Due to the growing interest in the Ukrainian past, the topic of family history is becoming more and more relevant. "Where the river originates, or how to write your family history" is a kind of guide with which you can go on an exciting journey to the origins of your family. The author not only shares her own experience, which she has gained over more than ten years of searching, but also immerses you in the magical atmosphere of her genealogical research. In addition to specific tips and samples of archival requests, here are interesting stories of real people whose lives passed many years ago and who themselves did not hope to become heroes of Rod's book. Writing your own story is quite realistic. The main thing that the author had at the very beginning was a sincere interest in the past, love for her ancestors and a desire to create a chronicle of the family in which no one will be forgotten. This publication will be of interest to both beginners who are just preparing to take the first step in exploring their pedigree, and those who already have experience in this business. About the book "where the river originates, or how to write your own family history" is a practical publication by author Svetlana Stolbyuk, created for those who want to better understand the history of their own family. The author, who has a journalistic education and extensive experience in editorial work, has developed a step-by-step guide based on her own research that has reached the 10th generation of ancestors. Her experience has been turned into an accessible guide that helps you systematically and consistently study your roots. The book does not focus on the stories of celebrities, but allows you to follow the example of ordinary people to understand exactly how to search for the right information, where to find it, where to start and how to record the results in the form of a family tree. It contains real archival documents, sample requests, practical tips and illustrations from Daria Sokolenko. The publication will be useful for those who want to systematize their existing knowledge about their family, not lose important facts and get inspired for further searches. Of particular value are examples from the life of the author herself – they not only specify the instructions, but also show that even with a limited resource, you can get very deep.