Rating: 
Summary: Modernized and Entertaining
Review:
I've seen the comments about the "sad decline" and I do not agree. I found the hard cover book not only entertaining and well-structured, but it did something even more important: got my third grader to read it cover to cover.
I can see where there is a need for both this kind of entertaining "just the highlights" kind of book, and a second more detailed less illustrated book--that is for the publisher to decide. For myself, this version is modern, entertaining, and therefore it draws the reader in. Glad we bought it.
Rating:
Summary: Modernized and Entertaining
Review:
I've seen the comments about the "sad decline" and I do not agree. I found the hard cover book not only entertaining and well-structured, but it did something even more important: got my third grader to read it cover to cover.
I can see where there is a need for both this kind of entertaining "just the highlights" kind of book, and a second more detailed less illustrated book--that is for the publisher to decide. For myself, this version is modern, entertaining, and therefore it draws the reader in. Glad we bought it.
Rating: 
Summary: I miss the old one
Review: I grew up on the Guinness Book of World Records, and loved it. I'd devour each new edition, from cover to cover. I love facts and inane trivia, and the Guinness Book was made for people like me. The "Guinness World Records"- what these books have become- is not the same book. It is mostly pictures, and filled with obscure records like how many straws one can fit in a mouth. I am interested in records like the earliest dinosaur or the largest construction project- not records that are there only because someone wanted to have a record and fame, and have no other practical purpose. I give it two stars because some of these old records- the kind that really matter- are still present. But the new format of the book seems to be so filled with pictures that there is no room for many important records, and hence much is missing. What is present seemed to be editorialized, supporting the West in it's "war" on terrorism in many sections, showing only those aspects that support America and Britain, ignoring their faults or any mention of 9/11. Whether or not this is laudable, it is inappropriate in a completely factual text. There is now an entire section devoted to the military, as opposed to the military being a subsection of the human world in the 2001 and 1998 editions- back when the pictures were black and white and the book was full of records. Even since the 2001 edition (also pictoralized) the Table of Contents has become more cursory- you have to look in the Index to find any group of records beyond the broadest. Now, when I want to find a record, I go back to 1998, as I still have that copy. If I want to see pretty pictures and the occasional updated record, I'll look at this new edition.
Rating:
Summary: I miss the old one
Review: I grew up on the Guinness Book of World Records, and loved it. I'd devour each new edition, from cover to cover. I love facts and inane trivia, and the Guinness Book was made for people like me. The "Guinness World Records"- what these books have become- is not the same book. It is mostly pictures, and filled with obscure records like how many straws one can fit in a mouth. I am interested in records like the earliest dinosaur or the largest construction project- not records that are there only because someone wanted to have a record and fame, and have no other practical purpose. I give it two stars because some of these old records- the kind that really matter- are still present. But the new format of the book seems to be so filled with pictures that there is no room for many important records, and hence much is missing. What is present seemed to be editorialized, supporting the West in it's "war" on terrorism in many sections, showing only those aspects that support America and Britain, ignoring their faults or any mention of 9/11. Whether or not this is laudable, it is inappropriate in a completely factual text. There is now an entire section devoted to the military, as opposed to the military being a subsection of the human world in the 2001 and 1998 editions- back when the pictures were black and white and the book was full of records. Even since the 2001 edition (also pictoralized) the Table of Contents has become more cursory- you have to look in the Index to find any group of records beyond the broadest. Now, when I want to find a record, I go back to 1998, as I still have that copy. If I want to see pretty pictures and the occasional updated record, I'll look at this new edition.
Rating: 
Summary: As always.....
Review: I have always liked the Guinness series...to see what new records have been made. Now, though, with this 2003 edition, the pictures are even better, and the kind of record attempts are much more varied. Great new medical technology, as well as other revolutionary findings are revealed in this book. There's so much interesting information...you will read it many times over, to be sure!
Rating:
Summary: Fairly Okay
Review: I liked the book especially the parts about the highest land speed. It's more informative than the last one, but I don't think the pictures explained enough just by looking, whereas the last one did.
