The world's largest family reunion ... we're all invited! | A.J. Jacobs

You may not know it yet, but A.J. Jacobs is probably your cousin (many, many times removed). Using genealogy websites, he's been following the unexpected links that make us all, however distantly, related. His goal: to throw the world's largest family reunion. See you there?

[dewinthemorning]

It's wonderful to realize that we are all one global family. So, when we remember how we behave towards members of our family, and our extended family... we just have to extend that some more and there shouldn't be so much hate and hostility as we see at present, but trying to help each other where we can.

[LoveAndPeaceOccurs]

Thank You my dear cousin Jacob ... We are all as one ... and now we can be shown the proof!!! I'm just seeing this years later but I look forward to finding out how that family reunion went (even though I was left out.) Love & Peace to All

[noelleleeXD]

this guy brings such a great vibe to the table

[theworldeatswithyou]

Thanks to CGPGrey I have understood all of that, completely.

[nbulous]

Videos like this are why I love TED.  Great talk.  Reminded me of Carl Sagan's reflections on the Pale Blue Dot, in which he echoed similar sentiments.

[LangeE]

One of the greatest talks I've seen!

[marlenemcgovern]

Brilliant Ted Talk
The Worlds Biggest Family Reunion!
See you all there!
Aloha. 🌴

[SM-exti]

Whattup cousins! Honestly loved that talk haha...gonna search the web for more of his stuff, really dig his speaking style.

[MarkAngeloAskew]

Your genealogical mapping goals are nearing biblical proportions. Getting the experts on board would be pure genius. Let's see where this journey takes us. Next stop... where east meets west, literally. Happy family reunion folks.

[srimansrini]

Creating a genealogical family tree is one of the finest ideas. ( I have done it in local level). Certainly the data may be useful for so many other things in the future. A nice, funny and thought-provoking thought from our cousin - A.J. Jacobs.

[MrMiguelForster]

the way he explains the y-chromosomal adam and mitochondrial eve makes it sound like they were around at the same time

[TigerPrawn_]

Anything can be a family nowadays, we don't have to be relatives by blood, that's a beautiful thing. My mind works in this way, if I see someone famous I now instantly think of ways I'm connected to them. I love the way he puts 'cousin' before their names, what a funny guy! (I'm 4 away from Gwyneth Paltrow too, not by family though).

[fridaber]

What he fails to mention is that the website providing this family tree service, geni.com, charges ridiculous amounts for a pro account, which you basically need to be able to anything on the site. Until someone provides a completely free website to do this, "the world's biggest family tree" will be inaccessible to most people. 

[nightmaREynX]

Aaand now we all have to realize it and stop all the wars at this very instant.

[vonkruel]

I don't like anything that creates an artificial separation between people.  So I don't like the idea of identifying with where you're from - unless you do it on the largest, most inclusive scale.  If your idea of family doesn't exclude anyone, then we're in the same family, and I'm glad for it.

[facepalm]

Hi fellow family members, how's it goin?

[emilyhancock]

Great talk :) definitely going to check this out further

[BariumCobaltNitrogn]

this is awesome. this is the guy that lived the biblical life for a year and took it very seriously (sort of). this is really good PR for humanity.
what I find interesting is how few generations back you have to go to start seeing significant connections between diverse groups. (google an example)
but:
why are south africans white?

[pablomaxjames]

The best speech I've heard from Adam Sandler! ;)

[Charles-Anthony]

It's funny watching how this guy is just now realizing the reality of evolution. This is exactly what Charles Darwin discovered, and it's what evolutionary biologists have been studying ever since Darwin. We are definitely all related; moreover, all *species* are related; you'll see this if you follow our family pedigrees back far enough. Even bacteria are genetically related to us: they are truthfully, our cousins. Evolution is indeed very profound.