This book is filled with practical tips and techniques that will help you become a better gardener.

Hollywood. Silicon Valley. The cities, beaches and redwoods. An enlightening look at the Sunshine State, 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? A convenient place to go to look up the basic—and fun—facts about California, its history and culture, The Handy California Answer Book illustrates the unique character of the state through a combination of facts, stats, and stories, as well as the unusual and quirky. This informative book also includes a helpful bibliography and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness.

Stan Fischler, hockey journalist since 1954 and Lester Patrick Award-winner "for contributions to hockey in the United States," covers the sport’s history, its origins, rules, players, and more! Stick handlers without helmets rushing goaltenders without masks on rinks lacking sideboards gives way to a faster game with bigger players and overtime shootouts. The National Hockey League goes from a Canadian and regional sport to one that is watched by more fans throughout North America than ever. Hockey may have changed, but its essence and appeal remain. The Handy Hockey Answer Book, written by hockey historian, broadcaster, author, and self-professed Hockey Maven, Stan Fischler, brings the game to life through exciting game action, vital stats, players, rules, and more. It traces the early spread of hockey, Lord Stanley's involvement, and the birth of the cup, then explains the rules, the equipment, strategies, and positioning, before following the ups and downs of the National Hockey League and its teams and players. From the traditions, all-time cup- and award-winners and record-breakers to the modern game, The Handy Hockey Answer Book answers more than 800 questions on the game, greats, goals, and growing popularity of hockey, including ... Where does hockey come from? What was the Stanley Cup first called? Where did the name “Patrick Division” come from and why are the Patrick brothers important? When was six-man hockey invented and who was its creator? What is a “Zamboni” and after whom was it named? What was the Gretzky Rule? How did the hockey puck develop its present shape? Which is the oldest current NHL team? Why is the term “Original Six” a misnomer? Which Hall of Famer trained on champagne? Who holds the Montreal Canadien’s franchise record for career goals? Who centered Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsey on Detroit’s legendary “Production Line.” Which team was the first to come back from being down 3-0 in a series. Who played right wing on a line with Phil Esposito for the Bruins in the late 60s and 70s? Who was the first European player to lead the league in scoring? What NHL team won and lost the Stanley Cup on the same day? Which hockey player was supposed to be “kidnapped” as part of a scheme to increase attendance at New York Rangers games? Did an NHL club ever play all its “home” games of the Stanley Cup finals on the road? Starting with a Middle Ages game resembling ice golf to the NHL's Original Six to the modern high school, college, and professional games, this is a clear, concise, and illuminating primer to the game of hockey! A glossary of terms and a bibliography for further reading round out this helpful primer on the sport.

The Art of Discovery. The Discovery of Art. The History of Art! Warhol, Michelangelo, and da Vinci. Picasso, Monet, and Rembrandt, Ai WeiWei and Jenny Holzer. What were they thinking when they created their masterworks? While we can't always know an artist's exact thoughts, The Handy Art History Answer Book examines their benefactors, their wealth or poverty, their passions, the politics, and the world events that inspired and influenced them. Explore their techniques and materials, the forms, colors and styles, the movements and schools of thoughts, and discover the varied forms and nature of artistic expression. Tracing art history from cave paintings to contemporary installations, along with Romanticism, Impressionism and the numerous “isms” in-between, The Handy Art History Answer Book guides you through the major art movements, artists, and important art pieces from 35,000 B.C.E. to today. This fascinating book provides an overview of art from its history and basic principles to its evolution, philosophy, and the masters who created groundbreaking works that changed its course forever. Accessible and entertaining, this captivating book answers over 600 questions, such as ... What is beauty? What tools did Paleolithic artists use? Why do Egyptian figures have two left feet? What is the difference between weaving and tapestry? What happened to the Venus de Milo's arms? Why is Emperor Comoodus dressed as Hercules? What are the Classical Greek Orders of Architecture? What do the Yoruba consider beautiful? What was the first Gothic cathedral? How was single-point perspective invented? What makes the Mona Lisa such a great work of art? What is the difference between Art Nouveau and Art Deco? What is a Zen garden? Why wasn’t photography considered art in the 19th century? How did Cezanne “astonish Paris with apples”? Why did Jackson Pollock splatter paint all over his canvases? Why do Jeff Koons’ balloon animals sell for millions of dollars? Who is Ai Weiwei? The Handy Art History Answer Book covers not only paintings, but every medium imaginable, including sculpture, architecture, pottery, photography, installation art, and even video games. The concise and clearly written text is enhanced by nearly 150 color images illustrating artistic concepts and highlighting important and memorable artworks. Its helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness.

