Guinness World Records
 TheGuinness World Recordslogo | |
| Author | Craig Glenday(ed.)[1] |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Simon Jones |
| Language | English, Arabic, Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Latvian, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Slovene, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish and Bulgarian |
| Series | Guinness World Records |
| Subject | World Records |
| Genre | Information |
| Publisher | Jim Pattison Group |
Publication date | 1955–present |
| Pages | 256 (2015-2021) 272 (2014) 288 (2011-2013) 287 (2010) 288 (2000–2009) 289 (2008) |
| ISBN | 978-1-904994-67-1 |
Guinness World Recordsis a reference book published each year. It has a collection ofworld records,both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world. The book itself holds a world record, as the best-selling copyrighted book series yet made.[2]It is also one of the most often stolen books from public libraries in the United States.[3]
It was known until 2000 asThe Guinness Book of Recordsand in previous U.S. editions asThe Guinness Book of World Records.
History[change|change source]
On 4 May 1951,Sir Hugh Beaver,who then worked forGuinness Brewery,[4]went on a shooting party by theRiver SlaneyinCounty Wexford,Ireland. He became involved in an argument over whichgame birdin Europe was the fastest, the koshingolden ploveror thegrouse.That evening atCastlebridgeHouse, he realised that it was impossible to confirm in reference books whether or not the golden plover was Europe's fastest game bird.[5][6]Beaver knew that there must be many other questions debated nightly in pubs throughout Ireland, but there was no book in the world to settle arguments about records. He realised then that a book with the answers to this sort of question might prove popular.
NorrisandRoss McWhirterwere asked to put the book together. They ran a fact-finding agency in London. In August 1954 the first book was made. One thousand copies were printed and given away.[7]The first 197-page edition was bound on 27 August 1955. It went to the top of the British bestseller lists by Christmas. The following year it went to the U.S., and it sold 70,000 copies. The book was very popular and the company decided to make one updated edition each year. They published in October to go with Christmas sales.
In 2008, Craig Glenday createdGuinness World Records Gamer's Edition.The latest edition wasGuinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2020.
Records[change|change source]
Recent editions have focused on record feats by human competitors. Competitions go from obvious ones such asweightliftingto the longestegg tossingdistance, or for longest time spent playingGrand Theft Auto IVor the number of hot dogs that can be eaten in ten minutes. Eating contests and beer and alcohol consumption entries are no longer accepted, possibly for fear oflitigation.Besides records about competitions, it has such facts as the heaviesttumor,the most poisonous plant, the longest-running drama (Guiding Light) in the US, the longest-serving members of a drama series (William RoacheforCoronation Streetin the UK,Ray MeagherforHome and Awayin Australia), and the world's most successful salesman (Joe Girard), among others.
Each edition has a selection of the large set of records in the Guinness database. The ways used to make that choice have changed over the years. The newest records are added, and the records that have been updated are added too.
In 2005, Guinness chose 9 November asInternational Guinness World Records Day.This is to encourage breaking of world records. In 2006 about 100,000 people participated in over 10 countries.[8]
In February 2008,NBCairedThe Top 100 Guinness World Records of All Time.Guinness World Records made the complete list available on their website.[9] On August 18 2019,Maliha Mohammed fromMombasain Kenya broke the record for cooking the longest time, a record 3 days non stop.
References[change|change source]
- ↑"Corporate".Guinness World Records. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-03-19.Retrieved2010-10-19.
- ↑Watson, Bruce (August 2005). "World's Unlikeliest Bestseller".Smithsonian:76–81.
- ↑"Book deals for a steal".The Times.South Africa. 2008-05-04. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-01-02.Retrieved2009-10-29.
- ↑"The History of the Book".Guinness Record Book Collecting.Retrieved2012-02-10.
- ↑Cavendish, Richard (August 2005). "Publication of the Guinness Book of Records: 27 August 1955".History Today.55.
- ↑Alex Altman (November 14, 2008)."A Brief History of Guinness World Records".Time.RetrievedMarch 11,2021.
- ↑"Guinness Book History 1950 - Present".Archived fromthe originalon 2006-05-13.Retrieved2012-02-10.
- ↑"Records Shatter Across the Globe in Honor of Guinness World Records Day 2006".Archived fromthe originalon 18 July 2012.Retrieved29 April2007.
- ↑Guinness World Records Live: Top 100.Guinness World Records. Retrieved on 6 November 2008.
Other websites[change|change source]
- Guinness World Records(the official website)
- Guinness World Records CorporateArchived2012-05-12 at theWayback Machine(corporate website)
