I'm Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief of the Guinness World Records book. I've met some of the world's most incredible people - ask me anything!

https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/17xiiqc/im_craig_glenday_editorinchief_of_the_guinness/

created by GWRecords on 17/11/2023 at 16:12 UTC

388 upvotes, 75 top-level comments (showing 25)

I've worked at Guinness World Records since 2002, and from 2005 have been the Editor-in-Chief. This year, the book goes underwater with our 2024 edition. I've had the privilege of meeting some of the world's most amazing and talented people, from Beyonce and Sir Roger Bannister to the world's tallest and shortest humans. Ask away!

Proof here[1].

1: https://postimg.cc/zLsWBMBc

Comments

Comment by [deleted] at 17/11/2023 at 19:17 UTC

271 upvotes, 4 direct replies

[removed]

Comment by SethManhammer at 17/11/2023 at 18:54 UTC

121 upvotes, 3 direct replies

If the lawsuit between Billy Mitchell and Twin Galaxies has a favorable outcome toward Twin Galaxies, and it's looking very much like it will, given the evidence that Billy Mitchell lied about his scores, will Guinness withdraw the scores again?

Comment by Mrgray123 at 17/11/2023 at 17:24 UTC

200 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Why do you keep accepting money for meaningless world records, often from appallingly abusive dictators who murder their own people?

Comment by p4nnus at 17/11/2023 at 19:02 UTC

59 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Where do you draw the line on things that are borderline not acceptable as records?

Comment by PedroCPimenta at 17/11/2023 at 17:01 UTC

152 upvotes, 3 direct replies

Are you going to remove Billy Mitchell from the book?

Comment by jacquilynne at 17/11/2023 at 20:24 UTC

48 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Do you ever consider independent information about whether a record is truly the record? I am thinking about records like Joshua Beck's most concerts in a year record. All of my music-oriented friends laughed and laughed when we saw the news stories about that because we all know several people who would consider only 86 concerts to be a pretty quiet year. And there are plenty of news stories about Beatle Bob who attended a concert every day and sometimes more than one for years on end - even if the unbrokenness of that streak is slightly exaggerated, surely he saw more than 86 concerts a year for years on end. So did it come down to "Bob never asked for a record so we don't care that our record is pretty obviously wrong" or do you try to do independent research that there isn't another probable record holder out there before declaring a record and this one is just an aberration? Or is there some other factor that's at play that isn't obvious?

Comment by frodosbitch at 17/11/2023 at 19:17 UTC

34 upvotes, 2 direct replies

What is the business relationship between you and Guinness brewing? How do you handle trademarks?

Also - you should probably eat the frog and answer some of the difficult questions at the top. Reddit goes hive mind on these things pretty fast.

Comment by feedback19 at 17/11/2023 at 17:09 UTC

201 upvotes, 3 direct replies

Why do y'all support fascist dictators efforts to set records for publicity stunts?

Edited to add link https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=Z-bPdY-qkb8PT0ou&v=-9QYu8LtH2E&feature=youtu.be

Comment by triggur at 17/11/2023 at 23:44 UTC

59 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Why did you turn down TST for the “World’s largest Satanic gathering” record saying “there is no appropriate category for this” when you do in fact have “World’s largest” records for quite a number of other religions?

Comment by 8oD at 17/11/2023 at 20:10 UTC

10 upvotes, 1 direct replies

How much does it cost to send down a verification person to actually break a certain record?

Comment by philipquarles at 17/11/2023 at 20:34 UTC

12 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Have you personally ever won a bar bet with information from your book?

Comment by craigyboy1000 at 17/11/2023 at 20:21 UTC

10 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Do you think you hold the world record for meeting the most world record holders?

Comment by [deleted] at 17/11/2023 at 16:32 UTC

18 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Does the book have much to do with Guinness brewing anymore?

Comment by ShadowSDwolf at 17/11/2023 at 20:49 UTC

10 upvotes, 1 direct replies

How do I submit a record request for fastest time solving a 3x3 1-9 puzzle?

Comment by Comicspedia at 17/11/2023 at 16:53 UTC

7 upvotes, 1 direct replies

How does one decide whether their particular talent or feature is world record worthy? Plenty seem obvious, like feats of strength, others are more nuanced or seemingly specific to the person.

Comment by Kangar at 17/11/2023 at 16:30 UTC

9 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Did you get grossed out by the man with the super-long curly fingernails?

(shudder)

Comment by DR2336 at 17/11/2023 at 16:33 UTC

20 upvotes, 1 direct replies

does Guinness hold the record for most number of world records published in a book?

or for most number of world records books published?

Comment by cyankitten at 17/11/2023 at 22:11 UTC

3 upvotes, 2 direct replies

What do you mean “the book goes underwater with our 2024 edition” ? What do you mean by it goes underwater?

Comment by Goalll11 at 17/11/2023 at 16:51 UTC

7 upvotes, 1 direct replies

What is the most impressive world record (in your opinion)?

Comment by Orrery- at 17/11/2023 at 16:32 UTC

5 upvotes, 1 direct replies

What World record do you no longer support, or verify which you wish you could bring back?

Comment by TigerRenee at 17/11/2023 at 17:09 UTC

5 upvotes, 1 direct replies

How do you verify new records? Is it always done in person these days or is technology used too?

Comment by Appropriate-Bat9138 at 17/11/2023 at 16:51 UTC

6 upvotes, 1 direct replies

What the weirdest world record that made you think why?

Comment by jacquilynne at 17/11/2023 at 17:24 UTC

4 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Have you met Jim Pattison? If so, what is he like?

Comment by iamparky at 17/11/2023 at 18:17 UTC

3 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Back in the day, Norris and Ross McWherter would appear on TV in a segment where they'd answer, from memory, any question about the records listed in the book.

How's your memory? Will you resume the tradition?

Comment by OutcomeLonely518 at 17/11/2023 at 16:44 UTC

6 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Awesome to be able to connect and ask directly. Thank you. At what point do the GBR Team, deem an activity too dangerous or too much of a threat to life to undertake? Or is it usually after the fact? 😁

Thank you,

Becky, Kent UK 🇬🇧