Is true that California got its name from a book?

Yes, it's true that California got its name from a book. The name California was first used in the 16th-century Spanish novel, "The Adventures of Esplandián". The novel tells the story of a fictional island called California, located off the coast of Asia. The island was described as a paradise inhabited by beautiful women and ruled by a powerful queen.

In 1525, Spanish explorer, Hernán Cortés, used the name California to refer to the land that he had just discovered on the west coast of North America. Cortés believed that the land he had discovered was actually the mythical island from the novel. The name California was quickly adopted by other Spanish explorers and settlers, and eventually became the official name of the state.