One thing about genealogists and family historians: we all love books. Whether fiction or non-fiction, genealogists are voracious readers who welcome resources that help with research, organization, and storytelling.
Below is a curated list of genealogy and family-history books—great choices for the family historian on your gift list or for your own reference.
Non-Fiction Resource Genealogy Books
Organize Your Genealogy: Strategies and Solutions for Every Researcher by Drew Smith — A practical, well-structured guide to getting your genealogy records and research system under control.
Unofficial Guide to Ancestry.com: How to Find Your Family History on the No. 1 Genealogy Website by Nancy Hendrickson — A hands-on manual for using Ancestry.com more efficiently and improving your research results.
Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch.org: How to Find Your Family History on the Largest Free Genealogy Website by Dana McCullough — A clear guide to navigating FamilySearch.org and making the most of its free records and tools.
The Genealogy Do-Over Workbook by Thomas MacEntee — When research becomes tangled, this workbook offers a disciplined approach to restart and rebuild solid research practices.
How to Archive Family Photos: A Step-by-Step Guide to Organize and Share Your Photos Digitally by Denise May Levenick — Practical advice from the Family Curator on preserving, organizing, and sharing family photographs in digital form.
31 Days to Better Genealogy by Amy Johnson Crow — A month-long program with daily tips and tasks to improve your research habits and findings.
The 15 Habits of Highly Frugal Genealogists by Thomas MacEntee — Practical strategies to pursue genealogy without breaking the bank.
The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy by Blaine T. Bettinger — A comprehensive and accessible introduction to using DNA in genealogical research.
Family History / Memoir Picks for Genealogists
Paper Love: Searching for the Girl My Grandfather Left Behind by Sarah Wildman — A compelling example of investigative memoir and family history; the author blends research, personal narrative, and historical context.
Sidonia’s Thread: The Secrets of a Mother and Daughter Sewing a New Life in America by Hanna Perlstein Marcus — A moving story of immigration, resilience, and the ties that bind family across generations.
The House in Prague: How a Stolen House Helped an Immigrant Girl Find Her Way Home by Anna Perlberg — A personal narrative that traces history through a family’s connection to a place and its possessions.
97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement by Jane Ziegelman — A richly researched account that uses foodways to tell the stories of immigrant families and their daily lives.
These books offer a range of practical guidance and inspiring examples for anyone interested in family history—whether you are organizing records, exploring DNA, preserving photos, or learning from memoirs that model how to tell family stories well.
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