It actually makes sense once you know how it started! In the early 1900s Michelin wanted to encourage people to drive more (and therefore use tyres more), so they made a guide that was essentially a road trip companion. It had some instructions on basic car repairs, locations of mechanics and hotels, and of course good restaurants to visit along the way. Over time, the restaurant recommendations got particularly popular, so they leant into that
Came to comment that. It’s a very interesting story. We didn’t had GPS, so we needed maps. Tire companies would make huge guides with maps and places to stop, an analog GPS, and guides started giving stars to places, like google reviews, aaaaaand them became what it is
It was the opposite, wasn’t it? It was meant to provide answers to pub debates about things rather than be the topic of them, if I am remembering correctly
What were pub debates like before the Guinness Book of World Record?
“I’m telling you! Nancy’s cousin smoked 28 cigarettes in one puff! I seent it myself!”
“That’s nothing, George! Carl’s grandfather smoked 37 when he was a younger man. There’s even a photo of it around here somewhere.”
Like, that just seems like simpler times. Could you imagine if there was no Book of World Records, and people could still argue about that kind of stuff instead of I don’t know avocado toast or whatever it is today?
We need a “Guiness Book of Consumer Inflation Indices and Things Actually Getting in the Way of Millennials Buying Houses”
It actually makes sense once you know how it started! In the early 1900s Michelin wanted to encourage people to drive more (and therefore use tyres more), so they made a guide that was essentially a road trip companion. It had some instructions on basic car repairs, locations of mechanics and hotels, and of course good restaurants to visit along the way. Over time, the restaurant recommendations got particularly popular, so they leant into that
Came to comment that. It’s a very interesting story. We didn’t had GPS, so we needed maps. Tire companies would make huge guides with maps and places to stop, an analog GPS, and guides started giving stars to places, like google reviews, aaaaaand them became what it is
However the Guinness Book of Records was not created so drunk people had something to argue about in pubs.
It was the opposite, wasn’t it? It was meant to provide answers to pub debates about things rather than be the topic of them, if I am remembering correctly
Trying to stop people from arguing in pubs? That’s more American than European…
What were pub debates like before the Guinness Book of World Record?
“I’m telling you! Nancy’s cousin smoked 28 cigarettes in one puff! I seent it myself!”
“That’s nothing, George! Carl’s grandfather smoked 37 when he was a younger man. There’s even a photo of it around here somewhere.”
Like, that just seems like simpler times. Could you imagine if there was no Book of World Records, and people could still argue about that kind of stuff instead of I don’t know avocado toast or whatever it is today?
We need a “Guiness Book of Consumer Inflation Indices and Things Actually Getting in the Way of Millennials Buying Houses”
Addendum: the food guide costs more to produce than revenue it generates. It’s not even a “loss leader” its just a cost center.
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This seems like quite a needlessly hostile response
Shouda explained what I mean
I am Jack’s hungry belly give me the restaurants