Workshop is presented by Dr. Jerlando Jacksob, PhD, University of Wisconsin -Madison
This is part of the Black Men's Think Tank that I am attending today. #BMTT
I've made a lot of new friends on the golf courses in China recently! Way to go team!
James Donaldson Book Review: The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Eagan ****
http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B002V1CKB8&qid=1364749596&s..." title="The Worst Hard Time"> http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B002V1CKB8&qid=1364749596&s...
It's the 1930's and all around you, the country is in dire straits because of the Great Depression. There is no escape, and then your area of the country gets hit by some of the most severe drought and dust conditions of Biblical proportions ever recorded in modern history. Crops dry up and blow away, dust is so thick and choking that it blocks out the sun, farm animals drop right where they stand, and your neighbors are packing up and getting the hell out of there!
Those are the conditions described in the Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan in a vivid portrayal that really does a great job in conveying the pain and suffering that so many people were forced to endure, with no help or ending in sight.
The Government had its hands tied by the Depressions that was in full swing, and these hard scrabble folks from the Heartland, hung in there and made the best of the awful situation that they could.
Great book that I recommend to everyone who thinks that the times that we're going through over the last several years in this country have been rough, just imagine yourself in a different time and place... that actually took place on our country!
James Donaldson Book Review: Adams vs. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800 by John Ferling *****
http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B002V1BOP6&qid=1364747368&sr=1-1
I love it, when in reading (ah, I mean, listening to) a book, where the author can make the story seem to just jump off the pages and come to life. That's especially true, when there is already so much in the way of documented writings, books and movies about the topic such as in the Presidential election of 1800 which pitted John Adams against Thomas Jefferson.
Today's politics are pretty tame compared to what used to go on back in the day. What with all of the name calling, cartoon depictions, and sometimes near fisticuffs or a dual in the streets. Yes, today's politics and politicians are downright boring compared to what the author, John Ferling, describes in this book.
I'm not a big history buff, or political junky, but Ferling's book kept my attention and helped me to learn a lot of things that I didn't know about in the early days of our great nation!
James Donaldson Book Review: After Fidel: The Inside Story of Castro’s Regime and Cuba’s Next Leader *****
http://www.audible.com/pd?asin=B002V5BTL6
The author, Brian Latell, does a fabulous job in telling the journey of Fidel Castro from an upstart rebel to a revolutionary figure who dared take a stand against the powerful neighbor to the north in the United States. Who would have thought that he would outlast US Presidents and other world leaders throughout the last 50 years!
The Bay of Pigs, the Kennedy's, the heated rhetoric between the two neighboring countries of the US and Cuba, this dynamic has been in place for the last couple of generations.
Although he is in the twilight of his life and the curtain is closing quickly, he is still a figure and personality to be dealt with. Even though he has passed the daily powers of running Cuba on to his "not much younger" brother, Raul, several years ago, Fidel is still the person who we all readily attach to Cuba and it has been that way for half a century.
Things will change in a hurry (if not drastically) when the Castro Brother exit from the world stage, question is, how will the United States react and behave when the inevitable happens to the Castro Brothers and Cuba is under new leadership.
Hugo Chavez from Venezuela, just left this world recently, so things are always changing and the United States has to be ready.
A great read for history buffs, current event buffs, political buffs and good reading buffs! I highly recommend this book!
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNTMyMDc4NDA4.html
Here's a nice video of me and some of my NBA friends at the NBA All Star weekend that took place in February 2013. It's broadcast back to China, so I'm sure it'll make the rounds and go viral there!
James Donaldson Book Review: The 9/11 Commission Report by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks *****
http://www.audible.com/pd?asin=B002V5BUYM
I found this report/book very interesting and captivating throughout. Perhaps it was because the 9/11 attacks on United States, are still so recent and fresh in our minds of those who lived through it all. It was a terrifying time and I find that this report helps to answer a lot of questions with factual agreed upon bi-partisan ism that we don't see coming down from Capitol Hill too often.
This is a very long, 3 part book, but I found it to be an interesting read and keeps moving along just fast enough to keep my attention.
Is it the last word on the subject? I doubt it...there will always be conspiracy theories, books and movies that abound, and I'm sure that after "all is said and done", we may even find out more, but for now, this has got to be one of the most comprehensive reports/books yet.
James Donaldson Book Review: The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene *****
http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B002VA8IXS&qid=1364124567&sr=1-1
When I first read this book a couple years ago, it was so apropos for where I was in my life as I was going through a career change myself. The book helped me to realize that harboring deep inside of me, was a lot of untapped potential and power that I've yet to utilize. Ever since then, I've made it a point to implement several of the 48 Laws of Power into my daily life as I possibly can. If nothing else, this book is a great "get off first base and start rounding the bases" book for anyone who feels that their life could use a little bit of a kickstart.
