Finding Your Roots: The Official Companion to the PBS Series, by Henry Louis Gates
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Finding Your Roots: The Official Companion to the PBS Series, by Henry Louis Gates
Free Ebook Finding Your Roots: The Official Companion to the PBS Series, by Henry Louis Gates
Who are we, and where do we come from? The fundamental drive to answer these questions is at the heart of Finding Your Roots, the companion book to the PBS documentary series seen by 30 million people. As Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. shows us, the tools of cutting-edge genomics and deep genealogical research now allow us to learn more about our roots, looking further back in time than ever before. Gates's investigations take on the personal and genealogical histories of more than twenty luminaries, including United States Congressman John Lewis, actor Robert Downey Jr., CNN medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta, President of the "Becoming American Institute" Linda Chavez, and comedian Margaret Cho. Interwoven with their moving stories of immigration, assimilation, strife, and success, Gates provides practical information for amateur genealogists just beginning archival research on their own families' roots, and he details the advances in genetic research now available to the public. The result is an illuminating exploration of who we are, how we lost track of our roots, and how we can find them again.
Finding Your Roots: The Official Companion to the PBS Series, by Henry Louis Gates- Amazon Sales Rank: #1493770 in Books
- Published on: 2015-09-15
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: .85" h x 6.17" w x 9.27" l, .0 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 352 pages
Review A painstakingly researched genealogical tapestry weaving a wonderful tribute to America as a very culturally rich melting pot.--Kam WilliamsOf interest to avid genealogy buffs.--Kirkus ReviewsIn telling these stories, Gates provides clues to readers of how they can conduct their own searches and the value to be found in immigration records and the 1870 census.--Booklist
Review Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I headed? These are all fundamental questions to which every human being, regardless of race, gender or background, wants answers. Professor Gates provides these answers to the people he profiles, but [Finding Your Roots] also encourage[s] viewers to explore their own family histories so they can know more about themselves.--Cal Thomas, Washington ExaminerAn accessible and engaging book, Finding Your Roots is a veritable how-to guide for readers to explore their own past. Henry Louis Gates Jr. brings a wealth of genealogical research expertise to his interviews, which are witty, knowledgeable, and touching, made more so by the fact that Gates himself enters the stories, changing places with the interviewees to reveal something of his own personal experience. Throughout, Gates imbues the stories with a kind of intimacy that speaks to all of us in our personal journeys searching for our own histories. There's nothing else quite like it.--Ira Berlin, University of Maryland
About the Author Henry Louis Gates Jr. is the Alphonse Fletcher Jr. University Professor and Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard University.
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Most helpful customer reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Will help you to find out where you came from By James Denny "Finding Your Roots" is the companion guide to the PBS series of the same name hosted by Harvard historian, Henry Louis Gates.Like the television series, the focus of the book is a combination of genealogical and genetic research on a wide mix of individuals, public figures from sports, entertainment, science, medicine and politics. The usual approach is to develop paternal and maternal lines for as far back as oral history, family record sources and public record sources can go. The next step is to highlight and often intensely focus on certain lines or ancestors that present different and perhaps unique aspects that would especially excite viewer and reader interest.The concluding sections on each individual focus on the results of the "swab" test, typically a simple mouth swab of the cheek done with a Q-tip type device. There is no need to draw a blood sample. Results of the swab test are matched against empirical data in different genetic databases, identifying key DNA strands that serve as genetic markers. It is always interesting to see how closely the results of the genetic tests confirm or contra-indicate the results of the genealogical research. Some genealogical lines must be "ruled out" on the basis of what comes through.A common perception among African Americans noted by Gates is that they have an Native American (Indian) ancestor in their line most often described as a "Cherokee." Gates presents results compiled over many, many African-American genetic tests performed that show that fewer than five percent of African-Americans actually do have a Native American in their ancestral line. Hard-held views and oral family traditions die hard. Many American blacks cling tenaciously to this belief.The research shows that most African-Americans have in the range of 20-to-30 percent European (white) ancestry, a figure above what most African-Americans typically believe to be the case. Of course, a significant percentage of African-Americans are actually more white than they are black and many African-Americans do know this is their makeup. Gates will sometimes delve into the subject of "passing," if and when socially, that has been found to be the case.Another general finding that comes as a result of the genetic testing is that more people find a Jewish ancestor in one of their ancestral lines than they had previously known to be the case.Henry Louis Gates does not do this research alone. Indeed, a whole team of genealogical researchers, historians and archivists are involved and consulted. Meeting and getting to know these experts is an inherent part of the appeal of the series.There are two items I hoped would be included in the companion series: first, an appendix with a list of contacts or museums or historical societies that Gates and his team have found especially useful. Maybe a top-ten or top-twenty sort of thing. The second item might be a presentation of a spectral analysis of DNA strands to serve as an example of how a particular gene presents itself and compares to a genetic line that would confirm or contradict. This should not be too technical but would reveal pictorally how a genetic marker actually proves a biological line.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Finding Your Roots: Candy for the Family Historian By Ty Alexander An engaging continuation of the stories presented in the PBS series. While one reviewer was disappointed that this book was not another "how to" guide to genealogy, I found it insightful, delightfully written, entertaining, and enlightening. There are some take-away genealogical lessons in this book for the astute reader. Dr. Gates' writing style is as pleasurable as his on-camera persona. I hope Professor Gates provides us with a similar volume for his next season of stories from Finding Your Roots.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A History To Be Understood By Genealogy By Barbara J. Ross This is a more indepth study on the Genealogy of several persons with similar backgrounds but surprisingly different genealogical histories. Dr. Gates is to be commended for his efforts to help others know and understand the mysteries of their family history. It brings more clarity to their lives and also healing when unknown secrets are revealed. You can feel the impact made on each individual as their story is heard. You have to be interested in the subject to appreciate what has been done. It inspires me to continue my work in this area for my own family. For the past 10 years he has inspired me to delve into the subject by his PBS specials and books.
See all 8 customer reviews... Finding Your Roots: The Official Companion to the PBS Series, by Henry Louis Gates
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