Guinness World Records 2008 (Hardcover)

~ Guinness World Records (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Guinness World Records 2008 continues to builds on the intriguing, informative, inspiring and instructional records and superlatives that have made Guinness World Records one of the most famous brands and books in the world. This year, we've created a revolutionary new design and filled it with more records than ever before.

New content areas include:


* FORENSIC SCIENCE: An insight into the real-life superlatives of the crime-scene investigators... A must for CSI fans!
* THE ENVIRONMENT: How real is the threat of global warming? A look at some of the recent environmental records...
* HEALTH OF THE NATION: We take a snapshot of human health today and ask: who's the fittest and who's the fattest?
* GAMES & PUZZLES: An interactive spread that allows you to test your smarts: from the first ever crossword question to the fastest sudoku, how will you fare?
* EPIC ENDEAVOURS: Our largest-ever celebration of the superheroes who head for the poles, scale the heights, cross the globe and probe the depths...
* TERRORISM & CONFLICT: Hard-hitting records and reportage on the deadliest threats to our modern society
* BRANDS & ADVERTISING: The biggest names and even bigger budgets behind the brands and adverts we're exposed to every day
* HOME ENTERTAINMENT and CONSUMER TECH: The gadgets and media that we simply can't live without - from the best-selling DVDs to the most powerful computer games consoles.

As well as all the updated annual favorites including; ACTION SPORTS, CUTTING EDGE SCIENCE, INCREDIBLE STUNTS and INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Guinness (August 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1904994199
• ISBN-13: 978-1904994190
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #82,269 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #37 in	Books > Reference > Almanacs & Yearbooks > Yearbooks & Annuals
  #41 in	Books > Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Trivia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Coffee-Table Material, September 9, 2007

By	Loyd E. Eskildson "Pragmatist" (Phoenix, AZ.) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"Guinness World Records 2008" doesn't have every record, by far. But we do learn how tall the tallest living man is (8' 5.5" - in the Ukraine), the most phone books torn in half within 3 minutes - 55, each 1,044 pages, the location of the largest void in deep space (700 million light years away, though the direction was not given), the most power particle accelerator (located in Switzerland, 16.7 miles long and requiring 120 MW of power and 91 tons of helium cooling), the largest HDTV screen (located at a Japanese race track (37'X218'), and of course the usual largest horse, chair, chopsticks, bed, etc., etc., etc.

Those wanting to start an argument can also find out which nation has the highest proportion of prisoners (the U.S. - about 7.4X the rate of most Western nations), while those setting career goals can determine eg. how long the longest-working accountant has been on the job - 78 years. And then there's no end of sports and strength records.

So, get your copy, display it proudly on the coffee-table (it's shiny), and read it whenever you get tired of watching TV.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I miss..., October 13, 2007

By	Reading Junkie (United States) - See all my reviews

I miss the old Guiness record books. The big, thick paperbacks from the 1970s and 1980s filled with words AND pictures. These new books are produced for a generation of page-flippers, not readers. And that is so disappointing.

Sure, it's a nice coffee-table book if you like those kinds of books. Many of us like books for the content, not the presentation. Substance more than style.

I wish Guiness would offer two versions: this version for the page flippers, and a more complete, thorough book for true fans of reading about world records.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Big,Awkward,Not Nearly The Detailed Info As The Paperbacks!, February 17, 2008

By	Chris H. "soblessed" (,OH,U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

I got this from my library,and was so dissapointed! The book is so big and awkward to hold,and the info is no where near as detailed as I remember the paperback editions being. They can keep their 'Glow In The Dark' issue,I'm not the least bit interested in this direction,these formerly great books are now headed.

I wouldn't want this book if it was given to me free,let alone consider buying it!