Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

Seventeen chapters--ranging from Epic Endeavors and Fun Festivals to Fantastic Food and Startling Art--cover an ever-widening group of subjects and stories around which the book is based. Intriguing interviews with astounding individuals spotlight their achievements and reveal more about what makes them tick. Informative `Ripley's Research' boxes give the scientific explanation behind some of the most incredible tales in the book, such as why cats are sometimes born with wings, how someone can swallow live snakes, and how snow donuts are actually formed. In addition, miscellaneous lists and other text features are scattered throughout, including a list of competitive eating achievements and a recipe for deep-fried scorpions. And double-page features, entitled `Enter the Vault,' showcase the best of the Ripley archive of black and white photographs of unbelievable people, places, and creatures of the past.

Every page will make you gasp with astonishment at the truly unbelievable tales that make up the wonderful world of Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Average Customer Rating:

Price tag from other store on book	Customer Rating:
I paid $19.11 for this book but when I opened the package the book had a $13.97 "Special Price" sticker from another store on it. I felt cheated by Amazon.com and this will deter my future purchases from amazon unless they remedy the situation. I am shocked that Amazon would do something like this.

Almost impossible to put down once picked up

Customer Rating:

Lavishly illustrated with full-color photography on every page, Ripley's Believe It or Not! Prepare To Be Shocked! is a compendium of things amazing and extraordinary, sure to impress readers of all ages and backgrounds. Every two-page spread, half-page focus or thumbnail note covers a different topic so incredulous as to be worthy of the "Believe It or Not!" tagline, from the true story of a crocodile attack survivor who had to have his arm reattached, to a skilled Chinese folk artist who can push a living snake into his mouth and pull it out through one of his nostrils, to unicycle marathons, staggering collections of everything from hot wheels to diseased human brains (exhibited in a museum in Lima, Peru) to a frog trained to ride a miniature motorcycle. Almost impossible to put down once picked up, Ripley's Believe It or Not! is an the perfect gift for the any reader who claims to have seen it all.

Believe it? Not!

Customer Rating:

When I was a kid I was fascinated by reading Ripley's Believe it or Not books. What I am "shocked" about now is how the Ripley enterprise has degenerated into a seeming acceptance of all sorts of dubious claims. I confess to not having read this particular book but just reading the product info is enough to tell me it's more of the same. If you enjoy fantasy and don't care much about facts this is probably a good book for you. Just as an example: the Chinese man who can cook fish in his bare hands. Is he somehow anatomically different from other humans? Is there any kind of skeptical analysis of his claims? Or just a breathless reporting of them as if they are true?

Ripley's books keep getting better---Believe It or Not!

Customer Rating:

The publication date for this book was shown as August 5,2008.Somehow I found at my bookstore and bought it on August 3,2008--Believe It or Not! Once again,Ripley's comes up with an excellent product and continues to entertain and amaze us with everything unimaginable. I have written reviews on several of these Ripley books;and everything I've said in those other reviews holds true to this latest effort. A couple of later reviews were posted on January 15,2007 and most recently on April 24,2008. A couple of new inovations are introduced in this newest book;and are very welocomed and add to the whole world of Ripley as well as being more informative where one would like to know more about some of the "Believe It or Nots" presented. ENTER the VAULT--- where research staff dig into,what must be enormous files,and find items collected many years ago,and bring them into the light of day for all of to enjoy. I was particularly take by the photo on page 52 of Pete, the dog owned by Harry Lucenay,who starred in the short films "Our Gang" back in the 30's.I can remember watching these movies on Saturday afternoons as a kid.However,that was over 60 years ago. I remember Sparky and Buckwheat but had forgotten the dog's name.Thanks for the memory. RIPLEY'S ASKS---Here we are treated with an interview with the people who actually did these unbelievable things;making them much more informative. RIPLEY'S RESEARCH--- Here Ripley's research looks into the subject and presents more information about how the impossible or unusual takes place. These inovations add greatly to the readers information and make the items even more interesting. Another thing that would be inovative would be to add a Website ,along with the item,where one exists. It was a treat to see Bryan Berg appear once again on page 244 with his phenomenonal playing card structures. Hey Ripley's ;keep it up,you're on a roll!!! You too Bryan.For more on Bryan ,see my review on April 24 2008 in Ripley's "The Remarkable Revealed" as well as Bryan's super book,"Stacking the Deck" which I reviewed on August 4,2008; and keep an eye out for him building his structures at an Exhibition or Fair in your area.