can get you started from home.
I am a hobbyist, and I still found some websites to search from this book. I can recommend both beginners and hobbyists read it.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT resource for those looking to begin researching their family history. It outlines the basics of genealogy, including the key documents to look for, the best resources to locate them (both online and elsewhere), and how to obtain them. It covers censuses, vital records, military records, and more. The book is written well, easy to follow, and can be consulted again and again when an obstacle is encountered.

My only wish is that it contained more recommendations for organizing the research - both on paper and digitally.

[Greta Nettleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fun introduction to searching for your family roots; filled with entertaining examples of what can go wrong, as well as useful, common sense ways to look for information. It's fun to read, even if you are already an experienced family history buff. Smolenyak's conversational tone sweeps away centuries of dusty frustrations in every chapter. With her enthusiastic support for two TV series, she has done as much as anyone to popularize a pursuit that was once perceived as unfriendly and difficult.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be extremely helpful in exactly how one should go about completing a family tree. Eventhough the author works for Ancestry.com, the book provides other ways to go about researching your genealogy. The author provided many examples of how to look for certain information and broke the book down nicely that it could be used as a great reference book during your genealogy research.

[Gwnhwyfer · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're a fan of the show, or interesting in checking out your roots (i.e. a newbie), this is the book for you. While I did see a few episodes, I wasn't too impressed (I prefered the Canadian version, Ancestors in the Attic). Though it's been a year since I read it (so the memory of what it contains is fuzzy), the one thing that I do remember was the Ellis Island case study, which was pretty cool.