Guinness World Records 2008

Craig Glenday

Bantam Books, Apr 29, 2008 - Reference - 611 pages

A double back-spin on a motorcycle - ane elephant with a wooden leg - an apple the size of your head, the 'Guinness World Records!' The book offers more diversity, from endeavors in science and technology, entertainment, and sports to the exceptional wonders of the natural and man-made world. Discover the facts of life on Earth-and beyond-as never before. At 114 years 24 days, Yoneko Minagawa of Japan is the worldís oldest living person, following the death of the USAís Emma Faust Tillman in 2007. The largest commercially available burger is 78lb. 8 oz., available at Bobís BBQ and Grill at Pattaya Beach in Chonbur, Thailand. To date, the fastest finishing is eight hours. The longest swim under ice with breath held goes to Win Hof of the Netherlands. Wearing only bathing trunks and goggles, Hof swam 188 ft. 7in. under ice in just 1 minute 1 second. To do so, he endured a water temperature of 21.2 degrees F (-6C). And thatís just a taste of whatís inside this book, filled with photos, exclusive interviews-and information about how to become a record breaker yourself.

Contents

• Deep Space: 3
• Dynamic Solar System: 6
• Planets: 10
• PLANET EARTH: 17
• Atmosphere: 19
• Earth: 24
• Environment: 32
• Frigid Earth: 36
• Blue Planet: 41
• LIFE ON EARTH: 47
• North America: 49
• South America: 54
• Africa: 66
• Oceania: 70
• At the Poles: 75
• Guinness World Records Day 2006: 80
• Light Fantastic: 89
• Adrenaline Junkies: 93
• HUMAN BEINGS: 99
• Anatomical Anomalies: 101
• Life Stories: 105
• Medical Miracles: 109
• Health Fitness: 113
• FANTASTIC FEATS: 119
• Young Achievers: 121
• Endurance Marathons: 125
• Superhuman Strength: 129
• Survival Instinct: 133
• Unusual Skills: 138
• Trivial Pursuits: 142
• Exceptional Exploits: 146
• Teamwork: 150
• Mass Participation: 155
• EPIC ENDEAVORS: 161
• Crossing the Seas: 163
• Reaching the Poles: 166
• Scaling the Heights: 171
• Circumnavigating the Globe: 175
• Probing the Depths: 179
• MODERN SOCIETY: 183
• Mans Best Friend: 185
• Food Drink: 190
• Gross Gastronomy: 194
• Games Puzzles: 197
• Collections: 202
• Playtime: 206
• Garden Giants: 210
• Work Employment: 215
• Cults Fans Followers: 219
• Festivals: 223
• Business Finance: 228
• Super Rich: 232
• Politics: 237
• Terrorism Conflict: 241
• Weapons: 245
• Animals: 249
• Awesome Anatomy: 255
• Olympic Hall of Fame: 258
• SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY: 267
• Cuttingedge Science: 269
• Science: 273
• Forensic Science: 278
• Space Technology: 282
• Consumer Technology: 286
• Robots: 290
• Internet: 294
• Video Games: 299
• ARTS MEDIA: 305
• Movie Stars: 307
• Boxoffice Blockbusters: 311
• World Cinema: 315
• Movie Production: 319
• Pop Culture: 323
• Art Sculpture: 328
• Music: 332
• Song Dance: 341
• TV Shows: 345
• TV Stars: 351
• Performance Arts: 354
• Advertising: 359
• Colossal Constructions: 365
• Enormous Engineering: 369
• Underground: 374
• Supersize: 378
• Vehicles: 382
• Vehicle Skills: 388
• Military Hardware: 392
• Roller Coasters: 397
• SPORTS: 403
• Action Sports: 405
• Football: 408
• Track Field: 413
• Auto Sports: 423
• Ball Sports: 431
• Baseball: 440
• Basketball: 444
• Combat Sports: 449
• Cricket: 453
• Cycling: 458
• Fishing: 462
• Soccer: 466
• Golf: 477
• Ice Hockey: 481
• Rugby: 486
• Target Sports: 490
• Tennis Racket Sports: 495
• Unusual Sports: 499
• Watersports: 504
• Wild West Arts: 514
• Winter Sports: 518
• Games: 522
• Sports Reference: 528
• Index: 569
• Acknowledgments: 603
• Picture Credits: 607
• Stop Press: 613

Bibliographic information

• Title: Guinness World Records 2008; Guinness Book of Records Series
• Editor: Craig Glenday
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Bantam Books, 2008
• ISBN: 0553589954, 9780553589955
• Length: 611 pages
• Subjects: Reference / Curiosities & Wonders