http://www.audible.com/pd/Science-Technology/The-Vegetarian-Myth-Audiobook/B0071N6K4E
The Author, Lierre Keith, share her personal experience of being a vegan for over 20 years of her adult life and how it brought havoc upon her personal health and made her life so miserable. She does offer up some good points and information (which I enjoyed learning about!), but she’s ready to “throw the baby out with the bathwater” in this book because the vegan lifestyle didn’t work for her and she’s bitter and has become an alarmist about it.
I myself, have been a vegetarian for over 25 years (of course, my vegan friends don’t think that’s good enough!) and was a top flight athlete, and continue to train and exercise every day, along with a sensible vegetarian diet (a moderation of animal products, but no animal meats) and lifestyle, and that all works for me. Vegetarianism has worked tremendously well for me, but I am not extreme about it by any means.
The Vegetarian Myth, as the author writes about, is (in a nutshell) that too many people become vegetarians/vegans in hopes of saving the animals from exploitation, saving the environment, for their health reasons, and a variety of other things. Being vegetarian/vegan in itself isn’t going to accomplish those things, but it can perhaps help in that direction.
The author obviously is upset that the vegan lifestyle didn’t work for her and that she suffered and was miserable for 20 years and her health suffered. She also points out several times about how women are being exploited around the world, and while that’s true, it seems to be a little out of context for this book.
My personal take is “all things in moderation”, and if you’re going to do something to an extreme, then you’d better really know what you’re doing (it may just not be for you) and monitor yourself every step of the way. Good sensible diets, exercise and your own personal philosophy on life, plus “being the best you can be” is probably “just the ticket!.”
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
