Book Review: Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy

book review genealogy Feb 24, 2020

Penny Walters has written an amazing book every genealogy and military research should read. It's called Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy by Penny Walters.

Why is this book important?

Penny outlines many potential ethical dilemmas faced by genealogy and military researchers. A few include: How do we handle things like secrets uncovered? Knowledge of a DNA match to someone the family didn't know existed? How does a professional provide potentially emotionally damaging information to a client - or do they? Do you celebrate when you find a criminal in your family? These are only the tip of the iceberg.

How do we handle these things? Penny's book shows us how through numerous examples and case studies. Her book covers:

  • What are ethical dilemmas?
  • Ethical dilemmas in genealogy.
  • DNA Testing
  • Adoption
  • Ethnicity and Identity
  • Potted History & Potential Future of Genealogy

Why did I want to read this book?

As a 20+ year genealogist and 10+ year military research professional, I...

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Book Review: Healing Ancestral Karma

Over the last few years I have begun studying different aspects of ancestral lineage healing, family patterns, family secrets, and other topics as they related to my military and family history. Many of my clients have also been seeking resources around these topics. I have one to suggest to those just dipping their toes into this pool. Healing Ancestral Karma by Dr. Steven Farmer

I discovered Dr. Farmer through The Shift Network when I received an email for his class "The 5 Ancestral Realms" in the fall of 2019. The class description gave a different view of working with the ancestors than Dr. Daniel Foor in his book and course (which I'm taking currently). After signing up for Dr. Farmer's course, I ordered his book. The book wasn't required for the course but contributed to what I was learning.

The book has short chapters which make absorbing the information easier. Reading the book I was also introduced to many others books, which of course I had to purchase, to add to my...

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Book Review: The Survivors

There is an incredible book The Survivors. A Story of War, Inheritance, and Healing by Adam P. Frankel. I picked this book up to attempt to find another book I could use in my master class on war, inherited trauma, and healing. This book gave me a completely different view of healing than others I've read.

Whether you are from a family of Holocaust Survivors or not, the themes in this book speak to many of us. As Frankel tells his story we learn about identity, family secrets, family patterns, loyalty, grief & loss, survival, sexual secrets, mental illness, PTSD, shame, anger, familial behavior, and so many other themes associated with war, survival, the physical manifestations of keeping secrets, inherited trauma, and how we each have to choose our own path regardless of our family's choices. We also learn how his Jewish family, who survived the Holocaust, felt about loyalty and looking the other way on family secrets.

If you were to look at my copy of this book, you would...

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