Around the Word

Today we're mixing private and public with two much-anticipated memoirs and a handful of public speaking pointers.

• Rolling Stones guitarist, renegade rock legend, fame-shy former dope addict—in a word, Keith Richards is a storied figure. Now he's bringing his adventures with the "pirate nation" of the Stones to Life, his memoir released today. The New York Times's Michiko Kakutani raves over the "electrifying" book that speaks in a voice "earnest and wicked, sweet and sarcastic and unsparing," painting a searing picture of rock'n'roll's coming of age and of Richards's years parrying unmanageable fame with addiction. The book, co-written by veteran journalist James Fox, is also available as an audiobook narrated by Johnny Depp, while the Apple iBook version includes a Google Maps function for tracing Richards's peregrinations.

• Former President George W. Bush is capping off White House memoir month—inaugurated by Condoleeza Rice's Extraordinary, Ordinary People earlier in October—with his book Decision Points. As the former president gears up for the release in a few weeks, he'll be giving interviews to Oprah Winfrey and "The Today Show" host Matt Lauer. We're guessing we speak for everyone involved when we hope that the American public will show more decorum than the egg-lobbing Brits who greeted Tony Blair's first book signing for his memoir.

• Every public speaker has a lot to remember on the rostrum: who to thank, the key points, who your audience is, where to place emphasis or pauses—oh and did you remember to breathe? The Eloquent Woman has a few tips for the things her readers say are the first to slip their minds when they step up to the mic. Among her hints? If you forget to make eye contact or speak slowly, try jotting down cues after each paragraph, and don't be afraid to use notes—or even a Kindle—to remember names or central points. And smile! Smiling releases chemicals that calm you down, and will put your audience at ease. What's your cure for audience-induced amnesia?

• Meanwhile, public speaking guru and Trust Me author Nick Morgan promises that a great speech is closer than you think. In his new eBook, released by New Word City, Morgan guides readers through 7 Steps to a Great Speech, removing the stumbling-blocks of anxiety and stress. What's more, he offers to clear a path to the golden land—a standing ovation.

• Arizona's Bookmans bookstore is making the Literary Domino Effect—the more you read, the more you want to read—literal. GalleyCat hosts the exhilarating promo video here.