Preview
  • The Great Book of California

  • The Crazy History of California with Amazing Random Facts & Trivia (A Trivia Nerds Guide to the History of the United States, Volume 3)
  • By: Bill O'Neill
  • Narrated by: Derek Newman
  • Length: 3 hrs and 31 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (26 ratings)

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The Great Book of California

By: Bill O'Neill
Narrated by: Derek Newman
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Publisher's summary

Are you interested in learning more about California? Sure, you’ve heard of Hollywood, but how much do you really know about the Golden State? Do you know how it got its nickname or what it was nicknamed first?

There’s so much to know about California that even people born in the state don’t know it all. In this trivia guide, you’ll learn more about California’s history, pop culture, folklore, sports, and so much more!

In The Great Book of California, you’ll discover the answers to the following questions

  • Why is California called the Golden State?
  • What music genres started out in California?
  • Which celebrity sex icon’s death remains a mystery?
  • Which serial killer once murdered in the state?
  • Which childhood toy started out in California?
  • Which famous fast-food chain opened its first location in the Golden State?
  • Which famous athletes are from California?

These are just a few of the many facts you’ll find in this audiobook. Some of them will be entertaining, some of them will be tragic, and some of them may haunt you, but all of them will be interesting! This audiobook is full of everything you’ve ever wondered about California and then some!

Whether you consider yourself a California-state expert or you know nothing about the Golden State, you’re bound to learn something new in each chapter. You’ll be able to impress your college history professor or your friends during your next trivia night!

What are you waiting for? Get started to learn all there is to know about California!

©2018 LAK Publishing (P)2018 LAK Publishing
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What listeners say about The Great Book of California

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enteraining

The Great Book of California: The Crazy History of California with Amazing Random Facts & Trivia (A Trivia Nerds Guide to the History of the United States, Volume 3).. One of the best trivia books I've ever read. three hours plus full of facts and trivia about California and it's people.
The narrators voice is clear and concise and very easy to listen to.
I was given a free copy of this audiobook at my own request, and voluntarily leave this review.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not Bad for California Newcomers

As a native Californian, I was interested to hear some new tales about the state and see if there were any other gems of information I was not aware of. For me, there was very little that I had not read or heard before, usually many times. However, I think this would be a good primer on California for someone who has not lived here for an extended period of time.

The narrator is very good. However, I was appalled to hear city and other names of Spanish origin pronounced as if they were English words. La Jolla, for example, was pronounced "la jolla" instead of "la hoya". He repeated the name a number of times at one point and it really began to grate on my ears. I have encountered mispronunciations in other Audible books (people's names and geographic names, which are well known to those you are familiar with them), but these errors come up much more often in this work than in any I have encountered. I'm not sure why an editor does not clue the narrator in with a script note before the recording is executed.

Anyway, I did find some enjoyable discoveries in this Audiobook, making it worth the cost.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Yet Another Great Trivia Book!!

Here, once again, Bill O'Neill brings us another state in a snapshot! There are plenty of fun facts listed in this book and little tales to go with some. It's a wonderful way to learn about another state of our country. I truly hope Mr. O'Neill continues and gives each their own book so we can learn about them as we have CA and NY. Thanks for another great trivia book!! The narration was not as good as the others due to mispronunciation of many Spanish names. But despite this annoying bit I still enjoyed listening to this book of facts.

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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More!

This is the sixth book I’ve read/listened to by this author and considering I have listened to this many, it’s a sure thing I will listen to more.
He covers California from a great many angles, like examples that are listed in the publisher’s summary. I prefer listening to the historical facts but also like the random, more trivial facts. Some are longer explanations. Some are one sentence statements. There is a question and answer after each segment that is easily skipped if desired.

This is the fifth book I’ve listened to by this narrator ( Derek Newman ) and all have been written by Bill O’Neil. He does nicely reading this content. His cadence is appropriate.

There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Please feel free to comment on whether you found my review helpful.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fun listen, lots of trivia.

I listen to a lot of trivia books, this one was really good. It's not just the same old information, there are chapters on urban legends, sports, attractions, pop culture, inventions, history, etc. So it's a wide selection of information in a small book. I look forward to listening to the rest of the states.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I MAY EVEN LIKE CALIFORNIA NOW!

If they weren't ALL moving to the Pacific NW LOL! ;-)

LOVED this audiobook!
Filled with tons of entertaining and little known info, trivia, fun facts, etc.
I've listened to a few of Bill's books before, and they're all AMAZING, well put together, well written and wonderfully narrated.

Bills book are a must have for anyone who loves fun facts & trivia!
All sorts of interesting tidbits about California in this one, take a look and see for yourself, well worth it :)

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Please take a moment to click the "YES" ("Helpful") button below if you found this review helpful :) Thank you!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book of California trivia!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

I've always enjoyed trivia collections, and this is more than three hours of cool facts about California. The narrator was well-spoken and easy to understand. Definitely makes a long commute shorter.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great information for any Californian

Lots of great trivia facts about California. So much information that was unknown. Great tid bits that you can use to impress your date and stump your friends. Makes a Cali native proud. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

O'Neill Does It Again

I love these books by Bill O'Neill. He makes learning fun and you always get little tid bits . Looking forward to listening to more!

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Learning amazing facts

I am a native Californian and still learned things about this wonderful state. The only problem I had was when the book is being read to you (an audiobook) they read everything so there is a lot of repeating and I found that very annoying. The narrator Derek Newman has the perfect voice for this kind of book. I was gifted this book with the understanding that I would leave an honest review. I would have done 5 stars except for the over repeating.

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