Fascinating project. I check into wikitree regularly now. Wonderful conversation starter with customers, either those already genealogically-inclined or simply interested in connections and life experiments.
Thrilled with the trade cover and package. Thank you!

I already had an idea about what the contents of the book (genealogy) was and I enjoyed reading about how we are all practically related.

I enjoyed AJ Jacobs' other books but this one didn't hold my interest as much as A Year of Living Biblically and My Life as an Experiment. Probably because the subject matter was more tame, less crazy lifestyle change.

I always enjoy A.J. Jacobs' books, but this one didn't grab my interest as quickly as the others. I think this one was a bit more personal for Jacobs, which made it feel like more of a biography than his previous books. While still fun and informative, it isn't my favourite by this author.

. .

Genealogy is a passion for several members of my immediate family, but I have only begun to be interested in studying my roots. As I fan of Jacobs's previous works, I looked forward to reading about his latest endeavor: breaking the Guinness World Record for largest family reunion, a herculean task recounted in the pages in this book which are also sprinkled with fascinating tidbits about genetics and genealogy.

I didn't enjoy this one as much as his other books but would still recommend it to those who are interested in genealogy.

AJ Jacobs is always good for an entertaining read, and this latest book is no exception. If you've listened to AJ's podcast Twice Removed you'll already have an idea of what you will get in this book. (And if you haven't listened be sure to check it out. It was a short lived podcast, but kind of fun.) AJ is on a quest to show that everyone is all part of one big family.

There is a light narrative through the book in which AJ is organizing a (hopefully) record breaking family reunion. It seems like a disaster at every turn, but it's interesting to see his big plans unfold. Most of the rest of the book are a variety of genealogical stories. Who are AJ's ancestors? How does one go about researching a family tree? How exactly are we all related?

There are lots of laugh out loud moments in this book. AJ isn't afraid to share his embarrassing moments, struggles, and feuds (great and small). Lots of research has gone into this book, and it's appreciated by this reader. There are several current hot-button social issues hit upon in this book. I'm open to hearing those discussions (in moderation) but it wasn't what I was looking for in a light read about genealogy.

Another very fun read from A.J. Jacobs, this one about the genealogy subculture and about his own ancestors and distant, distant cousins and cousins-in-law. If you've read the excellent BEFORE THE DAWN, you know that, if you go back far enough, we're all related, and Jacobs has lots of fun with this idea, even organizing a Global Family Reunion and trying to get all sorts of celebrities interested, to entice other, less well-known family members to attend. He's always a gracious, self-deprecating narrator, apart from making me laugh out loud multiple times, and this made me want to re-read THE KNOW-IT-ALL.

<p>Yay! A fun read! I almost never have fun reads! So now, let's criticize my fun read! Yay!</p>

<p>So Jacobs gets an email from a distant cousin, sparking an interest in genealogy, and decides to have a big ol' family reunion, where, basically, anyone can show up. Sister Sledge is going to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMVe_HcyP9Y">sing</a>. The non-ancestry.com genealogy companies are going to sponsor. Jacobs talks to some people about ... stuff ... Mormons, Hatfields and McCoys, and ... well, the whole thing sort of peters out. It's kind of a stretch to fill the premise to a whole book, so there's a lot about Jacobs' family (he's descended from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilna_Gaon">Vilna Gaon</a>, and some guy who owned a pretzel stand!), which, I assume, if you are Jacobs or interested in genealogy might be more intriguing to you than to me. The book is fun, but it isn't very deep. It is, as Jacobs does point out, very much the college stoner telling you "Woah, we're like <b>all</b> related man." Well, yes. So what?</p>

<p>So I had a lot of fun reading this book. I still enjoy Jacob's shtick. But it's an entertainment book, rather than a non-fiction book, so after the fact, I'm feeling let down by the whole thing (and also angry at myself that I can't find an article I read like a year ago about in-fighting within the amateur genealogical community that I could have used as a suggestion for further in-depth ideas that Jacobs' could have incorporated into his book to give it more heft).</p>

<p>And I'm guessing he didn't get the world record? That part was kinda dropped, rather than explored?</p>

<p><A href="https://www.librarything.com/work/19609525/book/144102241">It's All Relative</a> by A.J. Jacobs went on sale November 14, 2017.</p>

<p><small>I received a copy free from <a href="https://www.netgalley.com/">Netgalley</a> in exchange for an honest review.</small></p>

I read his book “The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible.” I wasn’t crazy about it, nor am I for this book.

