In 1951 Sir Hugh Beaver, the managing director of Guinness Brewery was at a party when a debate broke out. The question? Which is Europe’s fastest game bird? No one could find an answer not even in reference books. That’s when Sir Hugh got an idea: what if there was a book that could settle debates like this, especially in pubs where these arguments were common?

To make it happen he got Norris and Ross McWhirter, twin brothers known for their knack for fact-finding, to compile the records. What started as a free promotional giveaway for Guinness customers turned into something much bigger. The first edition released on August 27, 1955, was packed with fascinating records about nature, human achievements, and random curiosities. It was an hit, becoming a bestseller and evolving into the Guinness World Records.

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