"The Congenial Genealogist" mixes fiction and non-fiction to dissect genealogy both as a nation-wide preoccupation and as a history of the author's family. Notables live among the ordinaries in the author's ancestry. Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Charlemagne hang out with his great grandfather, Dr. John C. Richards, Cattaraugus County (NY) Coroner. Each contributes to the tale, often in unexpected ways. Recurring relatives provide the narrative line. And they possess supernatural traits like the ability to see and talk to fellow dead and the author. The Greenes figure prominently in the running of the state of Rhode Island before moving to the Little Hoosic River Valley outside of Albany, NY. One chapter compares modern childhood to three families in the 1760s. Another examines media use by relatives from the 18th century until today. Another details the pace of life at various periods of history. Yet another examines the question of the relative importance of nurture versus nature in determining our places in life. These are all real people talking about their lives back then, a unique mix of fiction and non-fiction. The conversations may be made up, but the people and the history and relatives definitely are not. Most chapters are illustrated with two or more photographs or illustrations, the majority of which are of the author's family. This book was written with multiple points of interest from the reading public in mind: from genealogists to those interested in the history of Rhode Island, NY and the US.