Guinness World Records 2003: With Over 1000 Amazing New Records

by Guinness World Records

Book Overview

The world's bestselling authority on astonishing facts and unparalleled human achievements--completely revised and updated for 2003! From the world's fastest speed skater to the world's fastest snail,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1892051176
• ISBN13: 9781892051172
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: Guinness Media
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 3.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 8.9" x 11.9"

Customer Reviews

**Discover the beauty of Fact**

Guinness Book of World Records 2003The book is full of facts from front to back.Facts that are weird.Facts that are wonderful.But, one thing that all the facts have in common is that they are records... world records!You may already be convinced that the 2003 edition of this well-known saga is not for you. Afterall, you may not like fact books. If this is the case, it is not a problem. This is because GBOWR2003 (you must have expected me to abbreviate sometime!) is a book known in the book industry as a `coffee-table' book.A `coffee-table' book is a term used to describe a book that is far too big in size that it can neither fit into a handbag nor a briefcase and is a book that is far too heavy that it is unlikely to be carried around quite as easily as that Austen's or Dicken's novel that fits so snugly into your coat pocket. Instead, `coffee-table' books have only one place in the home. And, yes, you guessed it... on the coffee table! For those of you without a coffee-table, do not feel alienated; I have found placing it on the living-room bookshelf serves the purpose just as well. Thus, we have established that GBOWR2003 is a `coffee-table' book. But, this does not help those amongst you who although you may enjoy your coffee, do not share the same enjoyment for fact books. Thus, why do I believe it is essential that you should have a copy in your home?GBOWR2003 is not a fiction book. The book is free from having either a beginning, middle, or an end. I will be the first to admit that GBOWR2003 is not a book that can be read from cover to cover... but nor is it meant to be. Indeed, I find that the most enjoyable way of reading/browsing through the book is to get the book, close my eyes, pick a page at random with my fingers, and then finally let a fact leap out at me from the page. And, the fact always seems to have the same effect. It is a fact that seems to always astonish, sometimes shock, but never ceases to amaze.In fact, why not let me give it a go now?Getting the book...Closing my eyes...Picking a page...And, the fact is... (Drumroll)"Keenest Vision:It has been calculated that large birds of prey have the keenest vision. They can detect a target object at a distance three or more times further than that achieved by humans. Under ideal conditions a peregrine falcon can spot a pigeon at a range of over 8km/5miles."5 miles! There you go. What did I tell ya? Amazing! Right?Still not convinced.What if I tell you that the 2003 edition of this popular series has undergone some major improvements. Because the content of each edition is pretty much the same year in and year out; the only differentiating factor between them is the type of format used to present these world records. And, in my view the 2003 edition has hit the nail on the head. Improvement 1: The CoverFirst and foremost, the cover is one of the best ones I have seen to date. I know what most of you are thinking because I am thinking it too ("Do not judge a book by its cover"). Ind

Setting the record straight...

The 2003 edition of the Guiness Book of World Records is definitely one for the internet-surfing age. It has pieces of information is byte-sized and bright-coloured boxes -- one almost wants to click on the pages of the book. Unlike older versions of this book from days of yore, it is not a 'dictionary' of facts. This is printed on glossy, full-colour process paper and inks, full-colour and fascinating photographs on every page, both as highlighted items as well as background/'desktop' images. Unique to this edition is an introduction that has 'the best of the best', records that are new and include everything from top-grossing animated films (which has, ironically, been surpassed since the printing), and what had to have been a last minute edit regarding Britain's Queen Mother, as the oldest royal. There is a brief section up front on how to set your own record, as well as what it takes to document the setting or breaking of a record. Also included here is some criteria for what makes the cut in the print edition of the record book -- be warned, just as this is not the dictionary-variety edition of old, it is also not encyclopedic. It is a selection of records, but not the complete record. More records are kept on file, and plans are that different records are to be published each year; other records may be accessed online. This book starts with the main section on Human Achievement -- this is a nod of honour and recognition to those who set records during the 9-11 disaster; not all records are happy ones (as in, greatest number of firefighters lost during a single incident). Human Achievement is a separate category from sports -- that comes at the end, and is greatly expanded in this edition (as those tend to be the most popular, and to a certain extent, the most record-prone endeavours). Included here is the standard fare of buildings and architecture (tallest building, smallest church, etc.), natural world (highest mountain, deepest ocean chasm), entertainment, money, politics, etc. A new-ish section is on military issues -- this included weaponry and armaments, people and their actions, battles (longest, shortest), ships, planes, personnel and numbers statistics. Again, given the frequency of wars in the media, this section is here by 'popular' demand.There is a useful index, should the basic categorisation fail. While I like the layout and design of this volume, and in particular the photographs and full-colour feel, I regret the loss of countless types of records. Who was the most miserly? Who has done the most sit-ups? Alas, you won't find those here -- of course, they are available online, for those who have such access.All in all, it is a fun book to have -- this hard-back is more impressive to look at that its predecessors, in any event. And who isn't fascinated by at least one record?

Modernized and Entertaining

I've seen the comments about the "sad decline" and I do not agree. I found the hard cover book not only entertaining and well-structured, but it did something even more important: got my third grader to read it cover to cover.I can see where there is a need for both this kind of entertaining "just the highlights" kind of book, and a second more detailed less illustrated book--that is for the publisher to decide. For myself, this version is modern, entertaining, and therefore it draws the reader in. Glad we bought it.

Fairly Okay

I liked the book especially the parts about the highest land speed. It's more informative than the last one, but I don't think the pictures explained enough just by looking, whereas the last one did.

As always.....

I have always liked the Guinness series...to see what new records have been made. Now, though, with this 2003 edition, the pictures are even better, and the kind of record attempts are much more varied. Great new medical technology, as well as other revolutionary findings are revealed in this book. There's so much interesting information...you will read it many times over, to be sure!