Boston. Bahston. A wicked good look at the city of Boston, it’s people, history, culture, and surrounding neighborhoods. Whether it's called Beantown, The Olde Towne, Titletown, The Cradle of Liberty, The Athens of America, The Puritan City, The City on a Hill, or any of its other obscure or oft-repeated nicknames, Boston has a long and varied history. Its universities and hospitals lead the nation, and its sports teams, politicians, and colloquialisms continue to captivate. Exploring this city’s fascinating history, people, myths, culture, and trivia, The Handy Boston Answer Book takes an in-depth look at one of America's oldest major cities. Learn about the city’s founding by Puritan settlers, the Boston Massacre, the Great Fire, the opening of the T, the busing desegregation strife, the Big Dig, and much, much more. Tour landmarks from Faneuil Hall to Fenway Park to the United States' first public school, Boston Latin School, and important institutions such as Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital. Sports (and the local sports fanatics) are illuminated (and explained). Popular neighborhoods, ethnic enclaves, and the surrounding suburbs are canvassed. The government, notable sons and daughters, parks, and cultural institutions are all packed into this comprehensive guide to the city of Boston. Find answers to 1,200 questions, including: What was the Boston revolt of 1689? Who dramatized Paul Revere's Midnight Ride? How did the Embargo Act of 1807 affect Boston? How did Protestant and Yankee Boston become the multi-ethnic metropolis of today? When did Boston's Great Fire occur? How much of the city's land was reclaimed by filling in marshes, mud flats, and gaps between wharves along the waterfront? What cities and towns comprise the “Greater Boston” region? How many college students reside in Boston? Why is the Boston Marathon always run on the third Monday of April? Who ran the Boston Marathon the most times? Were the baseball players always called the Red Sox? Why did Boston get the "Athens of America" nickname? What's “The T”? What's “The Pike”? Who designed Boston’s “Emerald Necklace”? Who was Boston's longest-serving mayor? Are “Tonics” and “Whoopie Pies” available at most “Spas”? What do the colored lights on top of the old Hancock building say about the weather? What do Samuel Adams, James Taylor, Benjamin Franklin, and Taylor Schilling have in common? A convenient place to go to look up the basic—and fun—facts about Boston, its history and culture, The Handy Boston Answer Book illustrates the unique character of the city through a combination of facts, stats, and stories, as well as the unusual and quirky. This informative book also includes a helpful bibliography and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness.

Get More from the Bible The Bible is a beloved text owned by nearly all Americans. It’s probably on your reading list, but it can be a daunting work to master. The Handy Bible Answer Book illuminates the secrets and reveals the wisdom of the Bible. Through easy-to-understand explanations to common questions, this book examines, story-by-story, the origins and history of the meanings of chapters, verses, and parables. Offering enlightening explanations and defining key terms, people, places, and events, this user-friendly guide is for anyone interested in learning more about the Bible. It brings context to readers by answering more than 1,700 commonly asked questions about the Good Book, including: • How has archeology contributed to understanding the Bible? • What are some of the most notable Bible translations through the ages? • What was the Day of Atonement? • How did Gideon obey God’s call? • According to Peter, what was the benefit of faith? • What is the Apocrypha? This comprehensive resource provides concise, straightforward information, drawing from five different translations of the Bible and other sources, it's designed to let even casual readers dig deeply into the Bible. It helps bring the Good Book's parables, stories, history, and power to your life.

Vainglorious gods and irresistible seductresses. Beastly beasts and brutal warriors. Stories centuries in the making, and centuries worth of stories, are explained in this fascinating guide to mythology. Mythology forms our understanding of our origin, history, and traditions. They tell of our heroes and deities. Myths are vehicles for understanding religion, learning language, and understanding society, but they can often be difficult to understand and confusing. From a world of gods and goddesses to classic heroes and epic journeys to beastly monsters and irresistible seductresses, The Handy Mythology Answer Book answers nearly 600 questions and offers fun facts about the treachery and violence, the inspirational and epic, the supernatural monsters and heroic mortals found in mythology, including ... What is the nature of Creation Myths? How can myths be compared to dreams? What was the Egyptian Book of the Dead? Why is the biblical flood story so like the Babylonian flood myth? How and why are the Odyssey and the Iliad so different from each other? How is myth used in politics? What was the Metamorphosis? How did the Vedas contribute to Hindu mythology? Who invented Chinese writing? What was the Aztec pantheon? What is the story of the Cherokee Grandmother Sun? Who are some Native American tricksters? What is the story of Schrödinger’s Cat? How did Freud use myths? A glossary of commonly used terms and an appendix of parallel mythology exploring universal themes, motifs, and archetypes from across various cultures further explains the world of mythology. With many photos, illustrations, and other graphics, this tome is richly illustrated. Its helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness.

