This is a book of facts and records about bizarre feats of the human, material and natural world. It is a solid reference work of the strange but true. It shows the world through Ripley's eyes as something that is wonderful and weird, awesome in its variety, jaw dropping in its uniqueness. This book juxtaposes the quirky, bizarre, outrageous world of people with the pure fascination of the natural and physical world. Ripley's Believe It Or Not examines all facets of extraordinary human life - from space and the universe to prophecies and coincidences, from inside the earth to extreme weather, from birth and growth to the mysterious mind, from sickness and health to dead and buried, from buildings and architecture to computing, genetics and scientists, from inventions, art and sculpture to literature, music and movies, from sports and games to hobbies and stunts, from accidents and epic journeys to people and events that simply defy belief, Ripley's Believe It...takes us on an astonishing tour through all that is weird, wild, wacky and bizarrely true.

Robert Leroy Ripley was the man behind the Ripley brand - a journalist, radio presenter and cartoonist, who was fascinated by the oddities of everyday life. He was also passionate about travel and by 1940 had, at the age of 40 he had visited 201 countries. Combining these two interests he developed his own radio show - broadcast all over the world, even from underwater and snake pits, and also produced many cartoons, books, TV shows and film shorts. He was voted the most popular man in America in 1936, and his brand continued to develop even after his death in 1949. It is now enjoying a huge resurgence through the advent of the internet and through publication of Ripley's Believe It Or Not.