Roots Quest: Inside America's Genealogy Boom

America is in the midst of a genealogy boom, with 87% of Americans interested in family history. This is due to social changes such as the increasingly virtual nature of social life and the sense of rootlessness these transformations provoke. Roots Quest explores the quest for authenticity, deep history, and an elemental sense of belonging.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2019
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

America is experiencing a remarkable surge in genealogy, with a significant increase in the number of Americans expressing a strong interest in family history. In the past thirty years, the percentage of Americans who described themselves as "very interested" in family history has risen from 29% to an impressive 87%. Online genealogy websites like Ancestry.com have transformed from small research platforms to NASDAQ-listed corporations with over two million subscribers. Sociologist Jackie Hogan delves into this genealogy boom in her book, Roots Quest, to explore why we are so captivated by our family history. Hogan goes beyond mere demographics, such as the retiring baby boomers with more leisure time, to uncover the deeper reasons behind this growing popularity. She argues that the surging interest in genealogy is, in part, a response to the significant social changes sweeping our lives, including the increasing virtual nature of social interactions and the sense of rootlessness these transformations provoke.

Roots Quest explores the profound longing within our increasingly rootless society for authenticity, a deeper understanding of our past, and a fundamental sense of belonging—for roots. Hogan offers a thought-provoking exploration of the ways in which our genealogical pursuits connect us to our ancestors, our communities, and ourselves, providing a valuable lens through which to understand the complexities of our modern world. Through her research and storytelling, Roots Quest offers a compelling argument for the importance of preserving our family history and heritage, as well as the potential benefits it can bring to individuals and society as a whole.

Weight: 510g
Dimension: 164 x 236 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781442274563