Rating:
Summary: Changing in style but still good
Review: i've been a regular Guinness reader. i bought my first book last 1990 (1990 edition) and been buying every edition since then. i disagree with the notion that the later editions were getting "bland" or "stale". maybe because everyone is expecting new fan-favorite records being broken in every edition which won't happen anytime soon (tallest human, heaviest man, etc.)... i like the way the editions are being arranged. it's actually keeping up with the modern way of presenting materials.
Rating:
Summary: Changing in style but still good
Review: i've been a regular Guinness reader. i bought my first book last 1990 (1990 edition) and been buying every edition since then. i disagree with the notion that the later editions were getting "bland" or "stale". maybe because everyone is expecting new fan-favorite records being broken in every edition which won't happen anytime soon (tallest human, heaviest man, etc.)... i like the way the editions are being arranged. it's actually keeping up with the modern way of presenting materials.
Rating: 
Summary: A sad shadow of its former self, and a pathetic joke
Review: In 2001 this book was sold to the Henson Entertainment Group. Their target market is the 8 to 13-year olds, and that's exactly where this book seems to be aimed. One can argue forever about the records that should or should not be included, but the book has gone tragically downmarket in its attempt to appeal to prepubescent boys. 'Hard-core' records are dumped in favour of pictures of half-dressed young things from pop shows. I'm as happy to look at a young belly-button as the next middle-aged man; but not here, please. In the 1996 edition there were six records about dams, and an interesting table ranking the world's greatest disasters. I can't find 'dam' in the current edition's index, and there is no mention of the great plague or influenza epidemic. ... A fine book for any male who has not experienced pubic hair, but not for the rest of the planet looking for authoritative information about meaningful achievements. No, Guinness, I do not regard accumulation of belly-button lint as a meaningful accomplishment. They should leave this stuff to Ripley's, who do it much better, without the pretence of claiming to be a serious work of reference.
Rating:
Summary: Setting the record straight...
Review: The 2003 edition of the Guiness Book of World Records is definitely one for the internet-surfing age. It has pieces of information is byte-sized and bright-coloured boxes -- one almost wants to click on the pages of the book. Unlike older versions of this book from days of yore, it is not a 'dictionary' of facts. This is printed on glossy, full-colour process paper and inks, full-colour and fascinating photographs on every page, both as highlighted items as well as background/'desktop' images. Unique to this edition is an introduction that has 'the best of the best', records that are new and include everything from top-grossing animated films (which has, ironically, been surpassed since the printing), and what had to have been a last minute edit regarding Britain's Queen Mother, as the oldest royal. There is a brief section up front on how to set your own record, as well as what it takes to document the setting or breaking of a record. Also included here is some criteria for what makes the cut in the print edition of the record book -- be warned, just as this is not the dictionary-variety edition of old, it is also not encyclopedic. It is a selection of records, but not the complete record. More records are kept on file, and plans are that different records are to be published each year; other records may be accessed online. This book starts with the main section on Human Achievement -- this is a nod of honour and recognition to those who set records during the 9-11 disaster; not all records are happy ones (as in, greatest number of firefighters lost during a single incident). Human Achievement is a separate category from sports -- that comes at the end, and is greatly expanded in this edition (as those tend to be the most popular, and to a certain extent, the most record-prone endeavours). Included here is the standard fare of buildings and architecture (tallest building, smallest church, etc.), natural world (highest mountain, deepest ocean chasm), entertainment, money, politics, etc. A new-ish section is on military issues -- this included weaponry and armaments, people and their actions, battles (longest, shortest), ships, planes, personnel and numbers statistics. Again, given the frequency of wars in the media, this section is here by 'popular' demand. There is a useful index, should the basic categorisation fail. While I like the layout and design of this volume, and in particular the photographs and full-colour feel, I regret the loss of countless types of records. Who was the most miserly? Who has done the most sit-ups? Alas, you won't find those here -- of course, they are available online, for those who have such access. All in all, it is a fun book to have -- this hard-back is more impressive to look at that its predecessors, in any event. And who isn't fascinated by at least one record?
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