Long before pedigree files populated the internet, printed family histories gathered and preserved the stories of your ancestors. Finding such a book with your surname on it can feel like winning the genealogical lottery.

But consulting published genealogies isn't without risk. Like online family trees, they need to be taken with a grain (or fistful) of salt. Just because something about your ancestors has been printed in a book doesn't make it fact. While published genealogies can lead you down the research path to success, they could also pull you into a research quagmire full of false information. We'll help you navigate these potentially perilous guides and gather the good information while rejecting the bad.