Who do you think you are? - Dan Waddell

Published against a big multimedia TV event, this book is a jargon-free idiot's guide to tracing your family history. Light in tone, sometimes funny, often moving, and aimed at absolutely everyone, the book combines both stats and pub facts, with very real emotions as people discover the heroes and villains in their family's past. Rather than a dry 'how to' guide though, this book is inclusive, non-patronising and lively, and emphasises the human and emotional side to this popular pastime. Every family has their own history and secrets: the black sheep, the Great-Uncle who fought in the First World War, an ancestor who came to Britain from abroad, the lost family fortune or the shamed family member whose name is only ever whispered. We are all fascinated by the lives of our ancestors. The ground-breaking "BBC2" series "Who Do You Think You Are?" took ten TV personalities - from Vic Reeves to Jeremy Clarkson - on an emotional journey to trace their family history. Now the "Who Do You Think You Are?" jargon-free guide can help you go on your own journey into the past - showing you how to find out your own family history. And you never know what you might find.;A whiff of scandal becomes a quest that can lead to the most astonishing revelations. Be warned: this is a compulsive hobby, and you may find yourself thinking of nothing else. No prior knowledge is needed. "Who Do You Think You Are?" equips you with the basic tools to start and maintain your quest as well as including all the celebrity stories. There is information on everything from where to find census information and how to order a birth certificate, to tracking down immigration documents and finding out if your navy officer great-great-uncle ever committed a disciplinary offence. And there's even a short section on good books and websites to go to if you want to get stuck in. With the amazing technology and excellent resources available to us today, it has never been easier to find out more about our ancestors.