Customer Reviews
Useful, Helpful, Good Book! 
2007-08-31
Not only is this a thoughtfully written and organized book, but this is also a handy little book. It's small size easily fits into a backpack or overnight bag. I put the book and a really good gel pen and a pad of paper into a gallon-sized Ziplock-type baggie so that I can write anytime, anywhere. I always take it with me to the beach and often take it with me on overnight trips, too, finishing one question per trip. I randomly open the book, choose an appropriate question, close the book and start writing whatever comes to mind about the subject.
It is surprising how the questions in the book really make one think back. One time I took my 18-year-old son to the beach with me. I showed him the book, we each chose a question and wrote for over an hour, sitting amongst the grasses in the sun and wind. I discovered he was definitely not too young to write down his history! Yes, I hand-write the entries and then transcribe them later with a word processor. A workbook or journal would be too space-restricting for me, and no way can I do a question per day!
I'm okay with not answering all the questions in the book. It is nice to know that even if I don't get very far in the book, my three children and my siblings will know me a lot better than if I never answered one. If I had no children, I would write anyway because you just never know who would be touched by your life. This is a must-have book for anyone wanting to pass some history down because it makes it so much easier to do. This book made it easy enough for me, the single mom with two jobs, to start a personal history!
To Our Children's Children - Preserving Family Histories for Generations to Come 2007-06-27
To Our Children's Children Book A stranger told me about this book and I became interested in purchasing a copy. Recently cleaning out my father's house found old pictures, WWII, Boy scouts, VFW memorabilia. I am fortunate to be able to ask my dad a lot of the questions in the book. It is an excellent start to preserving those precious family histories for other generations to come. Now I am taping and writing down the information which will be placed in archivalbe scrap book to be tresured for years to come. Pleas take the time to pick this book up and start own family history.
Unmining The Gems 2007-06-09
Simple and easy questions to guide anyone through writing details about their life. I interviewed my parents using this book and was surprised at what I learned. Mom, when asked if she lived on a busy or quiet street as a child, said "It must have been a busy street because I remember hearing the traffic light change." That very detail bespoke of an era -- a time when traffic lights had arms that popped up to say STOP or GO and would ding in the process. I've recommended this book to many people and have given it as gifts.
Use Professionally 2007-05-29
This book (purchased 4) is an excellent guidebook for my customers
whom I film as I video their life histories. Customers use this as a tool
to to revisit memories they'd like to share with their families. Some folks not sure what to talk about, yet when they read through the many questions they really reconnect with how faceted and fascinating their lives' really are!
To Our Children's Children 2006-11-03
As a member of the DAR, preserving my family's history is extremely important. This book asks questions most people might never think about, such as "can you remember any stories you heard about your grandparents when they were children?" It is important to document our pesonal heritage for our grandchildren, and this book makes that easy. I would highly recommend it. In fact,I have purchased several copies for other family members.
Good for all 
2005-09-29
A warm, accessible, step-by-step guide to creating precious personal histories from the memories of older people, by the best-selling author of
Hang Time and his sister, journalist D. G. Fulford.
Thanks for the memories 2005-09-09
If you have ever thought about preserving your memories or the memories of a loved one, this is the way to go.
Great book 2005-01-22
I have had this book for years. I use it whenever we visit a relative that is getting up in years. I wish I had it before I lost some relatives. I pick out a chapter and write down the questions I want to ask. Then video tape with the questions as my guideline. Everyone should have this on their bookshelf and remember to use it. A friend wants to borrow mine, I am going to buy her a copy.
A written treasure for your children and their children! 2004-10-27
I really think every parent should take the time and find this book or any other like it and answer the questions for their children! This book helps your children get to know who you are, what your hopes, dreams, rememories of childhood homes, friends and places before they where born!
I bought a copy for my Mother and I was surprised to find out she wanted to be a teacher, not a secretary. It also gave me a chance to see my Mother as a child and things through her eyes that I never would have known!
It seems like a very thick book, but if you take 1 page a day or just a few you'll be amazed at the memories you remember and also the knowledge that your children will get to know things about you that they might not have known other wise! Definately a family treasure!
A GREAT BOOK TO GUIDE YOU IN WRITING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY 2003-11-26
I tell everyone I see, that is interested in preserving their family history to BUY this book. I like structure and a helping hand. To me, this is the greatest book to help a person, tell their story. I am still working my way through Bob Greene's book and typing in the answers in my computer. I call my results a "Work in Progress." I wish I would have had this guide when some of my relatives were still alive. Once again, this book is great guide, to fill out "your story" and the story of your relatives. I have give my "Work in Progress", to my two daughters, and they both cried. I was surprised by their response. Their response encourages me to continue "My Work in Progress."
