Name: How Guinness World Records began seven decades ago
Uploaded: 2025-11-19T15:23:36.579Z
Duration: 3 min 30 s
Description: Guinness World Records has been tracking records for 70 years. Nancy Chen reports on how it got started, how records are set and some of the people achieving the feats.

Guinness World Records has been tracking records for 70 years. Nancy Chen reports on how it got started, how records are set and some of the people achieving the feats.

London

Guinness World Records, which began seven decades ago in the United Kingdom as a book to resolve pub disputes, has evolved into a global institution. Today, it boasts over 68,000 active records, has sold more than 155 million books in over 40 languages, and features a wide range of record categories, from athletic feats to unusual accomplishments.

The process of setting or breaking a record involves strict verification by a team of adjudicators, with records ranging from mass participation events to individual achievements. Experts advise those attempting records to approach the challenge with enthusiasm and thorough preparation, emphasizing the fun and dedication involved in becoming 'officially amazing.'

How Guinness World Records began seven decades ago

You're officially amazing. You are officially amazing. You are officially amazing. These are the words people hear when they achieve a Guinness World Records title. I'm my highest self when I'm going for lunges. Something trainer Austin Head has heard himself. What does it mean to say you are a Guinness World Record holder times two? To have a world record in itself is so amazing. Never did I think I would have two world records. It almost gives me belief in myself. In 2024, Head earned the title and a spot in the Guinness World Records book for most lunges in an hour. But he also set the record for the farthest distance traveled by lunge in one hour while training for his attempt. What was that moment like when you opened the book and you saw your name in there? I was like, this is amazing. I'm on page six, but right when you get through it, right above me is Michael Emprich, the famous judge, and then Dolly Parton. So me and Dolly are best friends. Wow. You are in the history books with Dolly Parton. With Dolly Parton. It started 70 years ago as a book of facts to settle arguments in pubs in the United Kingdom. Now it's turned into an international phenomenon. Guinness World Records has sold more than 155 million books in over 40 languages. There are more than 68,000 active record titles. Records range from as simple as the tallest teenager in the world to Morsani once, the most light aircraft pulled by walking on hands, fastest time to type the alphabet with the nose, and most dice stacked with one foot in one minute. Editor-in-chief Craig Glenday and 81 adjudicators around the world review and verify every record. We're here today for an official Guinness World Records attempt for the longest indoor multi-level go-kart track. Andy Glass is one of 10 in North America. We were there on Long Island in New York when he judged this indoor go-kart racing attempt. Sir, for this record title, there were a few things that I was looking for. We had to have a measurement professional measure the track, and I have certified that their measurement is valid, and I've confirmed a total measurement of 1,071.6 meters, which has now set the new Guinness World Records title. Glass has been judging records for nine years. Every single time that I tell someone they're officially amazing, it just melts my heart. I mean, the amount of dedication and work that goes into achieving any type of Guinness World Records, whether it's an athletic feat, whether it's an engineering feat, anything is, it's a lot of work, it's amazing. It's a fascination with the limits of human capacity. New York Times best-selling author and journalist Larry Olmsted has written about getting into Guinness. Olmsted says there are three main ways to break into the record books. Mass participation records, which is the most people doing something at one time. There's creating a new record, and then the most classic way, which is taking an existing record and breaking it, which is typically the most difficult. And if you're thinking about giving it a shot, here's some advice. You should view it through the prism of fun. If you want to go set a record, you know, do your research, read all the rules, but don't take it too seriously. And once you set it, you're officially amazing. For CBS Mornings, I'm Ainsley Chen.

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