This is part 1 in a series of posts on genealogy books I recommend. Each post categorizes books into larger topic categories, so you can easily look for books on topics that interest you.
The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy ($3-20)
https://amzn.to/2DW3tMC (Kindle)
DNA is clearly a popular topic, and this guide is written by one of the top respected genetic genealogy educators in the field. It is an important topic for the professional to understand.
Evidence Explained: History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace 3rd Edition Revised ($60)
This has a couple great chapters on understanding evidence in sources, with the remainder being a reference that I frequently use to ensure my citations are to standard.
Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards ($60)
This is a long-awaited companion book to the earlier publication: Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians.
Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians ($50)
This book inspired the long-running and highly acclaimed ProGen study groups. It is a textbook-sized tome that includes helpful examples that I personally found useful as a reference in learning to write better reports.
The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual, Millenium Edition ($7-$28)
This manual includes useful examples of written reports. These examples are not included in more recent versions, so this edition retains value for those examples. This can be useful doing writing projects.
ICAPGen’s Becoming an Excellent Genealogist: Essays on Professional Research Skills ($10 Kindle)
https://amzn.to/2P1lsC5
This underrated book is a brilliant compilation of articles written by true experts on many important topics. Perhaps it has trouble standing out because it has no single focus, or the value is not obvious from the title alone. There are great articles on writing, analysis, DNA, the history of ICAPGen, and many other interesting topics.
Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide Kindle Edition ($5)
Any book on being a genealogy professional is interesting to me, and this one is a modern, understandable take on the subject published earlier this year.
The Family Tree Problem Solver: Tried-and-True Tactics for Tracing Elusive Ancestors ($20+)
https://amzn.to/2S6Leae
This was one of the first genealogical guides I read that really opened my eyes about techniques I could use to break down my ancestral brick walls, and always retains a special place on my list for that reason.
Elements of Genealogical Analysis ($30)
Most books that get exposure these days in our genealogical community about analysis talk about the 3x3 evidence analysis classification system popularized by the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Robert Charles Anderson provides an interesting perspective on analysis that purposefully sidesteps the more regimented system. I’m a fan of well-reasoned books that give another perspective on issues of our profession. This is one such book.
Genealogical Research Standards ($3-8)
Genealogical Research Essentials ($4-27)
Genealogy as Pastime and Profession ($6+)
These are each classic books published between the 1930s and 1960s on the methods and profession of a genealogist. It is enlightening to see the underlying principles come across that are still practiced today, though often different wording was used to express these ideas. It really gives you a sense of the profession over time.
Disclaimer: It is my hope that this list helps you. That said, it takes time and expertise to provide these useful resource lists. Please use the provided links to make any purchases, as Amazon will send me a small percentage somewhere around 5% and it wont affect the price you pay. Opinions are not influenced by this arrangement.
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