Mr. Guiness and Mr. Ripley – Hive and Nest

I don’t know who, exactly, these two gentlemen are, but their legacies are the most popular topic around our house. You may have a vague remembrance of Ripley’s Believe it or Not and The Guiness Book of World Records. I remember the former being a somewhat creepy and perplexing show hosted by Jack Palance.  I remember Guiness being a thick little paperback featuring things like “tallest man” and “longest fingernails”.  

If you have reluctant readers in your house or any children (particularly boys) over the age of eight you must run–not walk–to the store to buy these books today.  I got mine at Costco where they seem to be found quite often. These new versions are big hardback books featuring (mostly weird/gruesome) pictures with long captions for each.  

My sons take these to school from time to time and they are big men on campus each time they do.  It’s amazing to me how many hundreds of hours my children have spent looking at these bizarre books.  They are just the ticket for a boring summer day (not that you’re having any of those.)