Guinness Book of World Records

How did the Guinness Book of World Records start?

On 10th November 1951, Sir Hugh Beaver, the Managing Director of Guinness brewery, once went to a shooting party somewhere in Ireland. He happened to get into an argument with a friend about which was the fastest game bird in Europe. Was it the Golden Plover or was it the Grouse? This question went unanswered. The same evening, at the Cambridge House, he realized that it was difficult to conclude which bird was actually the fastest, as there was no reference book which gave any further explanation.
Sir Beaver thought that there was no way to settle such arguments about records which take place in the various pubs across England & Ireland. He thus realized the need for a book which could answer such questions and knew that it would soon become popular. His idea became a reality with a friend when a Guinness employee, Christopher Chataway introduced him to Norris and Ross McWhirter who ran a fact finding agency in London. The brothers were commissioned to compile what became The Guinness Book of World Records in August 1954. One thousand copies were printed and given away. And the rest is history.
As a matter of fact, the world record for being the most stolen book from public libraries is the Guinness Book of World Records!

image courtesy: guinnessworldrecords.com