I thought that the author, Robert Greene, kept the book on track, simple, easy to follow and matter of factual. Anyone who's willing to implement even 5 or 10 (you'll quickly find that The Laws naturally flow into each other and build upon each other) of these Laws of Power into their lives, won't be able to help themselves from making better decisions, and taking more control over their lives. Yet, at the same time, living a very fulfilling existence as we all ought to do. Of course, I don’t agree with every single one of the 48 Laws of Power (you’d have to be pretty callous, shallow and selfish to do so ), but it’s a great book to remind us of some of the things that we can do to maintain a sense of power and control in our lives when we feel we need it.
I highly recommend this book as a great reference tool for your "toolbox kit of life"!
Here are some of my favorites of The 48 Laws of Power:
Hi all, just thought I’d share a little something about what I’m up to in China now a days.
Enjoy!
James
http://contextchina.com/2013/03/former-nba-star-james-donaldson-now-plays-on-a-bigger-court-china/
Former NBA Star James Donaldson Now Plays on a Bigger Court: China
By Wen Liu on March 12, 2013
After 20 years of playing professional basketball, including three seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics, James Donaldson is finding a new career in the hottest basketball market around: China.
These days Donaldson is spending eight months a year in China, combining two of his passions: sports and education. On sports, he works to create events for American pro basketball teams to play in China and to bring Chinese basketball teams to the U.S for training and study. On education, he visits high schools and universities in China and talks to students about study abroad opportunities in the U.S.
That’s quite a career turn from his days as a professional athlete. Donaldson played in the Seattle SuperSonics from 1980 to 1983, made the 1988 NBA All-Stars, and his 14 years in the NBA included stints with the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and Utah Jazz. He also played six years in Europe. In 2006, Donaldson was inducted into the Pac–10 Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2010, as a director of the National Basketball Retired Players Association, he made his first trip to China with Charles Smith, the association’s executive director. Citing an NBA market survey showing an estimated 750 million Chinese basketball fans in China, Donaldson said they were there to explore opportunities for retired NBA players. In the two-week trip, they visited Beijing, Guangzhou, Qingdao and Hong Kong, meeting Chinese sports-related businesses and talking about basketball camps, coaching, clothing, shoes, and sponsorships.
Not only did the trip open Donaldson’s eyes to China, he was hooked. He found the opportunities there for personal growth and business ventures enticing. He also discovered a new potential audience for his book, “Standing above the Crowd –Execute Your Game Plan to Become the Best You Can Be,” about strategies for success in career and in life.
But what led to an even deeper involvement in China was a chance encounter on an airplane.
In June 2012, while flying from Seattle to Beijing, Donaldson started chatting with a passenger from China sitting next to him. The gentleman turned out to be Peter Lu, an official of the China Service Center for Friendship and Cooperation with Foreign Countries and head of a program for student exchange between the U.S. and China. After the dozen hours of in-flight conversation about sports and education, the two became business partners. Donaldson became a director of the China Service Center.
Now working in both China and the U.S., Donaldson is busy building on a network of agencies and schools for both NBA retired players and the student exchange program.
The 7-foot-2 Donaldson, who was born in England and grew up in California, is so tall that wherever he goes in China he causes a flurry of excitement, as strangers approach and ask to take photos with him. He loves it, and the attention helps open doors. “I have many friends now in China,” he said, adding that he’s learning to speak Mandarin Chinese.
Donaldson’s Chinese name is 唐路神, Tang Lu Shen, which means “king of the road” or “god of the highway,” a name given to him by one of his Chinese friends in Seattle that combines the sound of his last name, his frequent travels, and his height.
Donaldson studied psychology and sociology at Washington State University where he played basketball for the Cougars before joining the NBA. In the middle of his basketball career, in 1989, Donaldson experienced a devastating knee injury. He started a physical therapy business the following year, as both an alternative career and a way to share with others who experienced injury. Today, The Donaldson Clinic, located in Mill Creek, is still going strong with 25 employees.
As someone who continued to challenge himself, Donaldson also ran for mayor of Seattle in 2009, coming in fourth. Besides improving the city’s budget process and championing small businesses, he wanted to get another NBA team to come to Seattle.
Now the former Sonic is very excited about the team’s possible return. “I think it’s fantastic,” he said. “I think it is going to happen.” With the NBA back in town, he sees potential business opportunities ahead. “It will attract more Chinese tourists to Seattle,” he added.
Among his various projects, Donaldson plans to invite Chinese basketball groups here, and even, he hopes, organize a Chinese professional team to come play a game with Seattle, bringing the two parts of his career together on the same court.
