Smug in the certainty that we stand in the vanguard of history's forward march, modern humans tend to regard the past as little more than a backdrop for current achievements. Progress, we think, has been a steady, linear advance, leading inexorably from superstition to enlightenment, from primitivism to sophistication, from ignorance to knowledge. This comfortable assumption is being challenged, however, as archaeologists, historians, and other scholars point out evidence hinting that humankind's progress has been less a lockstep march than a lurching dance, with steps forward and steps back, with bursts of genius ahead of its time and lost knowledge that even now rests unretrieved - or is gone forever.

What is the world's longest-living creature? Who was the first person to reach the bottom of the ocean? Where is the longest train route? This ebook is full of amazing facts about people, animals, Earth, and space, and brings you the first, fastest, longest, largest, biggest, and best records in the world! Track the longest shark migration (20,000 km/12,400 miles); visit the coolest place on the planet (Vostok Station, Antarctica: a chilling -89.2oC/-128.6oF); see how plane pioneer Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier, and much more. Discover the greatest human achievements, from pioneering inventors to modern feats of engineering, transport, technology, and sport. But there's far more than just people power in this ebook, there are also records about animals, plants, and our amazing natural world. Find out all about the best of everything in Record Breakers - an entertaining and educational ebook that the whole family can enjoy.