A review by kmg365
It's All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World's Family Tree by A.J. Jacobs

4.0

Who could get me to read an entire book about genealogy, without holding me hostage and/or threatening bodily harm? The list is very short, and A.J. Jacobs’ name is right at the top.

He admits that it’s a topic he became interested in only after he had kids, and became old enough to start contemplating his own mortality. He also admits that it’s one of the most narcissistic pursuits ever. I like honesty in a person.

He outlines the ways that genealogy has been used for less than noble purposes, then starts planning the world’s largest family reunion, in hope that the event will bring people together. The theory is that we look more favorably upon people who are related to us, so if we think of everyone on earth as a cousin, then we’ll all be nicer to each other. Nice theory. Humans being what they are, it doesn’t work perfectly in practice.

There were many laugh out loud moments in the book: the chapter about a group advocating first cousin marriage (all together now: ewwwwwwww!), A. J. going to lunch with Barbara and George H.W. Bush, A. J. learning that not all the members of Sister Sledge will be performing “We are Family” at the reunion because some members are no longer speaking to others, A. J. opening for Donny Osmond… There’s also plenty of good information for anyone truly interested in genealogy. I had no idea the global tree movement had gained as much popularity as it has.

As little interest as I have in the subject, I admit that plugging my name in to a global tree website to see how distantly I’m related to the famous and infamous is intriguing. Recommended for anyone with an interest in the subject, or who enjoys a good laugh.