Reading List
Format: Kindle
Democracy’s Data: The Hidden Stories in the U.S. Census and How to Read Them
By Dan Bouk
“In Democracy’s Data, the data historian Dan Bouk examines the 1940 U.S. census, uncovering what those numbers both condense and cleverly abstract: a universe of meaning and uncertainty, of cultural negotiation and political struggle. He introduces us to the men and women employed as census takers, bringing us with them as they go door to door, recording the lives of their neighbors. He takes us into the makeshift halls of the Census Bureau, where hundreds of civil servants, not to mention machines, labored with pencil and paper to divide and conquer the nation’s data. And he uses these little points to paint bigger pictures, such as of the ruling hand of white supremacy, the place of queer people in straight systems, and the struggle of ordinary people to be seen by the state as they see themselves.”
Format: Paperback
Genealogy in Reverse: Finding the Living. A Practical Guide for All Genealogists
By Cheri Hudson Passey
Genealogy in Reverse is a practical and genuinely useful resource that I thoroughly enjoyed. The book does an excellent job of shifting the traditional genealogical mindset, offering thoughtful strategies for researching living people while emphasizing ethics, accuracy, and sound methodology. I appreciated how accessible the guidance is—useful for experienced genealogists as well as those newer to this type of research—without oversimplifying the challenges involved. The examples and step-by-step approaches make the concepts easy to apply in real research scenarios. Overall, this is a strong addition to any genealogist’s library and a valuable tool for anyone working with modern records or trying to locate and understand living individuals within a family history context.
Format: Kindle
Hill of Secrets: A Novel
By Galina Vromen
Hill of Secrets is an engaging historical novel set against the tense and fascinating backdrop of Los Alamos during the development of the atomic bomb, and I enjoyed being immersed in that cloistered, high-pressure world. The setting and atmosphere are particularly well done, capturing both the secrecy and the moral unease of the era. My main reservation lies with the characterization of Christine, who often came across as overly self-absorbed, making it harder for me to fully connect with her journey. While her affair with Kurt didn’t derail the narrative, it did feel uncomfortable and “icky” in a way that distracted from the larger historical and emotional stakes. Overall, Hill of Secrets is an interesting piece of historical fiction with a compelling setting, even if some of the character choices limited my engagement.
Format: Kindle
Trial by Ambush: Murder, Injustice, and the Truth about the Case of Barbara Graham
By Marcia Clark
Trial by Ambush was a gripping, eye-opening read for me, since I knew absolutely nothing about the case before picking up the book. I received it as a Prime First Read through my Amazon Prime membership, which made the experience feel like an unexpected discovery rather than a book I had actively sought out. Marcia Clark presents the facts with clarity and restraint, carefully unpacking the media pressure, legal strategy, and systemic imbalance without resorting to sensationalism. Having grown up in Southern California, I was surprised this case had never crossed my radar (I wasn’t born when the crime occurred). The story became even more personal when I learned that my husband’s uncle was the first police officer on the scene. Thoroughly researched and compellingly written, Trial by Ambush left me thinking about how fragile our system of justice can be.
Format: Kindle
The Unclaimed: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angels
By Pamela Prickett and Stefan Timmermans
The Unclaimed: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angels affected me more deeply than I expected. As a reader, I found myself slowing down, sitting with the stories, and thinking about the people behind the policies and procedures we rarely question. Pamela Prickett’s writing never feels intrusive or performative; instead, it invites quiet reflection and genuine empathy, which made the experience both sobering and meaningful. I finished the book feeling more aware of how easily people can be forgotten, and more conscious of the small but powerful ways dignity and care can still exist. It’s one of those rare books that stays with you, not because it shocks, but because it asks you to see.
Format: Paperback
If You Only Knew: Navigating DNA Surprises and the *NPE (Not-Parent Expected) World
By Lezlee Lliljenberg
If You Only Knew is a thoughtful and compassionate exploration of the emotional terrain that follows unexpected DNA discoveries, including learning about unknown biological parents or siblings. What stood out to me as a reader is how the author balances deeply personal storytelling with practical, grounding guidance, never minimizing the shock or grief, but also never leaving the reader without hope. The book creates a safe, affirming space to sit with complicated emotions while gently encouraging resilience, clarity, and self-compassion. Whether you are navigating an NPE discovery yourself or trying to better understand and support someone who is, If You Only Knew is an insightful and reassuring resource that brings much-needed light to a subject too often kept in the dark.
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 deeply thought-provoking examination of the history of so-called “child” marriages in the United States. Drawing on legal records, personal narratives, and careful cultural analysis, the author reveals how widespread and normalized these practices were across regions and time periods. Rather than treating the subject as an anomaly, the book shows how social, legal, and economic forces worked together to justify and sustain these marriages for generations. Clear, unsettling, and illuminating, American Child Bride is an essential read for family historians and researchers seeking a fuller understanding of the legal frameworks and social customs that shaped marriage in American history.
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!