Guiness World Records - Daredevils

I'm not really a TV fan but ,the other day, the Greek show on Guiness World Records caught my eye. I was shocked at what people can do in order to gain a place in the Guiness World Records! I was so impressed that I surfed the Internet to find out more. Here's what I stumbled upon:

Sir Hugh Beaver - an Englishman - was the creator of the Guiness Book of Records.  In November 1951, Beaver, then the managing director of the Guinness Brewery, went on a shooting party in North Slob, by the River Slaney in County Wexford, Ireland. He became involved in an argument: which was the fastest game bird in Europe, the Golden Plover or the Grouse? That evening at Castlebridge House it was realised that it was not possible to confirm in reference books whether or not the Golden Plover was Europe's fastest game bird.

Beaver thought that there must be numerous other questions debated nightly in the 81,400 pubs in Britain and in Ireland, but there was no book with which to settle arguments about records. He realised then that a book supplying the answers to this sort of question might prove popular. He happened to be correct.

Beaver’s idea became reality when Guinness employee Christopher Chataway recommended University friends Norris and Ross McWhirter, who had been running a fact-finding agency in London. The brothers were commissioned to compile what became The Guinness Book of Records in August 1954. A thousand copies were printed and given away

After founding the Guinness Book of Records at 107 Fleet Street, the first 198 page edition was bound on 27 August 1955 and went to the top of the British best seller lists by Christmas. "It was a marketing give away - it wasn't supposed to be a money maker" said Beaver. The following year it launched in the USA, and sold 70,000 copies. Since then, Guinness World Records has become a household name and the global leader in world records. The book has gone on to become a record breaker in its own right, with sales of more than 100 million copies in 100 different countries and 37 languages, Guinness World Records is the world’s best ever selling copyright book.

 

Having watched the video above I was simply amazed by all these crazy things people are willing to do for just a single moment of fleeting glory: driving a motorcycle through a tunnel of fire was described as "the raw courage of a man".  And here are some other recent records such as most bees on a human being, highest stackline walk (what a daredevil that man was!), world's smallest waist, world's biggest wave surfed. I'm not a daredevil as I don't think taking risks is doing something intelligent or great! But when I was 18, back in 1976 when I first met Alkis, he talked me into posing on the edge of a cliff in Fribourg , Switzerland, just to have our photograph taken!!

Alkis and me posing for a photograph at the edge of a cliff in Fribourg, Switzerland - Aug 1976

But Alkis had broken a kind of record a few days before. He had climbed Fribourg's tallest bare tree!  Such a pity it wasn't the world's tallest biggest bare tree!

Alkis climbing Fribourg's tallest bare tree - August 1976

What's the most dangerous or adventurous thing you have ever done? 

Comments

[Christina]

Wow! Alkis looks so cool and proud of himself to have conquered the tope of that tree. I'm not a daredevil but I guess some adventure adds spice to life.

[Lakis Ioannou]

As a young man, I used to be quite adventurous. After I graduated from the Metsovio Polytechnic in Athens, I decided to travel solo all over Europe by hitch-hiking with only $100 in my pocket. I stayed a couple of days in a place where I worked here and there to earn some money for my next trip. I only took the boat - the hovercraft in those days - from Calai, France to Dover England.

[Agnes]

I met this guy who has two or three guinness world records (all for silly but fun things). He is quite a character I tell you :-)

[Lisa A]

Buonasera Anastasia. Sometimes, I like to watch Guiness World Records for the fun. But I agree, is amazing what people can do for that. And so crazy and dangerous things. I have one question. What means daredevil?

[Laura]

My grandmother, who is almost 90, had the honour to meet Sir Hugh Beaver in 1954. She is also the proud owner of the first edition of the Guiness Book of Records which had been given to her for free.

[Stefania]

I think Alkis could have broken a kind of record as the man who climbed the tallest tree in the area dressed in a suit and ordinary shoes! :-)

[Sophia]

As a war correspondent, going to the most conflict-ridden parts of the world in order to provide a story for my channel - accounts, photos, film footage- is both adventurous and dangerous. The funny thing is that I love this job!

[Alexia M]

The most adventurous thing I have ever done was taking a vacation in your beautiful country, then giving up my job in the Netherlands and deciding to live and work in Cyprus for 2 years. Feeding a dolphin in Paphos, eating frogs legs in South France, driving in India, swimming in the Blue Caves of Zakynthos and joining Yahoo 360 in 2004 are only a few of my adventures. :-) I also enjoy watching Guiness World Records. We got a record for tappling the most dominoes as shown in the video. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to seeing you and Alkis in September.

[Anastasia]

Lisa, a daredevil is someone who likes doing dangerous things.

[Jeff]

Mountain biking on Grand Canyon or catching sunlight anywhere across the Himalayas are the most adventurous things I've done in addition to being a parent!

[Andy]

Skydiving, ziplining and rock climbing in Thailand.

[Haruko N]

While I was watching the video, I was wondering why these people feel so excited when told "you are in Guiness records". Most people do silly things like eating worms, or having the most bees on their body... I know that they don't get money for their records. Anyway, I have never done anything dangerous in my life so far. I prefer the safe side of things.

[Karolina]

Jumping off the ferry from Volos to Santorini while still a teenager. I had to to keep swimming for 6 hours until a fisherman picked me up. My parents were so relieved that they forgot to be angry!

[Constantinos T]

Conquering Mytikas, Mount Olympus' highest peak was perhaps the most dangerous and adventurous thing I've ever done. Mount Olympus has 52 peaks, Mytikas, meaning nose, rises to 2,917 metres (9,570 ft)

[Walid]

Habebti.
Hello.I came to know about Guinness Book of Records I was very young may be eight years old when I first saw it at home year 1957 I guess.
In fact it was as far as I can remember the third on the shelf of the family library.A hard cover which was heavier than the papers in it.
My adventure was.Giving the minister of extender affair of a country I was living in a copy. It had where I marked .
The biggest bribe ever offered to ????? in the year 1958 and the ruler refused it.He went to the ruler to show him what was written about him.
The Minister came back home with a smile on his face thanking me for what I gave him .I am off to my family home now to take care of my kids and family. Thank you Walid .
It was his resignation.This happened by early 80s.God Bless.

[Walid]

Habebti.
Very beautiful pictures you have here.
By the way Lebanon has 25 records .Some are twin records as the largest Clay plate and what is in it.God Bless.

[Anastasia]

Thank you for sharing your experience of the Guiness Book of Records. Very interesting!
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