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The Rough Guide to California, by the Rough Guide Editors, Rough Guides, 2005, $14.29 list $21.99).

(Prior edition cover shown.) Literate, breezy, and void of puff. Interesting sidebars, good maps, good culture/history coverage.
A good basic guidebook to the entire state, without a lot of tourist fluff and worthless color plates. Here's the publisher's description:
"... California -- a state that plays host to countless communities and cultures as it sprawls across untold climates and terrain. The Rough Guide takes you to the heart of the great cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and up-and-coming San Diego, offering critical reviews of hotels, restaurants, clubs and bars for all budgets and tastes. For outdoor enthusiasts, the book covers California's natural wonders, from Yosemite to Big Sur, the deserts and the Grand Canyon. It delivers the lowdown on all the hot sports, from mountain biking to rock climbing, surfing and more. ..."
burp
(Currently out of print - but click the "buy" button to see if you can get one anyhow.
Outside Magazine's Adventure Guide to Northern California, by Andrew Rice, Frommer, $12.76 (list $15.95).

Ultra-practical stuff for outdoor enthusiasts.
If your main interests in California travel involve outdoor pursuits (beyond virtually anything else), this is your guide. It'll give you all the details on where to bike, mtn.
bike, hike, canoe, kayak, birdwatch, climb, fish, backpack, camp ... etc., etc., everywhere in Northern California, along with the usual travel guide info. Look for the Outside Southern Calif. guide, coming soon.
murp
California : 88 Great Vacations and Easy Outings (Eighty-Eight Great Vacations Series), by Lou Bignami, McGraw Hill 1997, $14.95.

This is a good choice for California residents. There are a lot of "in" destinations here you might not know about.
Man, what a funky title! But a closer look will reveal some thoughtful writing and loads of places most California explorers aren't familiar with at all. An especially good bet for weekend warriors.
woof
The Dog Lover's Guide to California, by Maria Goodavage, Avalon Travel 2005, 1003 pages, $15.72 (list $24.95).
(Pic. is of prior edition.) This is the finest doggy travel book you can buy. Our best four-legged friends go everywhere we go, and we're always using this book to separate the canophobic innkeepers from the dog-friendly ones. A must for all California dog owners. Goodavage even lists restaurants where you can eat al fresco with your mutt at your feet. Most parks, campgrounds, and major trails are in here, too -- complete with a five-paw rating system. Broken down by county, with an excellent index and map-based table of contents.