The Handy California Answer Book - Paperback

by Kevin Hile (Author)

Hollywood. Silicon Valley. The cities, beaches and redwoods. An enlightening look at California, its people, history, and culture.

California is the country's most populous state. The home of the entertainment industry and silicon valley. It's known for its beaches, its redwood forests, and as the "land of fruit and nuts." Its people, industries, politicians, climate, and allure captivates the world and draws millions of visitors each year. Exploring the state's fascinating history, people, myths, culture, and trivia, The Handy California Answer Book takes an in-depth look look at this fascinating, quirky, and diverse state.

Learn about the original Indigenous peoples, the Spanish explorers, the independence from Spain, the secession from Mexico, the Gold Rush, the building of the Los Angeles Aqueducts, the earthquakes, the water shortages, and much, much more. Tour landmarks from Disney Land to the Golden Gate Bridge to Yosemite National Park. Learn about famous sons and daughters, including Ronald Reagan, Jeff Bridges, Tony Hawk, and John Steinbeck. Sports (college and professional) are illuminated. The government, parks, and cultural institutions are all packed into this comprehensive guide to the state of California. Find answers to more than 1,100 questions, including:

How did "Eureka!" become the state motto?

Why is a grizzly bear on the state flag when no grizzlies exist in California?

Was the coast of California ever attacked by pirates?

How did Russians come to colonize part of what is now California?

How did the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad drastically transform the state?

Does the ghost of Cary Grant still roam his favorite home in Palm Springs?

Is the "Big One" earthquake inevitable, and are Californians prepared for it?

How did Silicon Valley become a center for the high tech industry?

Can you eat the snails in your backyard in California?

Why do so many Californians want to divide the state into smaller states?

What is a "Valley Girl" fer shur fer shur?

Why did the Brooklyn Dodgers move to Los Angeles?

Did anyone ever escape the island prison on Alcatraz?

When you order your fast-food burger at In & Out "animal style," what will land on your plate?

The Handy California Answer Book is ideal for anyone interested in learning about The Golden State!

Author Biography

Raised in Laurel Canyon and Van Nuys, California, Kevin Hile has had a long career as an author and editor. He worked for several years with the late Jim Fordyce on news, entertainment, and travel radio shows about California and the Coachella Valley. He wrote Visible Ink Press' The Handy Weather Answer Book, has edited many other titles in the "Handy Answer" series, and is is most proud of his history book on Michigan's oldest zoo, Little Zoo by the Red Cedar: The Story of Potter Park Zoo. He lives in Cathedral City, CA.