Guinness World Records 2007 by Guinness World Records Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Guinness World Records 2007
Book Review: Guiness World Records - 2007
Summary: 5 Stars
Overall, this work is perfect for the student in your house. It has a
plethora of subjects ranging from pop culture to the most discriminating
scientific facts imaginable. Here are some of the more notable frames:
- a flexman with almost perfect flexibility of the upper back and torso
- Jeanne Calment born 2-21-1875 and lived to 8-4-1997
- Iszumi, the oldest man living to age 120 and born in 1865
- the life expectancy of Andorra at 83+ years
- the Orion Nebula which is the brightest in the sky
- the stretchiest skin on any living human being
- the Grand Canyon extending from the Marble Gorge to the Grand Wash Cliffs
- Mt. Nyiragongo in Congo with an active lava lake
- the Green Great Wall which is a 2783 mile belt of forest preserve
due to be completed by mid-century
- the deepest cave Krubera
- 136 degrees which is the highest temperature ever recorded
The work represents a fair cross-section of the world's most little
known facts and/or trendy trivia. Some reviewers were offended by a few
pop culture references. The presentation should reflect contemporary society comprehensively. Overall, the acquisition is a good value for
the price charged. As an experienced lecturer at the collegiate level,
I don't think parents can insulate young adults from the forces which shape the world around them.
Book Review: Fun Reading
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm giving this book four out of five stars because the vast majority of the material is interesting, not the least offensive, and gets kids to read. The one picture of Janet and Justin shows less skin than many pictures of the athletes. Yes, it was a poor choice in topic by Guinness and they need to be made aware they are pandering to the lowest common denominator there (and we don't appreciate it), BUT overall, the book simply acknowledges the huge variety of life to be found on this planet. I do agree a better title would be something like Guinness Guide to the Weird and Extreme.
As a school librarian who sees kids in grades 7-12, I am more than happy to continue to provide Guinness World Record books to students. They really DO get kids reading when they otherwise simply check out and return a book just to keep a teacher from nagging at them. If parents and/or students find something offensive, they can simply return the book to the library, mention their concerns (and possibly remove similar titles from their OWN child's list of allowed books) and get something else. One little group of parents do NOT have the right to tell all other parents/grandparents/guardians what their kids can or cannot read, and there is NO doubt in my mind whatsoever that the overwhelming majority of parents will not find this book objectionable. Certainly, there are many examples here of people who would obviously benefit from mental help, but these are stories about things and people who are different in form and thought, not morally warped. The people that truly scare me are the ones who think kids need to be stuck in boxes and totally isolated from anyone who doesn't think like their parents do. How on earth does a child learn to make decisions that are in her/his/everyone's best interest if her caregivers attempt to remove even the most MINOR examples of poor values (like the ones in this book--we're not talking murder and mayhem here) from her life and refuse to talk about them? To some degree, we learn good by comparing it to bad. The best thing to do if you are concerned about what a kid is reading/viewing/living is to TALK to him about it...not put blinders on him and refuse to allow him any exposure to the rest of the world. Really, people, there is NOTHING pornographic in this book unless warped little minds make it so.
Book Review: If only they hadn't included the Jackson/Timberlake photo
Summary: 3 Stars
My kids love the World record books but this one is suitable only for older kids. C'mon folks, leave out the racey photos. A little common sense would have gone a long way here. The cover is way cool, though. Book Review: some pictures not suitable for kids
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought this for my 9 year old without looking at it. There is a picture of Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake and the wardrobe malfunction. When did that become a world record? I wish I hadn't bought this.Book Review: A tragic decline
Summary: 2 Stars
No longer intended to be a comprehensive reference, the Guinness Book is now a sort of compilation of interesting superlatives with oversized pictures and many features that aren't even actual records ("Most Overrated Celebrity"). If you're going to do this, why not offer one edition that plays it by the book?
So dies a noble institution.