Seventeen years ago, housewife Mary Jo Buttafuoco's name was on every tabloid cover in America--all thanks to her husband, Joey Buttafuoco, and his affair with teenager Amy Fischer, who shot and nearly killed Mary Jo on the front steps of the Buttafuocos' Massapequa, New York, home. Surprisingly, Mary Jo stayed with Joey for eight years after the shooting, and in Getting It Through My Thick Skull, she reveals why she stood by her man--and why she ultimately decided to leave. Featuring never-before-published letters, this fascinating memoir will appeal to anyone who is still curious about the Long Island Lolita scandal as well as readers familiar with dysfunctional relationships.

In Strength in What Remains, author Tracy Kidder--whom Kirkus Reviews calls a "master of narrative nonfiction"--shares the inspiring story of Deo, who survived civil war in Burundi before immigrating to the United States. In 1994, when Deo arrived in New York City, he had only $200 to his name and didn't speak a word of English. He ended up homeless, living in Central Park, but thanks to his determination and hard work, he learned English and eventually made his way to medical school. Now a physician and an American citizen, Deo continually returns to Burundi, where he has set up a medical clinic. "One of the truly stunning books I’ve read this year," says New York Times reviewer Ron Suskind.

Fans of Dean Koontz probably know him best as the author of numerous spine-tingling bestsellers; now, in A Big Little Life, Koontz offers readers something completely different: a memoir of his life with his late golden retriever, Trixie, a retired service dog whom Koontz and his wife adopted. Koontz believes that there was something special and unique--even magical--about his beloved pup, whose joyful nature positively affected Koontz's entire life. Not just another Marley & Me (though fans of John Grogan's book will certainly enjoy this tribute, too), A Big Little Life stands on its own as "one dog book that everyone other than the most flint-hearted dog-haters will deeply enjoy" (Booklist).

In October 1998, Judy Shepard's life was shattered when her son, University of Wyoming college student Matthew Shepard, was murdered by two men because he was gay. Now, ten years after his death, Shepard looks back on Matthew's life and chronicles the impact of his slaying on gay rights. She also reflects on how she coped with his murder, the incredible public response in the days and months after his death, and her work as an activist for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues. Kirkus Reviews calls The Meaning of Matthew "honest and inspiring."

October 1, 1935. In the first of what may be several memoirs by the well-loved singer and actress, Julie Andrews addresses her childhood and early successes on stage, stopping just short of her film debut in Mary Poppins. This personal account by the iconic star also includes a look at the era in which she grew up--post-war England--and a behind-the-scenes tour of her Broadway successes in My Fair Lady and Camelot (she includes many anecdotes about famous actors like Rex Harrison and Richard Burton). There's much for fans to learn--and enjoy--here.

October 9, 1940. More than 20 years after writing Shout!, an excellent history of the Beatles, author Philip Norman has returned to the topic with a comprehensive portrait of rock icon and Beatles member John Lennon. Though Norman focuses on Lennon's life outside of the band that made him famous, there's plenty here for Beatles fans to appreciate. Those curious about the formative experiences of Lennon's life and his relationships with his wives and others close to him (he was raised by his mother's sister) will have plenty to chew on as well.

October 14, 1890. Born Dwight David Eisenhower to impoverished pacifist parents in Denison, Texas, "Ike" Eisenhower was the most unlikely of men to reach the top of the U.S. Army--let alone to occupy the nation's highest office. But rise he did, becoming a five-star general and the nation's 34th president. Eisenhower: A Soldier's Life is military historian Carlo D'Este's insightful and lively portrait of Ike, including his humble beginnings, his leadership during World War II, and his time in the Oval Office. For more on Eisenhower, check out Michael Korda's Ike: An American Hero.

October 29, 1921. In Bill Mauldin: A Life Up Front, historian Todd DePastino chronicles the life and times of the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, whose career was launched during World War II. Beginning with Mauldin's childhood in New Mexico, DePastino traces Mauldin's entire life, from his military service with the 45th Infantry Division and the evolution of his art to his tumultuous personal life and post-war successes and failures. If you like this lively book and want to read about another legendary comic creator, check out David Michaelis' Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography.

Do you ever fantasize about fulfilling a lifelong dream? Do you love a good underdog story? If so, you must check out The 33-Year-Old Rookie, Chris Coste's inspiring account of his 11-year battle to make it into the Major Leagues. Unlike most pros, Coste got his start in junior college baseball; he then hung in there when most of us would have quit--including playing for whatever team that would take him, a nomadic existence with his wife and their young daughter, and having to change his position from pitcher to catcher. At the age of 33, Coste made it onto the Philadelphia Phillies, though he now plays for the Houston Astros. Baseball fans shouldn't miss this uplifting story.

The son of Italian immigrants, Giuseppe "Joe" Paolo DiMaggio, Jr., was one of baseball's biggest icons. Not only did he have a record-setting career with the New York Yankees (his 56-game hitting streak has yet to be broken), but he was also one of the sport's earliest celebrity ball players. Biographer Richard Ben Cramer documents DiMaggio's storied and sometimes tragic life, from his successes on the field to his tumultuous personal life off the diamond, including his ill-fated marriage to--and sometimes violent relationship with--actress Marilyn Monroe. DiMaggio, who passed away in 1999, was a notoriously private man; check out this book for a revealing glimpse into his personal life.

Luckiest Man recounts the heroic life of famed baseball player Lou Gehrig, whose career as a first baseman for the New York Yankees was cut short by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the disease that is commonly known by his own name. Biographer Jonathan Eig describes Gehrig's humble beginnings as the son of German immigrants, his record-breaking baseball career and tense relationship with teammate Babe Ruth, and the devastating onset and progression of his illness. Check out Luckiest Man to discover the real man behind the myth.

Though he wasn't the greatest to have ever played the sport, Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente's life--and death--is the stuff of legend amongst baseball fans. In fact, demand for memorabilia bearing Clemente's name is second only to that of Mickey Mantle--but why? In this nuanced portrait, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Maraniss answers that question, detailing the Latino baseball star's impoverished childhood, his 18 years with the Pirates, his humanitarian work, and his death in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972. "Now, thanks to Maraniss, Clemente's legacy is suitably defined and explained," says The New York Times.