Getting Into Guinness : One Man's Longest, Fastest, Highest Journey Inside the World's Most Famous Record Book

A fascinating mix of participatory journalism and history, Getting Into Guinness is the never-before-told story of the bestselling copyrighted book of all time. Veteran reporter Larry Olmsted began a personal quest to break an existing world record, then to set another one, and soon he was fully immersed in the crazy and highly competitive world of record breaking. This is his behind-the-scenes report of the characters who created the famous record book and continue to make it wackier and wackier with every passing year. The enthralling 50-year history of the Guinness World Records is a story of phenomenal success, equally compelling failures, and extreme oddities. People all over the world strive to get into the book, often in the most unbelievable ways. Olmsted chronicles some of the funniest and most interesting Guinness record holders from a uniquely insider perspective: he himself is one of them. It all began with a gentleman's wager over which was the fastest game bird in Europe, the golden plover or the grouse. The attempt to answer this question has sold more than 100 million books in dozens of languages and every corner of the globe. Today, there is heated competition for the record to hold the most records (currently held by Ashrita Furman, 114 records and counting), as well as classic curiosities that have lasted for decades (the tallest man in history is still Robert Wadlow, at 8' 11"). Interwoven into all of this is Olmsted's account of his own two successful record-setting attempts, the first involving traveling halfway around the world with his golf shoes—"Greatest Distance Between Two Rounds of Golf on the Same Day"—and the second causing him to nearly lose his mind while playing the world's longest poker session. Why do people devote so much energy to get into the record book, often at great risk? Why do the most extreme fans devote their entire lives to this pursuit? Why is society so obsessed with records and record breaking? Why do Americans alone buy a million and a half copies of the famous book every year, propelling it to the top of the bestseller lists decade after decade? Why do readers of all generations remember the same record-holding icons, the fattest twins, the longest fingernails, and the tallest man? After his own journey inside the world of record breaking, these are the questions Olmsted attempts to answer. In the tradition of the bestselling Word Freak—a m?lange of travelogue, memoir, investigative journalism, and history—Getting Into Guinness is a must-read for anyone who has ever read Guinness World Records and wondered why someone would grow their fingernails for an entire lifetime.

a Fascinating Mix Of Participatory Journalism And History, getting Into Guinness Is The Never-before-told Story Of The Bestselling Copyrighted Book Of All Time. Veteran Reporter Larry Olmsted Began A Personal Quest To Break An Existing World Record, Then To Set Another One, And Soon He Was Fully Immersed In The Crazy And Highly Competitive World Of Record Breaking. This Is His Behind-the-scenes Report Of The Characters Who Created The Famous Record Book And Continue To Make It Wackier And Wackier With Every Passing Year.

the Enthralling 50-year History Of The Guinness World Records Is A Story Of Phenomenal Success, Equally Compelling Failures, And Extreme Oddities. People All Over The World Strive To Get Into The Book, Often In The Most Unbelievable Ways. Olmsted Chronicles Some Of The Funniest And Most Interesting Guinness Record Holders From A Uniquely Insider Perspective: He Himself Is One Of Them.

it All Began With A Gentleman's Wager Over Which Was The Fastest Game Bird In Europe, The Golden Plover Or The Grouse. The Attempt To Answer This Question Has Sold More Than 100 Million Books In Dozens Of Languages And Every Corner Of The Globe. Today, There Is Heated Competition For The Record To Hold The Most Records (currently Held By Ashrita Furman, 114 Records And Counting), As Well As Classic Curiosities That Have Lasted For Decades (the Tallest Man In History Is Still Robert Wadlow, At 8' 11). Interwoven Into All Of This Is Olmsted's Account Of His Own Two Successful Record-setting Attempts, The First Involving Traveling Halfway Around The World With His Golf Shoes—greatest Distance Between Two Rounds Of Golf On The Same Day—and The Second Causing Him To Nearly Lose His Mind While Playing The World's Longest Poker Session.

why Do People Devote So Much Energy To Get Into The Record Book, Often At Great Risk? Why Do The Most Extreme Fans Devote Their Entire Lives To This Pursuit? Why Is Society So Obsessed With Records And Record Breaking? Why Do Americans Alone Buy A Million And A Half Copies Of The Famous Book Every Year, Propelling It To The Top Of The Bestseller Lists Decade After Decade? Why Do Readers Of All Generations Remember The Same Record-holding Icons, The Fattest Twins, The Longest Fingernails, And The Tallest Man? After His Own Journey Inside The World Of Record Breaking, These Are The Questions Olmsted Attempts To Answer.

in The Tradition Of The Bestselling word Freak—a Mélange Of Travelogue, Memoir, Investigative Journalism, And History—getting Into Guinness Is A Must-read For Anyone Who Has Ever Read guinness World Records And Wondered Why Someone Would Grow Their Fingernails For An Entire Lifetime.

janet Ingraham Dwyer - Library Journal

freelance Journalist Olmsted Has Penned Thousands Of Articles In Publications From inc. To playboy, But He May Be Best Known For His Two Guinness World Records-playing Two Rounds Of Golf On Different Continents In One Day And Playing The Longest Poker Session. Here, He Interweaves The Stories Of His Successful Attempts With A History Of The Perennially Popular Record Book, From Its Genteel Genesis In An Unsettled Dispute Regarding The Fastest European Game Bird To Its Phenomenal Endurance And Allure As A Repository Of Odd Human Achievements. Olmsted Reintroduces Notable Record Holders Familiar To Browsers Of Guinness World Records Like Texas Snakeman Jackie Bibby, Tallest Human Robert Wadlow, And Prodigious Record Breaker Ashrita Furman. Guinness Garners Some Criticism For Media Manipulation And Nontransparent Inclusion Standards, And Its Record-pursuing Fans For Foolhardiness And Obsession. But, Overall, This Is An Unabashed Celebration By An Admirer That Will Be Enjoyed By All Who Find That The Image Of World's Fattest Twins Billy And Benny Mccrary On Their Motorcycles Springs Immediately To Mind At The Mention Of Their Names. Recommended For Public Libraries. (photographs And Index Not Seen.)

