Does anyone remember this series of books?

[BigglesPants]

And what is the modern day equivalent?

My dad used to buy these 'The World's Greatest' books when I was younger in the 90s and I loved them, there was a great variety of topics and it was basically small digestible tidbits that were easy for both adults and kids to read.

My favourites were the Ghosts one and UFOs one

Is there a modem day equivalent of this series? My little boy would love some books like this (as would I!).

I remember them. I loved them. Some very dark though. I think I remember ones on dictators, serial killers and disasters. Possibly one on frauds too.

Yes, I suspect I still own a large percentage of them. I’ll have to try and find them, now you’ve reminded me.

I think I remember an unsolved mysteries one too. I wasn’t very old when I read it and found a photo of a body that had allegedly spontaneously combusted!

Yes! I think my mum still has them somewhere

I think I remember an unsolved mysteries one too. I wasn’t very old when I read it and found a photo of a body that had allegedly spontaneously combusted!

I remember that pic and I can still see it now. It terrified me as a child.

@SingingWaffleDoggy

I think I remember an unsolved mysteries one too. I wasn’t very old when I read it and found a photo of a body that had allegedly spontaneously combusted!

Omg! I was trying to remember that book recently! I remember it so well. Did it also have the Hindenburg disaster in it too?

On my bookshelf now!

@SingingWaffleDoggy

I think I remember an unsolved mysteries one too. I wasn’t very old when I read it and found a photo of a body that had allegedly spontaneously combusted!

I've bought about 5 books in a bid to re read the one I remember that had SHC in. So far none of them are "the one". DS is enjoying his new book collection though

My people 🙌 Yes I remember the human combustion photo!! And everything else everyone has said. And I'm jealous of all you who still have them

I thought the SHC was in the Greatest Mysteries one?

ciao where did you manage to buy them? I would love to pick them up again.

Was the human combustion the picture with just the slippers left in front of the armchair???

I think it's been in more than 1 book. It's definitely in one of the ones I've bought, but other things I remember (such as the Cottingly fairies) aren't.

@BigglesPants

ciao where did you manage to buy them? I would love to pick them up again.

Sorry. It wasn't that particular series that I bought. Just random "mysteries" books

My friend had this book; it was fascinating. It had the Spontaneous Human Combustion pic in it.

No dicky I think the SHC pic was a charred body lying face down on a street?

I've got a couple of these somewhere I'm sure.
Loved them at the time.

I was curious…available on Abebooks:
www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&cm_sp=SearchF--home--Results&tn=The%20worlds%20greatest%20mysteries

We had the "World's greatest mistakes" which had delights such as the man who "sold" the Eiffel Tower to an American tourist.

Oh gosh - I had these - or a similar magazine thing.

I’d save my money and go to W H Smith and buy it, plus a coke and a boost bar.

The SHC photo was horrendous - I seem to recall a scene not dissimilar to the wizard of Oz, where the house left the wicked witch of the East’s legs behind…

I remember these! The UFO one was brilliant! The fear of spontaneous human combustion was real when I was small!

I have loads of these, I used to read them in the bath! My favourites were the serial killers, ghosts and mystics, psychics & seers. I think I got most of them from Bargain Books.

God we had The Unexplained at home. Started looking through it when I was about 7. Must say some images stayed with me forever.
I remember being curious and terrified at the same time when me and my sister watched a weekly tv programme about unexplained happenings, UFOs, ghosts, poltergeist and Bigfoot when I was about 8. Not exactly child friendly so only watched at grandparent's house during the summer holidays.

@dickyduckydido

Was the human combustion the picture with just the slippers left in front of the armchair???

That's the image I remember and I remember thinking did the person know what was happening? Did it start from their feet or... If I ever felt a bit hot I'd wonder is this what happens?

Just reread your op, op and see you said the 90s. I think the books I was thinking of were different as were in the early 80s