Reading List
Format: Kindle
The Unclaimed: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angels
By Pamela Prickett and Stefan Timmermans
“For centuries, people who died destitute or alone were buried in potters’ fields—a Dickensian end that even the most hard-pressed families tried to avoid. Today, more and more relatives are abandoning their dead, leaving it to local governments to dispose of the bodies. Up to 150,000 Americans now go unclaimed each year. Who are they? Why are they being forgotten? And what is the meaning of life if your death doesn’t matter to others?”
Format: Paperback
If You Only Knew: Navigating DNA Surprises and the *NPE (Not-Parent Expected) World
By Lezlee Lliljenberg
If You Only Knew is the author’s personal exploration of the emotional complexities that come with unexpected DNA discoveries, such as learning about unknown biological parents or siblings. Through heartfelt storytelling and practical advice, the author creates a compassionate space for readers to process their experiences while also empowering them to navigate their new realities with courage and understanding. Whether you’re directly impacted by an NPE discovery or seeking to support a loved one through theirs, If You Only Knew is an uplifting resource that sheds light on a topic often shrouded in silence.
Format: E-book
The Hollywood Strangler: A Venator Cold Case #3
By Nathan Dylan Goodwin
The Hollywood Strangler is a gripping blend of suspense, detective work, and the cutting-edge science of investigative genetic genealogy (IGG). The book takes readers on a thrilling journey as the Venator team tackles a gruesome string of murders tied to Hollywood’s golden era. The author expertly weaves together dual timelines, balancing the sinister allure of 1980s Los Angeles with the relentless pace of a modern IGG investigation. For fans of crime thrillers and genealogy enthusiasts, The Hollywood Strangler is a masterfully crafted tale that keeps readers hooked until the very last page.
Format: Kindle
Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI
By Ethan Mollick
Like it or not, AI is here, probably to stay. In this book, Ethan Mollick, a Wharton professor and author, suggests that we learn to live and work with AI as if it is an alien “co-intelligence,” and he offers a variety of strategies and scenarios for making a successful switch to this “cyborg” existence. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel that I have a better understanding of how to use AI now, as well as in the future. If you plan to incorporate AI into your life, I strongly recommend giving this book a read.
Format: Kindle
American Child Bride: A History of Minors and Marriage in the United States
By Nicholas L. Syrett
American Child Bride is a meticulously researched and thought-provoking exploration of the history of “child” marriages in America. The author weaves together legal records, personal accounts, and cultural analysis to illuminate how deeply entrenched this practice has been throughout U.S. history and offers insights into how such practices have been rationalized and perpetuated across different eras and regions. American Child Bride is an essential read for family historians who are interested in the complex legalities and customs of marriage in the United States.
Format: Kindle
The American Census: A Social History (Second Edition)
By Margo J. Anderson
I am fascinated by the political and social reasons behind the creation of documents we use as family historians. The U.S. census is one of our most frequently used documents, but how often do we think about WHY certain questions were asked? What was happening in the country? Which party was in power, and how did the answers benefit them politically? What were the current social concerns? How did technological advances affect the census? These questions – and more – are answered in Anderson’s book. If you are a census nerd like me, this book will be an interesting and enjoyable read!
Format: Kindle
I Know Who You Are: How an Amateur DNA Sleuth Unmasked the Golden State Killer and Changed Crime Fighting Forever
By Barbara Rae-Ventner
I was in high school in southern California when the man monster now known as the Golden State Killer began his crime spree. More than 40 years later, the man who thought he got away with it all is finally behind bars, thanks to Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) and the tenacious Barbara Rae-Ventner. In the book, Rae-Ventner describes the techniques used to find him, as well as unidentified persons/bodies and other violent criminals. This is a must-read for anyone with an interest in IGG.
Format: Paperback
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
By David Grann
This book was gifted to me by the amazing Gena Philibert-Ortega, who said it was an important book that I NEEDED to read. And of course, she was right! Killers of the Flower Moon is an incredible – and horrifying – story about the murders of members of the Osage Tribe in the 1920s and how that mystery was eventually solved despite government screw-ups and coverups. You may have seen the movie, but you need to read the book. I couldn’t put it down!