Recommendations based on A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dogby Dean Koontz

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World

    by Vicki Myron
    The heartwarming true story of a library cat who touched the lives of a small-town community.

    How much of an impact can an animal have? How many lives can one cat touch? How is it possible for an abandoned kitten to transform a small library, save a classic American town, and eventually ... (Goodreads)

  2. Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog

    by John Grogan
    A heartfelt journey of a family and their beloved, but mischievous, dog.

    John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of ... (Goodreads)

  3. Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl

    by Stacey O'Brien
    A remarkable story of an owl's unconditional love and the bond between a woman and her beloved pet.

    When biologist Stacey O'Brien first met a four-day-old baby barn owl with nerve damage in one wing, she knew he had no hope of surviving on his own in the wild, so gave him a permanent home living ... (Goodreads)

  4. Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog

    by Ted Kerasote
    A dog's journey of freedom and friendship, teaching us about loyalty and life.

    While on a camping trip, Ted Kerasote met a dog—a Labrador mix—who was living on his own in the wild. They became attached to each other, and Kerasote decided to name the dog Merle and bring him ... (Goodreads)

  5. Sybil: The Classic True Story of a Woman Possessed by Sixteen Personalities

    by Flora Rheta Schreiber
    A psychological case study of the effects of dissociative identity disorder.

    Here is the unbelievable yet true story of Sybil Dorsett, a survivor of terrible childhood abuse who as an adult was a victim of sudden and mysterious blackouts. What happened during those blackouts ... (Goodreads)

  6. All Creatures Great and Small

    by James Herriot
    A charming tale of a veterinarian and his animal patients in the Yorkshire Dales.

    The classic multimillion copy bestseller Delve into the magical, unforgettable world of James Herriot, the world's most beloved veterinarian, and his menagerie of heartwarming, funny, and tragic ... (Goodreads)

  7. An Invisible Thread

    by Laura Schroff
    A miraculous story of an unlikely friendship that changed two lives forever.

    From #1, New York Times, bestselling authors Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski comes the young readers edition of an unbelievable memoir about an unlikely friendship that forever changed the lives ... (Barnes & Noble)

  8. Never Cry Wolf: The Amazing True Story of Life Among Arctic Wolves

    by Farley Mowat
    A scientist's immersive study of Arctic wolves in the wild, challenging preconceptions of predator behavior.

    More than a half-century ago the naturalist Farley Mowat was sent to investigate why wolves were killing arctic caribou. Mowat's account of the summer he lived in the frozen tundra alone—studying the ... (Goodreads)

  9. Out of Africa

    by Isak Dinesen
    Memoir of a Danish author's life in Kenya, exploring nature and culture.

    'Out of Africa' is Isak Dinesen's memoir of her years in Africa, from 1914 to 1931, on a four-thousand-acre coffee plantation in the hills near Nairobi. She had come to Kenya from Denmark with her ... (Goodreads)

  10. Seabiscuit: An American Legend

    by Laura Hillenbrand
    An inspiring story of the rise of champion racehorse Seabiscuit and his unlikely jockey.

    There's an alternate cover edition, here, Seabiscuit was one of the most electrifying and popular attractions in sports history and the single biggest newsmaker in the world in 1938, receiving more ... (Goodreads)

  11. All Things Wise and Wonderful

    by James Herriot
    Reflections on a rural vet's life in Yorkshire, England, through humorous and heartwarming stories.

    The third volume in the multimillion copy bestselling series Readers adored James Herriot's tales of his life as a Yorkshire animal doctor in All Creatures Great and Small and All Things Bright and ... (Goodreads)

  12. The Elephant Whisperer

    by Lawrence Anthony
    A story of the unlikely bond between a conservationist and a herd of wild elephants.

    When South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony was asked to accept a herd of 'rogue' elephants on his Thula Thula game reserve in South Africa, his commonsense told him to refuse. But he was the ... (Goodreads)

  13. Stumbling on Happiness

    by Daniel Todd Gilbert
    A scientific exploration of why we often fail to predict what will make us happy and how we can find happiness in unexpected ways.

    • Why are lovers quicker to forgive their partners for infidelity than for leaving dirty dishes in the sink? • Why will sighted people pay more to avoid going blind than blind people will pay to ... (Goodreads)

  14. All Things Bright and Beautiful

    by James Herriot
    A heartwarming memoir of a veterinarian's journey in the Yorkshire countryside.

    A tie-in to the upcoming PBS Masterpiece series and Christmas special., The second volume in the multimillion copy bestselling series. Millions of readers have delighted in the wonderful storytelling ... (Barnes & Noble)

  15. Gift from the Sea

    by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
    Exploring the depths of the ocean, seeking solace and wisdom.

    In this inimitable, beloved classic—graceful, lucid and lyrical—Anne Morrow Lindbergh shares her meditations on youth and age; love and marriage; peace, solitude and contentment as she set them down ... (Goodreads)

  16. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West

    by Dee Brown
    An in-depth account of the displacement of Native American tribes by the US government.

