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Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
The Pursuit by Jim Ruth is a detailed historical biography chronicling the author’s journey to trace his ancestral roots through centuries of American history. What begins as a casual curiosity sparked by a seaside walk becomes a fully-fledged exploration into the life of Johann Peter Ruth, who emigrated from Prussia to America in 1733. The book follows Peter and his descendants across generations. Ruth’s narrative is both intimate and expansive. Through meticulous research into letters, passenger manifests, war records, and church documents, he reconstructs his family’s path from early settlers in Pennsylvania Dutch Country to participants in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and both World Wars.
The author gives special attention to pivotal historical moments experienced by his ancestors. Notable chapters revisit the family’s service in the American Revolution, the heartbreak of Civil War losses, and the sacrifices made during the world wars of the twentieth century. Interspersed throughout are engaging anecdotes, such as a 1983 Ruth family reunion, a visit to a still-standing ancestral stone house, and the surprise discovery of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jane Addams in the family tree. Family photographs tie Jim Ruth's family history together. His writing brings warmth and humanity to history, grounding national events in personal legacy. The reader is drawn not only into the author’s lineage but into the ethos of an entire country shaped by hope, struggle, and perseverance. The Pursuit succeeds as both a personal tribute and a collective remembrance. It offers an engaging, heartfelt narrative that will connect with anyone interested in genealogy, American history, or the pursuit of a better life.