However, it does have its good points. His sense of humor is always welcome. I figure his wife Julie must have a LOT of patience. Can you imagine living with a man that comes up with these crazy ideas? In this book he tackles the World Family Tree. Never heard of it? It is a remarkable effort to unite seven billion people into one family. (Remember the “six degrees of Kevin Bacon” thought?) Jacobs places emphasis on the idea that by proving we are all related perhaps we will be nicer to each other as we are all family. In the long term there is the idea that all the racial DNA mashups may reduce racism in the future.

He visits many family reunions (not his family), attends conferences, and interviews numerous people involved in genealogy and/or the World Family Tree project. He address the pros and cons of the endeavor. Early on in his project he decides to stage his own family reunion and invite all those distant “cousins” with the goal to beat the record for largest family reunion in the Guinness Book of World Records. This man does not do small projects!

I did find Chapter 15 quite interesting. He writes of how the meaning of families is changing as lifestyles change. Stepparents with step-siblings or half-siblings. Gay and trans parents. Sperm donors. Surrogate mothers. It keeps evolving. He makes the point that you can pretty much choose your own family.

The book was often repetitive (too much so) and quite dry at times. There were several chapters that I felt were not needed. It seemed as though he had to deviate into side topics to have enough material for a book. Fortunately there are several humorous portions. All in all, I would pass on this book.

Note: Also posted on Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million

Very informative and humorous, which is par for the course from Jacobs. His latest social experiment is a deep dive into the world of genealogy, and I enjoyed learning about the various aspects of this field and following where Jacobs' curiosity-fueled quest about his family tree took him. The updates that count down the weeks to the family reunion are especially amusing, and while not everything came together perfectly in the end, it sounds like a very memorable event for all involved. As usual, it was a treat to check in on Jacobs and his family, and I hope that the wait for his next book is not as long!

AJ Jacobs does it again. He's consistently funny and informative in his books. He's always one that I recommend along with Mary Roach for those who are hesitant to read nonfiction. Can't wait for the next one.

This is another great book by A.J. Jacobs! I love immersion journalism, and in this book Jacobs takes on another lifestyle experiment, as he calls it. He decides to try to host the world's largest family reunion. As he prepares he researches and writes about family - his direct family, other people's interesting family tales, what constitutes a family. And of course he writes it all with a sense of humor. You don't have to be into genealogy to enjoy this book.

I love A.J. Jacobs' social experiments. My favorite will probably always be A Year of Living Biblically. Though none of his books disappoint.
At a time where our country feels very divided, A.J's latest is about family. If we go back far enough in our family trees, we are all related. If we are all connected to each other, if we could acknowledge that, would we be a kinder society?

A.J. Sets out to learn more about his family tree, the ties the connect humankind and in the process starts planning a massive family reunion.

Have you planned a wedding before? Now imagine trying to plan an event that you're hoping at least 5,000 people will attend so that you can also break a world record in the process.

A.J. Takes on an awful lot over the course if one year, finding out his personal family history, researching the world family tree and essentially trying to get 5,000 strangers to come to his party.

I know the whole book was building to the reunion but it didn't need to. I found his research so interesting. I loved his personal family history and also the scientific data he included.
I feel like this book would be a hit for a lot of different genre fans. Enjoy genealogy? Humor? Science? You've got them all here. Whether you're a long time fan of the author or you're just looking for something totally different to read, I think you'll be please.
This is informative reading but also very funny.

I got to read an early copy through NetGalley.

It's All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World's Family Tree by [Jacobs, A. J.]

I love Jacobs, and I thought this was great fun.

Review copy provided by publisher.

This book was interesting and amusing in some places, but I didn't get the sense that this was an A.J. Jacobs' usual in-depth ultra-obsessed project book. This felt more like A.J. Jacobs-lite. It did get me looking into my family history, which I'm thankful for. I've learned that my great-grandmother's second marriage was to a man almost 15 years her junior (go, grandma!) and my maternal grandmother's family was probably Amish. So, if you are interested in genealogy at all, you will enjoy this book. If not, you will probably just give it a huge shoulder-shrug.

I have read all of AJ Jacobs books. I have enjoyed each one. They all out a smile on my face at the same time I learn something new. This book made me think about all the people I could be related to.

So funny. I was thoroughly entertained reading this book!