CrimeNov 12, 2025
Father, Son Jewelers in Chicago Victims in Double Homicide JSA and Cook County Crime Stoppers are both offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved.
OtherSep 10, 2014
5 new, potentially good reads for September
National Jeweler sifted through Goodreads’ releases again this month to bring jewelers four more books that could be good for business, as well as one editor’s suggestion for a nice read on the side.
This month’s Goodreads selections include a book that guides business leaders on how to close the gap between strategy and sales efforts and one that teaches readers to find the information needed for critical decision-making.
New York--Online book discussion site Goodreads just released its list of recently published books for its users this month.
As it has done for the past few months, National Jeweler again has sifted through the virtual stacks to find a handful of recent releases that may be useful to business owners, including a book about closing the gap between business strategy and sales efforts, looking beyond the obvious to find the information needed to make critical decisions, and how to regain lost minutes and hours from “time bandits.”
The following list includes a brief summary of each and links to their information on Goodreads, as well as one additional book that comes highly recommended by one of our editors.
1. The Power of Noticing: What the Best Leaders See
Max Bazerman
Imagine the advantages one would have in negotiations, decision-making and leadership if a person could be taught to see and evaluate information that others overlook, Bazerman posits. In this book, he uses his extensive research and experience to teach readers exactly how to notice and act on information that might not be immediately obvious. He uses real-life experiences such as the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster and Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme to show what information was ignored and why. Using these examples, he challenges readers to recognize their “cognitive blind spots” and identify details that they would otherwise miss. This book is 240 pages.
2. The Time Bandit Solution: Recovering Stolen Time You Never Knew You Had
Edward Brown
Few people realize how often they’re at the mercy of what Brown refers to as “time bandits,” people who steal their time, not maliciously but nonetheless with negative effects on other pursuits. And since many of these people are also family, friends, colleagues and clients, nobody likes to say no or disappoint. In comes The Time Bandit Solution to help readers get rid of unwanted, unnecessary and unproductive interruptions and regain their time by teaching them methods to gracefully negotiate with “time bandits” to prevent the interruptions that sap productivity and personal satisfaction. This book is 248 pages.
3. Aligning Strategy and Sales: The Choices, Systems, and Behaviors that Drive Effective Selling
Frank Cespedes
The gap between a company’s sales efforts and strategy is often very real, and also a huge vulnerability. This book takes a look at how to address that gap, actionably and with support
from recent relevant research. Harvard Business School professor Frank Cespedes equips readers with the ability to link their market initiatives with strategic goals, offering a map to articulate a strategy that other team members can understand and that will encourage behavior for profitable growth. This book is 336 pages.
4. Unlocking Potential: 7 Coaching Skills That Transform Individuals, Teams, and Organizations
Michael Simpson
To be an effective leader, bosses need to be more than just managers; they also need to be coaches. After spending more than 25 years training executives to become effective coaches, Simpson wrote this book to help leaders acquire the skills to coach personnel from the ground up, maximizing potential on a personal level, as members of the team, and as part of the overall organization. A change in strategy like this can transform business relationships and optimize productivity, profitability, loyalty, and customer focus, according to Simpson. This book is 146 pages.
5. Editor’s recommendation: Gone Girl
Gillian Flynn
Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator might be a little behind on getting around to this one, but it’s better late than never with this suspenseful thriller. The book tackles the floundering marriage of Nick and Amy Dunne. It’s the day of their fifth wedding anniversary when Amy goes missing from their home on the Mississippi River in Carthage, Mo. Nick eventually becomes a prime suspect due to a few reasons, chief among them that he used her money to start a business, increased her life insurance, and also appeared unemotional and erratic when in the news. The story continues as the mystery unfolds and the reader aims to find out what happened that day and who’s really guilty. This book is 395 pages.
More on Other
The Latest
AuctionsNov 12, 2025
‘Mellon Blue’ Diamond Sells for $7M Less Than It Did a Decade AgoA buyer paid $25.6 million for the diamond at Christie’s on Tuesday. In 2014, Sotheby’s sold the same stone for $32.6 million.
