Guinness Book of World Records a Useful Resource

One of the first books I ever bought, The Guinness Book of World Records - 1992 edition, is still, in my mind, the most informative and entertaining among those that sit on my book shelves.  Where else can one turn to when they want to know the height of the tallest person (8' 11", Robert Waldo), the maximum combined length of finger nails on one hand (181 inches, Shridhar Chillal), and the maximum g-force experienced by any bird (10g's, when the red-headed woodpecker strikes a tree)?

Well, I suppose one could turn to Google, but performing such searches would be much more arduous.  Also, no one would even think to search for most of the endeavours described in the Guinness Book.  In fact, much of the fun in flipping through this record book is had by marveling at some of the most bizarre records it contains, such as the longest leapfrogged distance (888.1 miles by 14 members of a high school class during a 189-hour and 49-minute span).   

From business to the arts, science to sports, anything that has a maximum or minimum is likely captured within those 833 pages.  And, I would go so far as to say that The Guinness Book of World Records is a vital tool for all engineers.  Let me explain...