Whether it’s flinging frozen rats or parading in holly evergreens, racing snails or carrying wives, human beings have long displayed their creativity in wild, odd, and sometimes just wonderful rituals and competitions. To show what lengths we’ll go to uphold our eccentric customs, British American graphic designer Nigel Holmes channels his belief in the power of hilarity to bring together a bewilderingly funny tour around the globe in search of incredible events, all dryly explained with brilliant infographics.

You’ll encounter the startling facts behind peat-bog snorkeling in Wales (wet suits recommended), hotdog-swallowing in the USA (tip: avoid breakfast), or who can make a baby cry quickest in Japan. Through this gallimaufry of gamesmanship and passion, an endearingly warm and affectionate portrait of human endeavor and good humor emerges as Holmes proves, page after page, that when it comes to feats of bravery, endurance, or sheer nonsense, the world is united as one in the fine and often hilarious way of celebrating culture.

About the Authors

Nigel Holmes is a British-American graphic designer who spent 16 years at Time magazine, eventually becoming its graphics director. A pioneer in the field of information graphics, his clients have included Apple, Sony, National Geographic, and The New York Times. He has authored and contributed to several books on the subject, and has taught at Stanford and presented at TED Conferences. He believes in the power of humor to help people understand stuff, and he always wears blue.

Julius Wiedemann studied graphic design and marketing and was an art editor for newspapers and design magazines in Tokyo before joining TASCHEN in 2001. His titles include the Illustration Now! and Record Covers series, as well as the infographics collection and books about advertising and visual culture.

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