The Ancestor Hunters
How Obsessives, Outsiders, and Tech Pioneers Turned Family History into a Global Obsession

About this book:

Dive into the sweeping saga of how a once‑exclusive aristocratic pastime became a global obsession that now shapes our DNA, our courts, and our very sense of self. *The Ancestor Hunters* traces the journey from dust‑choked parish registers locked away in medieval vaults to the blazing servers of Silicon Valley, revealing the eccentric scholars, Mormon pioneers, tech visionaries, and everyday seekers who dared to unlock humanity’s hidden ledger.

From the scandalous heraldic frauds of Victorian England to Alex Haley’s groundbreaking *Roots*, from the first microfilm apostles scouring dying records to the AI‑powered deepfakes that bring long‑dead ancestors back to life, this book uncovers the relentless drive to know where we come from—and the startling consequences when that quest collides with modern genetics, forensic genealogy, and the billion‑dollar industry of ancestry testing.

Whether you’re a hobbyist tracing your own tree, a history buff fascinated by the intersection of culture and technology, or simply curious about why we’re all suddenly spitting into tubes and sharing our genomes online, *The Ancestor Hunters* offers a riveting, eye‑opening narrative that will change the way you see your past—and your future. Don’t just read about the hunt; join it.