James Donaldson Book Review: Adams vs. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800 by John Ferling *****

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 *****

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!

James Donaldson and Friends at NBA All Star Weekend in Houston 2013

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 *****

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 *****

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:

• Never Outshine the Master
• Always Say Less than Necessary

• So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard it with your Life
• Win through your Actions, Never through Argument
• Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky
• Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor

• Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself – Isolation is Dangerous

• Re-Create Yourself
• Plan All the Way to the End

• Make your Accomplishments Seem Effortless
• Be Royal in your Own Fashion: Act like a King to be treated like one

• Master the Art of Timing
• Despise the Free Lunch

Former NBA Star James Donaldson Now Plays on a Bigger Court: China

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.