The Ripley's Annuals have been a staple in our house for many, many years. When my son was young, it was hard to get him to read. But we found he enjoyed the weird and wonderful, so every Christmas he would receive the latest Ripley's Annual.

Well, he's in his late twenties now.....and he still hasn't lost his love of the strange but true tales you find in Ripley's. The latest entry, Unlock the Weird is newly released. And he will still be reading it cover to cover. But here's the thing - it's not just him that enjoys reading it. I've left it out on the coffee table before and everyone who stops by can't help but pick it up. It is addictive - and fascinating to read of the odd, the strange and the downright bizarre. Current day and historical. I dare you to read just one entry! (I can't!)

The cover is 3-D and those eyeballs are a little freaky. Okay, delving in.....

The story of the same greeting card, mailed back and forth between friends for almost 65 years.
The researcher who donned prosthetics and lived like a goat to study the animals.
It is common for Chinese schools to practice fire alarms - using real fire.
How about the guy who tried to smuggle 146 iPhones across a border.
And the man who had his ears removed and his face and eyes tattooed to look like his pet parrots.
Or the man who spent $75000 on plastic surgery to look like Madonna.

Oh my gosh....there's so much more drawing from categories such as: Believe It, World, Animals, Body, Pop Culture, Transport, Feats, Art, Food and Beyond Belief. Be forewarned - there are some gross pictures (in full colour)

Unlock the Weird is another great entry in this series. And the bottom line? Truth is truly stranger than fiction! ( )