The Soul of the Family Tree
Description
"Readers may find themselves ordering their own DNA testing kit upon finishing this." -Publishers Weekly
"The Soul of the Family Tree posits that a spiritual grounding in one's family history can combat 'historical amnesia' and nurture a sense of belonging." -Foreword Reviews
Growing up in a passionately Norwegian-American Iowa town, Lori Erickson rolled her eyes at traditions like Nordic Fest and steaming pots of rømmegrøt. But like many Americans, she eventually felt drawn to genealogy, the "quintessential hobby of middle age." Her quest to know more about the Vikings and immigrants who perch in her family tree led her to visit Norse settlements and reenactments, medieval villages and modern museums, her picturesque hometown and her ancestor's farm on the fjords.
Along the way, Erickson discovers how her soul has been shaped by her ancestors and finds unexpected spiritual guides among the seafaring Vikings and her hardscrabble immigrant forebears. Erickson's far-ranging journeys and spiritual musings show us how researching family history can be a powerful tool for inner growth. Travel with Erickson in The Soul of the Family Tree to learn how the spirits of your ancestral past can guide you today.
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Person
Lori Erickson is one of America's top travel writers specializing in spiritual journeys. She is the author of Near the Exit: Travels with the Not-So-Grim Reaper (which won a Silver INDIES Award for 2019 Religion Book of the Year from Foreword Reviews) and Holy Rover: Journeys in Search of Mystery, Miracles, and God. Her writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, National Geographic Traveler, and Better Homes & Gardens, among others. She lives in Iowa City, Iowa, with her husband.
Content
- Intro
- Advance Praise for The Soul of the Family Tree
- Half Title
- Also by Lori Erickson
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Contents
- Prologue: A Genealogical Golden Ticket
- 1. DNA: The Lazy Person's Entry into Genealogy
- 2. Badly Behaving Relatives
- 3. A Norse Soap Opera
- 4. On the Edge of the World
- 5. Back to the Future
- 6. Living History
- 7. The Perils of Mythmaking
- 8. The Ever-Expanding Web
- 9. Time Capsules of the Past
- 10. A Visit to the Holy Land
- 11. Travels with St. Olaf
- Epilogue: On Board the Dragon
- A Norse Cheat Sheet
- Acknowledgments
- Notes
- Excerpt from Near the Exit, by Lori Erickson
