There are many things to learn about genealogy, and with the advent of new technology the amount of information available on this topic has literally exploded. The internet has blossomed overnight with increasingly updated data about a wide range of topics - genealogy included - and with this super-nova like expansion, many people who are interested in genealogy, neophytes and experts alike, got sucked into this fascinating world of kinship, lineage and ancestry.

That's one problem solved. Tracking down data used to be a huge problem because of the lack of resources as well as its inaccessibility. Now, the problem isn't how much data you can mine from the internet, but how you can filter it and make sure you've got correct and accurate information that is clearly distinguishable from fraudulent material.

To help professionals as well as beginners negotiate the vast world of online information to aid them in their genealogical research, authors April Leigh Helm and Matthew L. Helm another book about online genealogical research that is the latest in a slew of "Dummy" books designed to be easy guides to some of the most fascinating yet complicated topics in the world.

A five part book, it starts off with the easy stuff, guiding beginners through an introduction to the topic that includes helpful tips for starting their research on the internet. Parts 1 and 2 cover valuable nuggets of wisdom about surnames, government records, ethnic research and geographical locations.

Part 4 then delves into one of the most important sections of the book, where a lot of online resources are found and sorted into accessible chunks of information. In this part, the authors list down their top ten for all things genealogical: ten internet genealogical publications, ten guidelines on how to design a genealogy web page, ten genealogy beginner's sites and ten guidelines for a smooth sailing genealogical research. Also included are yellow page listings on various sites and descriptions to aid your search for genealogical information.

The directory provided by the book doesn't just make the search for information easier but also makes it a lot more fun. All the sections in the book that detail information about search engines allows readers to acquire the most important information provided by search engine bots called "spiders". The thing to know is that the better researchers understand how the online search process works, the easier their work will be and consequently, the more fun it'll be. By following the guidelines provided by the book, users can avoid common mistakes most beginners make, which is to pick a random search engine and just type the surname they are looking for. This method yields millions of web pages of information, but unfortunately, doesn't really narrow down the search.

Another notable thing about this book is that it provides a database of land patent from the previous GLO or General Land Office provided through the Bureau of Land Management's Eastern State Office or BLMESO. Readers have a chance of downloading copies of their ancestors' land patents through this service. Because of this, a lot of people have found the book a good source of information for aspiring genealogists as it covers not just content found on websites but also tips on how to obtain important genealogical skills.

For true techies, the book is also available in CD format, which allows them to access the same information found in the book through their laptops, however, it is worth noting that books are simpler to use and are more accessible.

Rated "cool" and "informational", the book seems to be a hit among genealogy readers, among whom, this "Dummy" book has truly found its niche and a resounding applause of appreciation.