With today’s advances in technology, we often become focused on getting quick answers to well-defined questions. Google, Wikipedia, and many other sites are wonderful resources for doing just that. However, there is another aspect to information-gathering, as Steven Johnson points out in his book Where Good Ideas Come From—”serendipitous browsing.” The hypertext nature of the World Wide Web makes it ideal for jumping between related ideas, and making serendipitous discoveries. This is not only enjoyable for many people, but it also leads to outcomes in learning that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.

So how does The Family History Guide fit into the discussion? Well, it does have a structured learning system that can help you with FamilySearch, Ancestry, and a lot of other things. Yet there’s another, less-appreciated facet: interconnected learning resources. That’s a mouthful, so why not explore this facet with a food analogy? (You’re welcome!) Let’s compare The Family History Guide to a buffet:

Appetizers—For bits of knowledge to sample, try the two Knowledgebases. One is for general and U.S. research, and the other is for international research. You can find interesting tips and nuggets of information, all packaged as bullet points and organized by category. There are over 400 entries in the first Knowledgebase, and over 800 in the second.

Main Courses—The articles and videos offer a wonderful opportunity for “serendipitous browsing.” Check out Project 4: Discover to explore a wide variety of research topics, or any of the Country pages to learn more about the records and cultures of your ancestors around the world. These resources are from family history experts who have devoted many years to bringing their findings to light.

Dessert—The “extra” resources in The Family History Guide are available in the Vault. It’s basically a browsing heaven, with links to nearly 900 videos and nearly 1,400 articles, arranged by categories and topics. There are links on the site to get you back and forth easily between the Main items and the Vault items.

To get started, try one of the “delicious” options mentioned above. What makes this whole exercise so rewarding is that family history encompasses, by its very nature, a diverse world of learning. Not only do you discover who your ancestors were, and where and when they lived, but you also enter a world of connected learning that involves geography, history, cultures, and much more.

Enjoy your browsing experiences, and may they lead you to some serendipitous discoveries!