WatchesNov 12, 2025
Historic Rolex Oyster Fetches $1.7M at Sotheby’sMercedes Gleitze famously wore the watch in her 1927 swim across the English Channel, a pivotal credibility moment for the watchmaker.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
GradingNov 12, 2025
It’s Time: GIA’s Express Holiday Service Is Back GIA is offering next-day services for natural, colorless diamonds submitted to its labs in New York and Carlsbad.
Weekly QuizNov 06, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsNov 10, 2025
Jewelers Focus on Love, Joy In 2025 Holiday Campaigns Tiffany & Co., David Yurman, and Pandora have launched holiday campaigns depicting their jewelry as symbols of affection and happiness.
SurveysNov 10, 2025
5 Things Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearThe National Retail Federation is bullish on the holidays, forecasting retail sales to exceed $1 trillion this year.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America Aligns New Mission to Create Meaningful Impact for MembersFrom educational programs, advocacy, and recent MJSA affiliation, Jewelers of America drives progress that elevates businesses of all sizes.
AuctionsNov 10, 2025
300+ Colored Diamonds Up for Auction at Christie’sLate collector Eddy Elzas assembled “The Rainbow Collection,” which is offered as a single lot and estimated to fetch up to $3 million.
EditorsNov 07, 2025
Piece of the Week: An MVP’s Sapphire Tennis Necklace At the 2025 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto sported a custom necklace made by California retailer Happy Jewelers.
IndependentsNov 07, 2025
Foundrae’s New Palm Beach Location Is a ‘Golden Solarium’The brand’s seventh location combines Foundrae’s symbolic vocabulary with motifs from Florida’s natural surroundings.
FinancialsNov 07, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s H1 Sales Up 8%The retailer also shared an update on the impact of tariffs on watch customers.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
Pink Tourmaline Bracelet, Emerald Suite Take Top Spectrum Honors Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Hosts Raffle Supporting Food RescueAll proceeds from the G. St x Jewel Boxing raffle will go to City Harvest, which works to end hunger in New York City.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Cornell’s Jewelers Names New PresidentCourtney Cornell is part of the third generation to lead the Rochester, New York-based jeweler.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
De Beers’ Production, Sales Increase in Q3 De Beers also announced more changes in its upper ranks ahead of parent company Anglo American’s pending sale of the company.
WatchesNov 05, 2025
Shinola President Steps Down Just as He Starts Former Signet CEO Mark Light will remain president of Shinola until a replacement for Ulrich Wohn is found.
AuctionsNov 05, 2025
Taylor Swift’s Engagement Ring Designer Makes Her Auction DebutKindred Lubeck of Artifex has three rings she designed with Anup Jogani in Sotheby’s upcoming Gem Drop sale.
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Pandora Posts Modest Q3 Sales Growth Amid ‘Weak’ Consumer Sentiment The company focused on marketing in the third quarter and introduced two new charm collections, “Pandora Talisman” and “Pandora Minis.”
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q3 Sales Climb 10%The jewelry retailer raised its full-year guidance, with CFO Jeff Kuo describing the company as “very well positioned” for the holidays.
Policies & IssuesNov 04, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case WednesdayAhead of the hearing, two industry organizations co-signed an amicus brief urging the court to declare Trump’s tariffs unlawful.
MajorsNov 04, 2025
Danny Clark to Become Stuller CEO, Succeeding Matt StullerStuller COO Belit Myers will take on the additional role of president, with all changes effective at the start of 2026.
ColumnistsNov 04, 2025
Peter Smith: What Do Birds Have to Do With the Price of Gold? Smith cautions retailers against expending too much energy on things they can’t control, like the rising price of gold.
TrendsNov 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Fall Colors for November BirthdaysCitrine and topaz are birthstones fit for fall as the leaves change color and the holiday season approaches.
IndependentsNov 04, 2025
Weston Jewelers Heads to Fort LauderdaleThe family-owned jeweler will open its fourth store in Florida in late 2027.
CrimeNov 03, 2025
Men Dressed as Construction Workers Burglarize Jeweler’s Home The NYPD is looking for three men who stole a safe and jewelry valued at $3.2 million from the home of a jeweler in Jamaica Hills, Queens.
MajorsNov 03, 2025
Matthew Rosenheim Takes Over as JA Board ChairThe trade organization also announced its executive committee and five new directors.