    Now a special 30th-anniversary edition in both hardcover and paperback, the classic bestselling history The New York Times called "Original, remarkable, and finally heartbreaking...Impossible to put ... (Goodreads)

  17. At Home: A Short History of Private Life

    by Bill Bryson
    An exploration of the extraordinary and often overlooked history of the home.

    “Houses aren’t refuges from history. They are where history ends up.” Bill Bryson and his family live in a Victorian parsonage in a part of England where nothing of any great significance has ... (Goodreads)

  18. Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back

    by Todd Burpo
    A young boy's spiritual journey of dying and visiting Heaven, and the aftermath of his visions.

    Unglaublich oder erstaunlich? Urteilen Sie selbst: Colton ist vier Jahre alt, als er lebensgefährlich erkrankt und operiert werden muss. Er überlebt um Haaresbreite. Später erzählt er seinen Eltern, ... (Goodreads)

  19. The Vow

    by Kim Carpenter
    A true story of a couple's love and commitment tested by a tragic accident that leaves the wife with no memory of her husband or their life together.

    Life as Kim and Krickitt Carpenter knew it was shattered beyond recognition on November 24, 1993. Two months after their marriage, a devastating car wreck left Krickitt with a massive head injury and ... (Barnes & Noble)

  20. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

    by John Berendt
    A journalist's exploration of a mysterious murder in Savannah, Georgia.

    A sublime and seductive reading experience. This portrait of a beguiling Southern city was a best-seller (though a flop as a movie). ~ Shots rang out in Savannah's grandest mansion in the misty, ... (Goodreads)

  21. The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven: A Remarkable Account of Miracles, Angels, and Life beyond This World

    by Kevin Malarkey
    A boy's account of his journey to heaven and back after a car accident. A story of faith, miracles, and hope.

    In 2004, Kevin Malarkey and his six-year-old son, Alex, suffered an horrific car accident. The impact from the crash paralyzed Alex—and medically speaking, it was unlikely that he could survive. “I ... (Barnes & Noble)

  22. Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman

    by Alice Steinbach
    A middle-aged woman travels solo through Europe, seeking adventure and self-discovery.

    "In many ways, I was an independent woman," writes Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Alice Steinbach. “For years I’d made my own choices, paid my own bills, shoveled my own snow.” But somehow she had ... (Goodreads)

  23. Be Prepared

    by Vera Brosgol
    A graphic memoir of a young girl's experience at a Russian summer camp and her struggle to fit in.

    "Beautifully drawn, brutally funny, brilliantly honest. Vera is such a good cartoonist I almost can’t stand it.” —Raina Telgemeier, author of Smile In Be Prepared , all Vera wants to do is fit in—but ... (Barnes & Noble)

  24. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time

    by Greg Mortenson
    A man's mission to build schools in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan to promote peace.

    The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard Anyone who despairs of the individual’s ... (Goodreads)

  25. Real Friends

    by Shannon Hale
    A story of friendship, exploring the highs and lows of navigating relationships.

    “Fresh and funny.” —,New York Times, Book Review Newbery Honor author Shannon Hale and New York Times bestselling illustrator LeUyen Pham join forces in this graphic memoir about how hard it is to ... (Barnes & Noble)

  26. Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived

    by Ralph Helfer
    The incredible true story of a boy and his elephant, Modoc, and their journey through life together.

    Modoc tells the true story of Bram, a German boy , and his elephant , Modoc. They’re both born on the same day and the same hour. Bram’s father – a third-generation elephant trainer in a circus – has ... (Wikipedia)

  27. Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual

    by Jocko Willink
    A comprehensive guide to developing mental and physical discipline towards achieving success.

    In this expanded edition of the 2017 mega-bestseller, updated with brand new sections like DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY, SUGAR COATED LIES and DON'T NEGOTIATE WITH WEAKNESS, readers will discover new ways ... (Barnes & Noble)

  28. My Lucky Life in and Out of Show Business

    by Dick Van Dyke
    Autobiography of Dick Van Dyke, detailing his life in and out of show business, from his childhood to his iconic roles in film and television.

    Dick Van Dyke, indisputably one of the greats of the golden age of television, is admired and beloved by audiences the world over for his beaming smile, his physical dexterity, his impeccable comic ... (Goodreads)

  29. Frozen in Time: An Epic Story of Survival and a Modern Quest for Lost Heroes of World War II

    by Mitchell Zuckoff
    A gripping account of a WWII aircrew's crash and subsequent survival, and a modern-day investigation into the tragedy.

    Frozen in Time is a gripping true story of survival, bravery, and honor in the vast Arctic wilderness during World War II, from Mitchell Zuckoff, the author of New York Times bestseller Lost in ... (Barnes & Noble)

  30. Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World

    by Rita Golden Gelman
    A woman leaves her conventional life behind to travel the world, immersing herself in different cultures and discovering her true self.

    “I move throughout the world without a plan, guided by instinct, connecting through trust, and constantly watching for serendipitous opportunities. ” —From the Preface Tales of a Female Nomad is the ... (Goodreads)