A fascinating mix of participatory journalism and history, Getting Into Guinness is the never-before-told story of the bestselling copyrighted book of all time. Veteran reporter Larry Olmsted began a personal quest to break an existing world record, then to set another one, and soon he was fully immersed in the crazy and highly competitive world of record breaking. This is his behind-the-scenes report of the characters who created the famous record book and continue to make it wackier and wackier with every passing year.The enthralling 50-year history of the Guinness World Records is a story of phenomenal success, equally compelling failures, and extreme oddities. People all over the world strive to get into the book, often in the most unbelievable ways. Olmsted chronicles some of the funniest and most interesting Guinness record holders from a uniquely insider perspective: he himself is one of them.It all began with a gentleman's wager over which was the fastest game bird in Europe, the golden plover or the grouse. The attempt to answer this question has sold more than 100 million books in dozens of languages and every corner of the globe. Today, there is heated competition for the record to hold the most records (currently held by Ashrita Furman, 114 records and counting), as well as classic curiosities that have lasted for decades (the tallest man in history is still Robert Wadlow, at 8' 11"). Interwoven into all of this is Olmsted's account of his own two successful record-setting attempts, the first involving traveling halfway around the world with his golf shoes—"Greatest Distance Between Two Rounds of Golf on the Same Day"—and the second causing him to nearly lose his mind while playing the world's longest poker session.Why do people devote so much energy to get into the record book, often at great risk? Why do the most extreme fans devote their entire lives to this pursuit? Why is society so obsessed with records and record breaking? Why do Americans alone buy a million and a half copies of the famous book every year, propelling it to the top of the bestseller lists decade after decade? Why do readers of all generations remember the same record-holding icons, the fattest twins, the longest fingernails, and the tallest man? After his own journey inside the world of record breaking, these are the questions Olmsted attempts to answer.In the tradition of the bestselling Word Freak—a melange of travelogue, memoir, investigative journalism, and history—Getting Into Guinness is a must-read for anyone who has ever read Guinness World Records and wondered why someone would grow their fingernails for an entire lifetime. A fascinating mix of participatory journalism and history, Getting Into Guinness is the never-before-told story of the bestselling copyrighted book of all time. Veteran reporter Larry Olmsted began a personal quest to break an existing world record, then to set another one, and soon he was fully immersed in the crazy and highly competitive world of record breaking. This is his behind-the-scenes report of the characters who created the famous record book and continue to make it wackier and wackier with every passing year. The enthralling 50-year history of the Guinness World Records is a story of phenomenal success, equally compelling failures, and extreme oddities. People all over the world strive to get into the book, often in the most unbelievable ways. Olmsted chronicles some of the funniest and most interesting Guinness record holders from a uniquely insider he himself is one of them. It all began with a gentleman's wager over which was the fastest game bird in Europe, the golden plover or the grouse. The attempt to answer this question has sold more than 100 million books in dozens of languages and every corner of the globe. Today, there is heated competition for the record to hold the most records (currently held by Ashrita Furman, 114 records and counting), as well as classic curiosities that have lasted for decades (the tallest man in history is still Robert Wadlow, at 8' 11"). Interwoven into all of this is Olmsted's account of his own two successful record-setting attempts, the first involving traveling halfway around the world with his golf shoes"Greatest Distance Between Two Rounds of Golf on the Same Day"and the second causing him to nearly lose his mind while playing the world's longest poker session. Why do people devote so much energy to get into the record book, often at great risk? Why do the most extreme fans devote their entire lives to this pursuit? Why is society so obsessed with records and record breaking? Why do Americans alone buy a million and a half copies of the famous book every year, propelling it to the top of the bestseller lists decade after decade? Why do readers of all generations remember the same record-holding icons, the fattest twins, the longest fingernails, and the tallest man? After his own journey inside the world of record breaking, these are the questions Olmsted attempts to answer. In the tradition of the bestselling Word Freak a mlange of travelogue, memoir, investigative journalism, and history Getting Into Guinness is a must-read for anyone who has ever read Guinness World Records and wondered why someone would grow their fingernails for an entire lifetime. When Larry Olmstead decided to get into Guinness by setting a new world record, he began to wonder about all those people who had gone before him. Now a household name, The Guinness Book Of World Records has a rich and varied history full of hilarious record breaking attempts and fiercely determined people. For more than 50 years, tens of thousands of records have been set ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. Now, for the first time, Larry Olmstead takes you behind the records to learn about the colourful characters who set them. Meet the Frenchman Michael Lotito who won the title of greatest omnivore for his ability to eat up to 2 pounds of metal a day (he's even eaten a supermarket trolley) or find out about the oldest vomit (160 million years)! This is the hilarious true story of the quirkiest, most memorable records and one man's attempts to join them by setting his very own world record Recounts the author's journey into the culture of the "Guinness World Records" and his own haphazard and successful attempts to break two records; profiles some of the book's funniest and most interesting records Title from PDF title page (viewed on Nov. 13, 2008).