In 2006, Philip Marshall, the grandson of 103-year-old philanthropist Brooke Astor, brought forth allegations that his grandmother was being mistreated by her son and guardian, Tony Marshall. Shocking details of elder abuse soon followed, and in 2007, after Astor's death, Tony was indicted for stealing millions from her estate. In Mrs. Astor Regrets, journalist Meryl Gordon looks back at three generations of the Astor family and recounts the sad end to Astor's life. If you want to know even more about Brooke Astor, check out Frances Kiernan's The Last Mrs. Astor: A New York Story.

Thanks to his performances in films like A Streetcar Named Desire and The Godfather, Marlon Brando is widely considered one of the greatest actors of all time. This "compulsively readable" (Booklist) biography offers a fitting tribute to the acting legend, whose career spanned more than 50 years. Author Stefan Kanfer recounts all of Brando's roles--both the outstanding and the inferior--and also examines his tumultuous personal life, from his difficult relationship with his father to his self-destructive behavior. Pick up Somebody for an outstanding look at one of the 20th century's biggest icons.

Abraham Lincoln has been the subject of countless biographies, and now, on the 200th anniversary of his birth, author Fred Kaplan offers a unique addition to the Lincoln cannon: an analysis of Honest Abe's life through the prism of his writings. Kaplan examines all forms of Lincoln's writings, from love letters to his political speeches, to reveal the 16th president's linguistic genius and also to demonstrate how his words affected U.S. history. Other recently published Lincoln books include John Stauffer's Giants: The Parallel Lives of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass and John McPherson's Tried By War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander-In-Chief.

During the 1960s, Bob Zellner, a white Southerner from Alabama, was active in the civil rights movement, serving as a field secretary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. In The Wrong Side of Murder Creek, Zellner recounts the historic events he participated in and discusses how he was arrested, beaten, jailed, and almost killed as he helped to fight for racial equality. Readers who enjoy this "riveting" (Publishers Weekly) firsthand account of the civil rights movement should also grab John Lewis' Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement.

January 4, 1943. During her 1950s childhood on Long Island, New York, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin (No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The American Homefront During World War II) and her father, Michael Kearns, shared a love of baseball and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Wait Till Next Year is Goodwin's moving memoir about her relationship with her dad, how they bonded through baseball, and the death of her homemaker mother, who was chronically ill during Goodwin's youth. "Charming and endearing," says Publishers Weekly.

January 24, 1862. The author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Age of Innocence and numerous other critically acclaimed novels, Edith Wharton is considered one of America's greatest writers. But she was also a well-respected landscape architect, designer, and philanthropist who befriended such notable individuals as Theodore Roosevelt and Henry James. British critic Hermione Lee offers an in-depth view into Wharton's life and times, including her travels in Europe, the literary and artistic circles in which she worked, and the evolution of her writing. "A remarkable feat," notes The New York Times.

January 28, 1936. Emmy Award-winning actor Alan Alda became a household name in the 1970s when he starred on the TV show M*A*S*H, and since then he's remained in the public eye through his roles in film and TV and on the stage. In Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself, Alda looks back and reassesses the meaning of his life and the paths he has taken. He also ponders such questions as "What do I value?" and "What, exactly, is the good life?" If you enjoy this insightful and hilarious book, don't miss his first memoir, Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned.

January 30, 1882. From biographer Jean Edward Smith comes this multi-faceted portrait of one of America's most important presidents, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who led the nation out of the Great Depression and against the threat of totalitarianism during World War II. Smith details all aspects of FDR's life, from his difficult marriage to Eleanor Roosevelt to his achievements and challenges during his four terms in the White House. Publishers Weekly says FDR is "remarkably executed and a joy to read."

Nicknamed "The Bus" for his impressive ability to carry the ball with multiple defenders hanging off his back, retired Pittsburgh Steelers player Jerome Bettis is the fifth all-time leading rusher in NFL history, a six-time Pro Bowler, a Super Bowl champion...and the list goes on and on. In The Bus, Bettis chronicles his long journey from nerdy Detroit kid to Notre Dame star to NFL standout. Written in a conversational style and chock-full of insights into college recruiting, negotiating contracts, and life behind locker room doors, this biography will not disappoint football fans.

Johnny Unitas, "the golden arm," is without question one of the top NFL quarterbacks of all time. Drawing on interviews with colleagues, competitors, and others, sports journalist Tom Callahan provides a fascinating portrait of Unitas, whose achievements during his nearly 20-year career include leading the 1958 Colts against the New York Giants in the so-called "greatest game ever played," three NFL championships, and numerous MVP honors. Readers hungry for more about Johnny U might also want to peruse Lou Sahadi's Johnny Unitas: America's Quarterback.

Lou Holtz, who led six different college football programs to bowl games and received three national Coach of the Year honors, is one of the most successful coaches ever. In Wins, Losses, and Lessons, Holtz shares the story of his life, from his hardscrabble West Virginia childhood to his career at schools like Notre Dame and North Carolina State. Holtz also reflects on the people who shaped his life as well as those whose lives he touched. If you aren't already a member of Holtz's fan club, this funny, poignant, and surprisingly modest autobiography will have you joining his team.

The son of a Hungarian immigrant who arrived on Ellis Island with the equivalent of just 34 dollars in his pocket, professional football player Joe Namath--one of the first celebrity athletes--embodies the American dream. Author Mark Kriegel takes a penetrating look at Namath, discussing his upbringing, achievements at the University of Alabama, career with the New York Jets, and the birth of his larger-than-life public persona. Publishers Weekly calls this biography a "landmark portrait...a remarkable book."