Evidence Explained: History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace 3rd Edition Revised

When I bought the original version 7 or 8 years ago, I thought of this as a handy checklist for all sorts of citation formats, and of course it's that. The complications of citing even a book become apparent when you find, say, chapters written by different authors, so citing other kinds of evidence like electronic records becomes even more difficult without help. However, as important and useful as these formats are, the first two chapters are extremely powerful in helping shape how we go about our research and why we want to take the time to do it correctly. Most of us have learned that the research we did years ago wasn't done to the standards that we apply today, and wish we'd known then what we know now. These chapters, if absorbed, will prevent those kinds of rookie errors.The inside front cover shows a process map from sources to information to evidence, and just grasping this concept makes the entire book worthwhile--everything else is a bonus. I would also recommend Robert Charles Anderson's "Elements of Genealogical Analysis" as a companion to "Evidence Explained", because it expands on the notion of how to go about taking sources and breaking them down, and it gives examples of the process. That will help reinforce the message of "Evidence Explained" and make the citation formats and chapters on research even more valuable.One thought about the paper version versus the Kindle version. The printed version is almost 900 pages and my first copy arrived with a broken spine, which Amazon replaced quickly. I like having a paper copy of some things, but I'll probably purchase the Kindle version so I can take it with me when visiting courthouses and archives. Why? Because I want to make sure I capture all the citation data while I'm still on-site. When I get home it may be too late. You never know what type of record you're going to run into when searching.

I used the Evidence Explained book to cite sources for the family book I am writing.

I'm currently taking the Boston University Certificate in Genealogy course. Accurate citations are a must for all assignments. Evidence Explained is a go-to guide for citing sources of all kinds from artifacts, documents, online sources and DNA. There are detailed explanations of how and why to cite each type of source, examples of citations in all three formats, and "quick check models" which are my go-to guide for getting all the information for a source. This book is a bit pricy, but if you plan to do any genealogy, it's a worthwhile investment and a resource you will use frequently.

Making sure others can understand where you got your information is vital in genealogy. This helps you create those citations. It doesn't cover every single instance, nothing can, but with over 800 pages it does a fantastic job. I'm using the Kindle edition and it's great

The book is exactly what I wanted. It was new and in excellent condition.

My first impression of this genealogical resource is that it has a fantastic amount of information. However, I encountered a bit of a problem finding the chart "The Evidence Analysis Process Map" using the index.

This is a necessary reference, especially for beginning genealogy/family history researchers. I would recommend the digital version over the printed one. It is some much simpler to use the digital version and easier to have with you when you need to use it.

A must -have reference for genealogy work

I'm very happy with the quality of this book as it is like brand new.

This book had answers for how to cite my unusual sources of information! Handy quick reference pages in gray are extremely useful! The book covers just about anything you can think of. Worth every penny.

A well written book covering almost all the serious genealogist needs to know about creating consistent source citations. The only criticism is the book is very US centric but by creating an account on the Evidence Explained website you can get answers to your questions concerning source type not covered directly by the book. The Kindle version is very handy in that it is relatively easy to find information. Navigation using the Kindle app is not as responsive as ebooks on the Apple iBook app.

I am an amateur Genealogist and want to correctly make my citations to give my work authenticity. This book is exactly what I need.

The book is a first class reference for its subject. My only complaint is that it will not open on my Kindle Paperwhite as "The item is not compatible with this device".Nowhere on the Amazon website was there any indication that could happen. From now on I will, always download a sample if its available before buying to ensure it will open. By the way my Paperwhite is only 2 years old. I can read it on my PC and tablet.