Founded in 1918 by Robert Ripley, Ripley’s started as a cartoon panel series called Champs and Chumps before changing the name to Believe It or Not! in 1919. Since then, it has massively grown to radio, TV, movies, books, games, and museums. People cannot get enough of the extensive catalog of bizarre items. There are said to be over 30,000 artifacts in the Ripley collection from over 100 years of gathering and collecting oddities.
Since 2005, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! has published an annual reference book of unique and unusual stories and pictures. This year is the 17th edition, and the book is titled Mind Blown!, which is 100% fitting since you may look at the images and think there is no way. But each page features new and true stories, oddities, and more. Here is a sneak peek at some of the more than 1,200 stories you will see in the 256-page book – my personal favorites are the animal ones and the Beard Bros. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Mind Blown! will be available starting September 29.
These cute dogs have been groomed and transformed into different species, mermaids, and other Lisa Frank-inspired masterpieces by Atlanta’s Anaïs Hayden.
Rescue dog Mose was born with just two legs, but that doesn’t stop him. Mose has taught himself to walk and run on his two hind legs. At the same time, golden retriever Finley is the envy among his fur friends, as he can hold up to six tennis balls in his mouth at once.
There are 1,200 sheets of paper, 100 studio hours, and 10 hours to put together is what went into creating this 43-foot long fire breathing dragon. Now, imagine seeing this 13-foot tall Minion costume beside it. It comprises 1,300 balloons and taking brothers Richard and Preston Roy of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada 50 hours to make. These are amazing!
These are a set of dentures that would be seen in a horror movie. Tampa Bay dentist Michael Foley has been collecting shark teeth since he was six years old. He has created a pair of dentures with two rows of those razor-sharp fossil shark teeth. I wouldn’t want to bite my tongue with those dentures. Showing his magnetic personality is Marcos Ruiz Ceballos from Spain, who can balance 64 stainless-steel spoons at once on his body.
This is Bart Simpson as you have never seen him before, banana form. Sculpting with toothpicks, Japanese artist Keisuke Yamada creates intricate banana carvings. Could you imagine if you were harvesting the sweet potatoes in your garden, and you pulled out a duck-shaped one! Well, that is what happened to Dawn Saavedra and her grandson in Arizona. It grew and looked just like a duck!
This next one comes right from Ripley’s Vault, used in medical studies in the 1800s was this half-mummified head. Also, check out this impressive New Orleans circus and escape artist who walks on bottles and goes to new heights.
Tiny albino turtle Hope has a rare condition that leaves her heart exposed. Hope’s owner, Mike Aquilina of New Jersey, makes sure she lives her best life. This ballet duo takes the dance form to new levels. Dancer Poppy Fairbairn goes on pointe on her partner, Zion Martyn, shoulders.
Best friends Brian and Jonathan decorate their beards with objects from flowers, food, sprinkles, glitter, and gummy worms. I wonder how long they leave them on for? Another thing fans will see in the book are the world’s best freestyle footballers. They use soccer moves, acrobatics, and excellent choreography.
This book is filled with things you do not want to miss out on. You can pre-order your copy of Mind Blown! here, and check out the preview video below.