Guinness World Records 2018 by Guinness World Records

Guinness World Records, 2017. ISBN 9781910561713
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. The Guinness World Records series needs no introduction and Guinness World Records 2018 continues with the production of a fascinating, exceptionally well produced and interesting book. The amazing records that it contains will keep a reader interested for hours and it is fun to dip in and out of the book to see what incredible feats have been achieved. There are '45,000 claims researched, 3,000 new and updated records published, 1,000 photographs sourced, 60 exclusive photoshoots attended', so there are an enormous number of records to dazzle the reader.
For those who want to know specific information, there is a Contents page which has twelve sections, including Earth, Animals, Superhumans, Adventures, Sci-Tech and Engineering and Sports. An index highlights main entries in bold and is quite comprehensive. Eye-catching full-colour photos accompany the entries, which are written in short crisp language.
A special feature chapter in the 2018 edition is the section on superheroes, which chronicles the rise of the superhero in popular culture. There is also a new feature that celebrates absolutes such as the longest, tallest, fastest and heaviest and it is possible to download free posters with these records on them from the World Guinness records site.
This volume will have readers squabbling over who can read it and is one that can be shared as well. Adults will also find themselves entertained by the amazing feats recorded and some people will have a look at what is necessary to make a record.
Pat Pledger