Plato, Aristotle, Nietzsche, Sartre, and many more. Who were they? What did they say? Why should we care? How did changing philosophical thought affect the history of civilization? How does philosophy affect pop culture, politics and government, and our everyday lives? Combining a basic history of philosophical thought with the often quirky personal stories of famous philosophers, The Handy Philosophy Answer Book introduces the reader to the world of philosophy. This comprehensive survey analyzes the collective effort of philosophers throughout history in the pursuit of truth and wisdom. It explores the tangible significance of philosophical thought to modern society and civilization as a whole, and answers more than 1,000 questions, including … What was the Enlightenment? Why did the Pythagorians avoid fava beans? How was Skepticism related to the scientific revolution? Was Søren Kierkegaard’s life “cursed”? How did philosopher A. J. Ayer defeat professional heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson? What are the current trends in philosophy and how are they related to feminism, environmentalism, and African American studies? How is Confucianism relevant to contemporary Western philosophy? The Handy Philosophy Answer Book explains philosophical fundamentals. It looks at the various schools of thought. It explores the deep--and sometimes odd--questions posed by philosophers. This comprehensive survey brings us the lives and the impacts of philosophy's greatest thinkers. With more than 130 photos and illustrations, this tome is richly illustrated, and its helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness.

Two established science writers and researchers distill and present the latest and most important information on anatomy and physiology in an easy-to-use, question-and-answer approach. We all have one. The human body. But do we really know all of its parts and how they work? The Handy Anatomy Answer Book is the key to unlocking this door to a wondrous world. Learn how the body heals wounds. Untangle the mysteries of eyesight. Discover how cells organize themselves into organs and other tissues. From the violent battleground that is the immune system to the hundreds of miles of muscle fibers, nerves, veins, and arteries that fill our bodies, the human is a miracle waiting to be explored. The Handy Anatomy Answer Book covers all the major body systems: integumentary (skin, hair, etc.), skeletal, muscular, nervous, sensory, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive, and, for good measure, adds chapters on growth and development and how science can help and augment the body. It follows the fascinating maze of organ systems and shows how much the body does routinely just to let you move, breathe, eat, and fight off disease. Fascinating trivia, along with serious facts, combine to answer over 1,200 questions about the human body, including ... Who were Hippocrates and Galen? What is Gray’s Anatomy? Do all animals need oxygen? What are the largest, smallest, and longest cells in the human body? What is the average lifespan of various cells in the human body? Does exercise increase the number of muscle cells? What is phantom limb pain? Should ear wax be removed? What does it mean to have 20/20 vision? Do identical twins have the same fingerprints? Do the hair and nails continue to grow after death? How strong is bone? Which is the only bone that does not touch another bone? What does it mean when someone is “double-jointed”? How many muscles does it take to produce a smile versus a frown? What are tendons? What is Botox? What is the effect of aging on the muscular system? What are the functions of the nervous system? What are the causes of epilepsy? How large is the brain? What is a concussion? What are the seven warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease? What is a reflex? How much sleep does an individual need? How are hormones classified? What is the difference between Type I and Type II diabetes? Do males have estrogen and females have testosterone in their respective systems? Why is blood sticky? How does exercise affect the heart? Why does blood in the veins look blue? What is an autoimmune disease? What are “swollen glands”? Why is it difficult to treat viral infections with medications? What was the earliest known vaccination? What’s the difference between an intolerance and an allergy? What is the Adam’s apple? Why is it more difficult to breathe at high altitudes? How much force does a human bite generate? Does the stomach have a memory? What is “gluten intolerance”? What are the causes of obesity? What percent of a person’s intake of water comes from drinking water? Is urine always yellow in color? What are the phases of the reproductive cycle? How do the terms zygote, embryo, and fetus differ? How does fetal blood differ form adult blood? How are PET scans used to detect and treat cancer? When was the first successful pacemaker invented? What is an artificial joint? Can humans use organs from other animals for transplants? A glossary and index are included, along with nearly 120 color illustrations, detailed medical charts and photographs help supplement the text. This handy reference helps make the language of anatomy—as well as physiology and pathology—more understandable and less intimidating. The Handy Anatomy Answer Book is an engaging look at the topic, the historic development of the science, the personalities behind the research, and the latest controversies and scientific advancements.