• Each year, Guinness World Records releases a reference book containing an internationally recognized and verified collection of world records, man-made and natural. Recently, the book has focused on human records, such as the record for the world's tallest man and the world's oldest woman. The series has given birth to several spin-offs, including a television series and museums.

• Fast Facts

  1. November 10, 1951: Argument about fastest European game bird inspires first Guinness book
  2. Founded by Sir Hugh Beaver
  3. August, 1954: McWhirter twins commissioned to author first collection
  4. 1955: First Guinness book becomes a best-seller
  5. November 9th recognized as "International Guinness World Records Day"
  6. The book itself holds the world record for the best-selling copyrighted book series of all time

• History

  The idea of a book of world records was conceived by Sir Hugh Beaver, who managed the Guinness beer brewery. Beaver came up with the idea for the book while playing a pub game, and realized that there were surely trivia nights in pubs and bars all over the world that needed a source to verify information easily. The first edition was published in 1954 and sold thousands of copies in Britain and America.

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