In My European Family:
The First 54,000 Years, by Karin Bojs, the author explores her own ancestry using a variety of tools. She
explores the archaeology of various areas in Europe, especially Scandinavia, the
oral stories of her family, and the technologies that have developed recently in the
genetic study of ethnic origin.
Bojs is a science journalist, and so is adept at explaining
complicated details for the laymen without dumbing down the material. At the same time, she is apt at weaving her
own family and personal story, along with the wider scope of human historical trends. This makes for a both very intimate and yet objective book.
Of course this book would not have been possible without the recent rise of
relatively cheap genetic tests. Bojs explores the possibilities and
limitations of these tests, raising legitimate concerns about the limitations,
which are often downplayed.
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