Uncovernewsidesoffamilymembersyou’veknownyourentirelifewiththisindispensableguidethatincludesspaceforjournaling.Justastheoralhistoriesofpeoplearoundtheworldaredisappearingamidrapidchange,thereisariskthatyourfamily’spersonalstories,too,willbelostforever.InTheEssentialQuestions,anthropologistElizabethKeatinghelpsyoutouncovertheuniquememoriesofyourparentsandgrandparentsandtocreatelastingconnectionwiththemintheprocess.Asyouseektolearnmoreaboutyourfamilyhistory,howdoyougetbeyondfamiliaranecdotesandavoidthefrustrationofoppositionalgenerationalattitudes?Byaskingquestionsthatmakethefamiliarstrange,anthropologistsareabletoseeentirelydifferentperspectivesandunderstandnewcultures.Drawingonherlifelongworkinthisfield,Keatinghasdevelopedasetofquestionsthattreatyourparentsandgrandparentsnotjustasthepeoplewhoraisedyou,butasindividualsofacertainsocietyandtime,andasthechildren,teenagers,andyoungadultstheyoncewere.TheEssentialQuestionshelpsyoutolearnaboutthehistoryofyourelders,toseetheworldthroughtheireyes,andtohonorthelanguagetheychoosetodescribetheirexperiences.
