Complications arising from incomplete or missing records, census irregularities and individuals of the same name occur more often than non-genealogists might think. The author, a respected genealogist, helps beginners break through these "brick walls" by breaking down each researcher's common problem into a chapter with straightforward solutions. Readers will: Go straight to the answers they need without wading through theory or irrelevant records overviews; Find explanations and case studies easily understood by beginning genealogists, yet still useful for more experienced researchers; Learn what NOT to do in research to avoid hitting brick walls in the future; The result is the best and most accessible book on the market about overcoming obstacles, from Family Tree Magazine and Family Tree Books, the sources of genealogy's most popular publications.