From a Betta fish brooch to a “dragon’s trove” of zircon eggs, here are seven pieces that’ve stuck with Associate Editor Lauren McLemore.
3 New, Potentially Good Reads for May
Why do some people succeed while others fail? It’s more about grit than talent, according to a new book.

New York--A book about the power of grit and another by a former FBI hostage negotiator detailing the nine key tactics of negotiation are among the new releases for the month of May.
Each month, National Jeweler’s editors comb through the online stacks of book discussion site Goodreads and consult other sources to find new releases that could be helpful to business owners, particularly jewelry retailers.
Here are three new, potentially good books, two of which will be available this month and one that came out in April.
Angela Duckworth
Grit is the first book from Duckworth, a Ph.D. and professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania who has advised Fortune 500 CEOs and NFL teams. In Grit, she theorizes that success is less about talent and more about following through on commitments and identifying passions. This book is 320 pages.
Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator who was once the bureau’s lead negotiator for international kidnappings. In his book, he shares nine counter-intuitive tactics and strategies that the reader can use to become more persuasive in both their professional and personal life. This book is 288 pages.
The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at Time
Arianna Huffington
While this technically came out in April, The Sleep Revolution is worth mentioning in May, as it has touched off numerous conversations about workplace culture (jewelers, is there a nap pod in your store?) and a well-rested employee being a happier and therefore more productive worker. This book is 400 pages.
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