What is Guinness Book of Records ?

Guinness World Records (GWR) is a reference book published every year in different languages around the world. It lists world records of human achievements and the extremes of the natural world.

 

The book was co-founded by twin brothers Norris and Ross McWhirter in Fleet Street, London, in August 1955. The book itself holds a world record, as the best-selling copyrighted book series of all time.

 

Beyond publishing, Guinness World Records is now a multi-media brand agency with a wide range of products and services, and a key presence across publishing, television, digital, events, and business solutions.

 

The Guinness World Records maintains a database of more than 40,000 record categories and only about 3,000 of those records get featured on the Guinness World Records website.

 

About 4,000 world records are published in the Guinness World Records books each year. GWR receives over 50,000 inquiries each year from potential record breakers.

 

Guinness World Records maintains a catalogue of existing records and accepts new submissions annually.

 

What is a world record?

 

A world record is defined as the best performance recorded in the world in any sphere of art or profession.

 

History

 

In 1954, Sir Hugh Beaver, Managing Director of the Guinness Brewery, an idea for a book struck him: What is the fastest game bird in Europe? He approached the fact-finding researcher twins Norris and Ross McWhirter to compile a book of facts and figures.

 

Guinness Superlatives was formed in 1954 to publish the first reference book.

 

In 1974, the Guinness Book of Records became the biggest-selling copyright book in history with sales to date totalling 23.5 million. Two years later, a Guinness Book of Records museum opened in the Empire State Building of New York City. In 2015, Guinness World Records celebrated the 60th anniversary of its first published edition. The first television series 'Record Breakers' based on the Guinness Book of Records aired in 1972.

 

Guinness Publishing Limited was renamed as 'Guinness World Records' in 1999 and a year later, its website guinnessworldrecords.com was launched. In 2004, Craig Glenday became the Editor-in-Chief of the Guinness World Records.