In 1951, Sir Hugh Beaver missed shooting a golden plover during a hunting trip in Ireland, sparking a heated pub debate about Europe's fastest game bird. 🦅 🏆 Beaver, the managing director of Guinness Breweries, was frustrated when no reference book could settle the argument. This simple dispute led to an extraordinary business decision. In 1954, Beaver commissioned twins Norris and Ross McWhirter, renowned for their fact-checking expertise, to compile a definitive book of records. The first "Guinness Book of Superlatives" launched in 1955 as a free promotional item distributed in pubs across Great Britain and Ireland. What began as a marketing strategy for Guinness beer quickly became something much more significant. The little book became so popular that patrons began stealing copies from bars. Within just three months, the book sold an astounding 50,000 copies, triggering the publisher to make it available for public sale. The twins' commitment to accuracy and fascinating facts transformed a simple promotional item into a global phenomenon. Today, the Guinness World Records book has sold more than 150 million copies in over 100 countries, settling countless disputes and celebrating extraordinary human achievements for nearly seven decades. #guinnessworldrecords #factchecking #historicalmoments