GREAT book GIVEAWAY - Comment here by June 24th to Enter -Winner is -- Carrie Wang!

[Cami Walker -- 29Gifts Founder]

Fellow 29Giver, and author Gail Johnston, is hosting this week's giveaway.

The Social Cause Diet: Find A Service That Feeds Your Soul

In a country where over 400 diet books were published last year, why do problems with obesity and eating disorders continue to escalate? Maybe it’s because typical diet books share one major flaw: they perpetuate the dieter’s focus on food and tendency to be self-absorbed. But true health and well-being is achieved when we become free from our obsessions and appetites and get our attention off of ourselves and onto things that are greater.

Author Gail Perry Johnston, someone who knows firsthand how diminishing diets and eating disorders can be, claims that our country doesn’t need another program for losing weight, but could use a plan for losing a little of ourselves. We could all benefit from going on the Social Cause Diet.

Adding a few volunteer activities to our schedule can lower our heart rate, lengthen our lifespan, and possibly even help us lose weight!* But where do we begin? What causes should we support? And what would we be good at doing?

This first volume of The Social Cause Diet helps answer these questions through storytelling. Here is a collection of personal stories by 45 everyday heroes who are enjoying the rich benefits of helping others. Serving others can be anything from a random act of kindness to joining the Peace Corp, and Johnston’s collection gives us an ample taste of our options. In addition, the author adds unique insights and practical resources such as “The Social Cause Diet Personality Test” to help us discover our service strengths. This book is a refreshing encouragement to fit acts of service into our lives for the greater good—and for our own health.

*Report on “The Health Benefits of Volunteering” can be found on www.nationalservice.org or www.socialcausediet.com.

Gail Perry Johnston is also the author of The Wish & The Wonder: Words of Wisdom for Expectant Parents and coauthor of A Rumor of Angels: Quotations for Living Dying & Letting Go.

Contest Rules: If you're interested in entering the raffle to win a this prize, just leave a comment on this thread by midnight Pacific Time Thursday, June 25, 2009. No purchase is necessary to enter, but you must be a member of the 29Gifts Community Network (i.e. have a profile on this site) in order to enter. Click here to sign up free if you're not a member already. The winner will be announced Friday, June 24, 2009 on this discussion thread, and the winner will be also be contacted by email in order to obtain shipping information. If the winner does not respond within 14 days with his or her shipping information a new winner will be chosen from the original entries.

[Mary Johnson]

What a great idea for a book - hope this gets widespread visibility. Would love to read it.

Mary

[Cami Walker -- 29Gifts Founder]

This is a fantastic book!

[Carol]

Wow, I probably bought about 50 of those 400 diet books. LOL. I love the title of this one...makes much more sense. In fact, I was an active volunteer until I started gaining weight and my back and knees started to hurt. And, the one thing I miss the most -- is volunteering. Looking forward to reading this book.

[carrie wang]

I would love to read this book! What a fantastic concept!

[Dominique]

I hope many many people read this book....it's exactly what our world needs more of =)

[molly]

Think it's a wonderful idea. I have found that when I volunteer that my focus shifts from self-self-self to others, and in so dong, I sometimes forget to eat. Having always been someone who lived to eat, that's pretty surprising. And, although I didn't know it till this morning, I have lost about 20 lbs. Would love to read the book!

[BrendaLea Abbott]

Love the concept of this book and Would really love to read it. I hope that it sells millions and that our world can get back on track to what is really important. Thanks for the chance top win a copy.

[Adrian Walker]

This is a great idea! There are so many good causes out there that it would be great to have one resource that overviews multiple causes so I can spend more of my time giving rather than researching.

Adrian

[Robyn Gilbey]

I haven't read the book and I'm sure I'd agree with the advice. I watched my eating at night disappear with the birth of my son... whether it be because I go to bed earlier or because I'm busy playing with him, I don't have as big a desire to entertain myself with food! Can't wait to pick this up (or maybe win it hee hee - fingers crossed).

[traci]

I struggled with anorexia for 5 years and through that and recovery, have seen and learned a lot about the issues at hand. I like the concept of this book, as by giving ourselves, we are able to fill some of the deep holes that have grown in us over many years. I'm excited to read more.