James Donaldson Book Review: The 85% Solution by Linda Galindo *** http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B003D0I5I8&qid=1359937733&sr=1-1
It was good reading a book for a change that really stresses personal accountability, the matter what happens to us in life. The downturn in the economy, and a lot of us being "the victim", and when we do that to an overabundance, we can't see our way clearly to come up with reasonable practical solutions.
The author, Linda Galindo, suggest to us some every day, easy-to-follow suggestions, that most likely will make a terrific difference in your life.
Here is just a sampling:
- Responsibility
- Self Empowerment
- What's Done Is Done
- Just Say No
- The Magic Of "And"
By adapting some of these easy-to-follow, and easily implemented tidbits into our everyday lives, we can free ourselves to be better able to handle any situation that comes our way, also we can become better leaders, better teammates and increase our quality of life.
In this day and age where there is so much negativity going around, and it doesn't seem to be much light at the end of the tunnel, it's great to read and uplifting book that will shift some of the spotlight on the help us get through what we're going through.
I highly recommend this book whether you're going through something at this point of your life or not.
James Donaldson Book Review: $20 per Gallon by Christopher Steiner ***** (Posted on February 11, 2013) http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B002V168XY&qid=1359935481&sr=1-1
Can anyone say alternative fuel?
The author, Christopher Steiner, does a wonderful job in laying out the pathway that were all taking towards ever-increasing fuel cost and the implications for doing so.
Our dependency on foreign oil and tax subsidized gas prices is not allowing us to realize the downward spiral that we face economically and environmentally, and the upward spiraling cost of fuel itself. It's time for us to get serious about developing alternative fuel sources and changing our lifestyles and dependency away from also fuel. We have the technology to do it now, so other than the "political agendas" that of course bog everything down, we have to start thinking critically and making decisions that will correct the pathway that were on.
I like the way the author lays out, chapter by chapter, dollar per gallon – dollar per gallon, the effects that we will feel personally, economically, socially and environmentally. I know right now many of us cannot see beyond perhaps a five dollar per gallon cost to ourselves personally, but that day is coming sooner than we think.
I highly recommend this book because it is well written, and it pertains to every man woman and child in this country.
James Donaldson Book Review: The Politically Incorrect Guide to the South (And Why It Will Rise Again) ***
http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B002V01DI0&qid=1358126655&sr=1-1
Author Clint Johnson, gives us a different perspective on the South and the roles that the South played in shaping America. Since the Southern Confederates lost the "Civil War", we tend to hear only the points of view of the victorious North, but everything isn't always what it seems.
This book brings out the facts of a lot of people who played significant roles in trying to prevent the country from entering into the war in the first place. The treatment of slaves, by both the North and South, and the roles that so many enslaved people had in shaping our country... that they were willing to fight for, on both sides.
With all of the recent books and movies about President Lincoln and his greatness... was he really all that great? Was he our greatest President? What were his true motives for enacting the Emancipation Proclamation which freed the slaves? I know what the "history books" tell us, but now I know so much more.
The South has been on the move for a while now as it is attracting a lot of the Northern population and companies down that way over the last several decades. Hopefully, our country has learned it's lessons from the past as we now watch over countries around the world fight for their independence. Let's learn from history, but seek out different perspectives on history too so that you have a broader perspective.
James Donaldson Book Review: The Politically Incorrect Guide to the South (And Why It Will Rise Again) ***
http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B002V01DI0&qid=1358126655&sr=1-1
Author Clint Johnson, gives us a different perspective on the South and the roles that the South played in shaping America. Since the Southern Confederates lost the "Civil War", we tend to hear only the points of view of the victorious North, but everything isn't always what it seems.
This book brings out the facts of a lot of people who played significant roles in trying to prevent the country from entering into the war in the first place. The treatment of slaves, by both the North and South, and the roles that so many enslaved people had in shaping our country... that they were willing to fight for, on both sides.
With all of the recent books and movies about President Lincoln and his greatness... was he really all that great? Was he our greatest President? What were his true motives for enacting the Emancipation Proclamation which freed the slaves? I know what the "history books" tell us, but now I know so much more.
The South has been on the move for a while now as it is attracting a lot of the Northern population and companies down that way over the last several decades. Hopefully, our country has learned it's lessons from the past as we now watch over countries around the world fight for their independence. Let's learn from history, but seek out different perspectives on history too so that you have a broader perspective.
James Donaldson Book Review: Sex at Dawn by Cacilda Jetha and Christopher Ryan *****
This is probably one of the best books I've ever read in regards to human behavior and sexuality. The authors do a very good job of keeping the topic interesting (how could this not be an interesting topic?) and the flow of the book moving right along.
