A gift book for the whole family or for someone who has it all

Years ago I came across a little gem of a book that I thought was a great way to get friends and relatives to open up about themselves and their past. Each family has favorite stories that they like to tell about certain members. How many times have you heard someone say, “Is that a great story? You should write it.” Years go by and you still want someone to “write that.”

Few people write by hand anymore, but everyone writes by type. So why not record your family’s stories and then transcribe them later? It can be difficult to start when you are really ready to record. But this little book called To our children’s children, preserving family histories for generations to come by Bob Greene and DG Fulford helps you get over that initial discomfort.

This book is a gem because it acts as a toggle switch that turns memories into short stories that can be passed down from generation to generation. It’s full of questions designed to get your loved ones talking. You can present the book as a gift to someone, who has many stories to tell and doesn’t mind writing them, or you can sit down with that person to record your responses.

The questions are personal and challenging. The book is divided into thematic titles, including “The house of your growth, holidays and celebrations, military career, romance, food”, and so on. Questions act like automatic door openers for the mind. “Do you remember getting something in the mail that you were particularly excited about?” “Was there a lot of music in your house?” “Do you remember your first kiss?” “Describe your wedding.” “What recipe are you famous for?” “Has breakfast ever been brought to you in bed?”

Each of these questions takes the family member back in time, and they will be amazed at the details that emerge from these seemingly simple questions. This is a job that can get that older relative excited about their next visit. You can even give them a list of questions from the book so they can write down the answers at their leisure or record the answers in your absence.

Another fun way to look at this is to find a bunch of old family photos and ask the family member to tell you about the day or place it was taken. Look at the photo and use the book as a guide to ask questions to get your relative to talk. This is a great way to create a narrative that goes hand in hand with your photos. Each group of photos (whether it shows friends, vacation reunions, weddings, etc.) can be placed alongside descriptions and in its own little scrapbook.

Start small and set aside a scheduled time when you can record responses. It can be as short as an afternoon cup of coffee or as long as a movie. Without a doubt, you will discover many things about your family member that you never realized. And the results can not only provide a legacy for generations to come, but can also help you understand more about yourself.