Customer Reviews

Guinness World Records 2010: The Book of the Decade

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

GREAT BOOK THAT ARRIVED RIGHT ON TIME. THIS WAS A GIFT FOR AN 10 YEAR OLD WHO HAS NOW BECOME THE "FAMILY QUIZ-MASTER".

THE PHOTOS ARE BEAUTIFUL, AND, THERE IS SOMETHING IN THERE FOR ANYONE OR ANY AGE.

VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AS A GIFT, OR FOR YOURSELF.

My 9 year old came home with a book order form from Scholastic and really, really, really, wanted the Guinness 2010 and the price was $[...]! I said "ya know I will" and then she finished my sentence with "check online to get a better price". I so love that kid and all my kids because they know that if you shop around online you can ALWAYS get it cheaper. I have 2 stores one on eBay and a non-eBay and I can dig a bargain out of anything. She just got it (and before the book order other item she ordered) and we almost had to take the book away to get her to bed. I love it when reading is so fun and they get excited to read.

Each year, I eagerly await the arrival of the updated "Guinness World Records." Indeed, it seems to get a bit wilder each year, as new (and sometimes wacky) records are reported. The rules as to what qualifies as a record are laid out (as they are each year). The fun begins even just by randomly leafing through pages (my favorite way of perusing these volumes).

The first page begins with "Firsts," such as the first cloned animal (Remember her name? Dolly!); the first in-flight movie (in 1925); the first e-mail; and so on. Some random entries. . . Pages 36-37: the most productive copper mine; the highest active volcano; the longest column of ants (a 328 foot long procession of army ants); the narrowest country. Pages 52-53: the newest Iguana; the most endangered reptile; the largest snake of all time.

But it's really the human achievements, I think, that intrigue most people. Among these (pages 76 and following): the farthest washing machine throw by an individual (a hair over 11 feet); heaviest vehicle pulled by hair (count me out in trying to match this feat!); longest waterfall descent in a canoe; greatest distance covered in a pedal-powered boat; circumnavigation of the globe on a bicycle).

The volume is organized by a number of overarching categories--Space, Planet Earth, Animal Planet, The Body, Human Achievements, Travelers' Tales, Gazetteer, Modern World, Engineering & Technology, Art & Media, and Sports.

A couple examples from a few of these categories to add some flavor. Engineering & Technology: tallest structure, first manned hydrogen-powered aircraft, largest machine ever built, highest capacity chicken manure station (on page 185; this isn't a joke!). Art & Media: fastest-selling download single; most effects shots in a movie; first film with digital water ("Antz"). Sports: Highest pole vault (female), most beach handball championships (female), most centuries in a test series (cricket; I'm clueless), fastest shot in NHL history (hockey), fastest 100 meter dash (male), and so on.

So, the preceding examples give a sense of the book for those who have never looked at it. For those who have? You'll know what you're getting. This won't be for everyone, but for those who like real records and quirky records alike, this is hours of amusement (and amazement).

I needed a gift for my nephew whose at that tween stage that can be difficult to buy for. He absolutely loved it- he dived into the book right a way & started reciting facts. I knew when I saw the book it was perfect for him & it had tons of colored pictures. The only drawl back to this book is the order in which the facts are presented- they are all random, there is no glossary, and no natural order. It actually drove me & all of the adults kinda crazy. There is no way to look up something specific without going through every page- and there are a ton of pages, but perhaps this is a generational thing, because my nephew didn't seem to mind in the least.

Very Very Happy I ordered this book! Not the same book I remember as a kid!!! Remember the paper back version way back in the 70's 80's all in black and white?!?!? Nice hard cover and gorgeous color pictures! I got it for my daughter for a birthday present and she can't put it down! Thank you Amazon.com for an awsome price as well! And thanks Guiness Books for giving your fans (Old and New) a very nice book!

Great book as always. I have a friend in it with a horse with the longest tail and the picture is excellent.

This book arrived in great condition and in a timely manner. Children are fascinated with the Guinness World Records books and just love reading them. THANK YOU!

I loved the guinness bokk of world records so much! I loved the page for all the records that have not been broken in a long time. I like all the colored pictures. Some of them are super cool. If you buy this book Ihope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Fun reading for my ten year old grandson and as you know reading is fundamental so sparking a child's interest is very important. Thank you for offering this at such a reasonable price with free shipping.

I bought several copies of this book because I was in it. I had a very small section w/ my group of people but I was there. I wanted to give copies to all my relatives. I've always loved the Guinness World Record book and this one was just as "Super" as ever. It is so much fun to look thru and the pictures are really awesome. There are little surprises here & there also, like what record was made on each day of the year & what year at the bottom. There is something for everyone to be interested in. As soon as I showed everyone my picture, they were flipping thru it to see other things.