In the book, they answer the age-old questions about "Is Monogamy a Myth?" Why we have the thoughts we have and why we become excited and stimulated by certain characteristics in other people. The role that social conditioning has in either restricting us, or allowing us freedoms and liberties in how we feel about sex.
Some of the highlights of the book point out that up until about 10 or 20,000 years ago, humans were grouped together in nomadic tribes and all of the social interactions they shared (hunting and gathering, eating and sleeping, and yes, group sex) were all part of the social bonding that was necessary in particular for survival. With the advent of agriculture and property ownership (that included women and children) the social concept of monogamy came into play. Question remains, are humans naturally monogamous?
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld says that "men and women are like firemen and fire. Men are like firemen and can be ready for sex in two minutes. Women are like fire, whereas the conditions have to be just right for it to occur. (Smile)
This is an excellent book that I would highly recommend to everyone! Now I understand better... "Why men are the way we are and why women are the why they are." (Smile)
James Donaldson Book Review: Bloodlands: Europe between Hitler and Stalin *****
http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B0047E9696&qid=1358125147&sr=1-1
I've read numerous books over the years about the Holocaust, Europe during World War I and World War II, and I have studied countless other documentaries on the same subjects. But, I don't think I've ever been so thoroughly engrossed and caught up in such an accounting of Europe during that era as I was during the reading/listening of Timothy Snyder's Bloodlands.
Even though the author probably overdid the statistical storytelling of the horrific numbers of such tremendous torture and killing, the story needs to be told, and the numbers even though hard to fathom, need to be stated so that you can at least have an attempt at realizing the unimaginable time that this world went through less than 100 years ago.
With all if the uprisings and totalitarian States that still exist in the world today, you would think that humanity would have learned its lesson by now.
Let's just hope that we never have to revisit the magnitude and scale of the loss of humanity, misery, human torture and loss of life ever again.
It's a shame, and all you can ask yourself is "Why God… Why?"
I highly recommend this book for those interested in world history, geopolitics, and the shaping of the world that we've all come to live in.
I’ve recently become very involved with China’s education system (especially at the high school/college level) in assisting Chinese students with the opportunities to study abroad. I am a director in China for a national program with The China Service Center for Friendship and Cooperation with Foreign Countries Studying Abroad Department”. With this program, I go around to a variety of schools speaking to Chinese students and their parents and encouraging them to look at opportunities to study abroad.
The Chinese students (and their parents) are very excited about the opportunities and the movement by their government to assist them in going abroad to study.
As many of you know, my passion is always been education and youth, as I encourage everyone to pursue the best education they possibly can obtain. It's wonderful to see (and work with) highly motivated, high achieving students who really value education. We've got to keep working with our young people here in the States to do the same!
James Donaldson Book Review: All The President's Men by Carl Bernstein & Bob Woodward *****
http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B0095YTAL2&qid=1357068117&sr=1-1
I was just a little tyke when all the shenanigans pertaining to the Nixon administration where going on. But, I’ve heard my share of different perspectives through the years. There have been numerous books, movies and features done on this topic.
Respected journalists like Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward do a wonderful job in depicting the inside behind the scenes look at the Watergate break in, and all of the episodes leading up to and following the event. There are several great interviews with key people who were very closely involved and had up close and personal involvement, and Woodward and Bernstein capture it all.
A great book and perfect for those who have an interest in stories of cover-up and deception at our nation’s highest levels!
Eldridge and I had a great time in training the Nankai Girls Basketball team that is here in Seattle visiting from Chongqing China. We did a 2 hour basketball training session and then the girls went out and played a "friendly" game against their sister school, Chief Sealth High School.
Chongqing is Seattle's Sister City and what better way to continue building International relationships and enjoying cultural exchange than through young people and sports.
Look at how well Eldridge and I get along with he being a University of Washington Huskie and me being a Washington State Cougar! (smile!) We can all get along in this world!
Way to go Seattle! Way to go Chongqing! Way to go Huskies! Way to go Cougars!
http://www.king5.com/sports/Former-Sonic-NBA-James-Donaldson-Seattle-186243732.html
It's great news that the NBA Sonics may be on their way back to Seattle... where they belong!
James Donaldson Book Review: Country Driving by Peter Hessler ***** http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B0037AAK1O&qid=1357002510&sr=1-1
I read Country Driving just weeks before going to China recently and I am so glad that I did. The author, Peter Hessler, does an excellent job in describing China, especially "off the beaten path".
The book helped me to have an "open mind" and "put down some of my own stereotypes" about China, and go there to just enjoy the experience and take it all in.
Thanks Peter Hessler for writing such a great book and helping me to thoroughly enjoy the great land and people of China!
