GUINNESS BOOK

The 55-year history of Guinness World Records began with a single question, the type of question that has been repeated millions of times at dinner parties, pubs, kitchen tables, classrooms and work places across the globe.
During a shooting party in County Wexford, Ireland, in 1951, Sir Hugh Beaver – then Managing Director of the Guinness Brewery – asked a simple question: what was Europe’s fastest game bird? Despite a heated argument and an exhaustive search within the host’s reference library he could not find the answer.

There was no book with which to settle arguments about records. He realised then that a book supplying the answers to this sort of question might prove popular.
Beaver’s idea became reality when Guinness employee Christopher Chataway recommended student twins Norris and Ross McWhirter,The brothers were commissioned to compile what became The Guinness Book of Records in August 1954.

The Guinness Book of Records is the world's most sold copyrighted book, thus earning it an entry within its own pages. A number of spin-off books and television series have also been produced.
Guinness World Records bestowed the record of "Person with the most records" on Ashrita Furman of Queens, NY in April 2009. At that time, he held 100 records.
In 2005, Guinness designated 9 November as International Guinness World Records Day to encourage breaking of world records; it was described as "phenomenally successful".
On December 10, 2010 The Guinness World Records rested its new "dreadlock" category after investigation of its first and only female title holder Asha Mandela with the official statement.
In 1976, a Guinness Book of World Records museum opened in the Empire State Building.
In 2008, Guinness World Records released its gamer's edition in association with Twin Galaxies. The Gamer's Edition contains 258 pages, over 1236 video game related world records and four interviews.