Imagine: What America Could Be in the 21st Century

Rating:
Summary: Loved This Book!
Review: For anyone who, like me, has gobbled up the works of writers like Deepak Chopra, Neale Donald Walsch, Thomas Moore, Caroline Myss, James Redfield and Barbara Marx Hubbard, this book is a must read. It includes essays by each of these authors and many more of equal stature. In the essays, the writers take the ideas and principles they have developed over the years and apply them in answering the question: "In the realm of highest possibilities, what could America look like in 50 years?" The result is a comprehensive, readable, light-filled blueprint for America's future. Some of the essays are poetic, lyrical. Others are grounded in hard hitting facts and statistics that will blow your mind. (See Paul Hawken's essay) Make no mistake. These are not airy-fairy essays recycling the previous works of these writers. They are clear, disciplined, thoughtful responses to the question posed. In fact, I believe the essays in "Imagine" may very well be the best work of many of these writers. I was blown away by what they delivered in this volume. Hats off to the editor, Marianne Williamson for assembling this phenomenal group of writers and for her skill in weaving these beautiful essays together.

Rating:
Summary: Utopia Means "Nowhere"
Review: I won't go into a detailed discussion or refutation of the philosophical Neo-Transcendentalist Utopian Socialist garbage that got thrown into this collection of essays, from descriptions of a "Department of Peace" for a new Marxist America to vague, blurry passages about social issues that manage to be completely unreadable and utterly without content at the same time. I did enjoy the book, because it gave me a whetstone to sharpen myself on. I've always said Neville Chamberlain should have carried a copy of Mein Kamf to Munich. But beyond something to openly chuckle at as the book goes off onto another kooky tangent, I can't find much to like about this. Its not so much that its badly written (although in places it is; appallingly so, with the sort of smug looking-back fiction that says "I know it sounds crazy today in 2050, but once there was such a thing as private property!") but rather that the well-written parts con one into thinking they have a point. If they want a New America and a United States dedicated to communing with the tree spirits--fine. I'm moving to Luxemburg for tax purposes. And as for the rest of it-- I hope you really, really like this brave new world. I'll be reclining on an all-leather sofa drinking out of a chilled glass and watching big-screen television. Remember, all. The large thoughts behind socialism ain't so big:

"Everyone knows that life ought to be fair and that God's a lousy guy for not making it happen. Everyone should get what everyone else gets. And, if everyone gets broke, hungry, and dead, well, fair's fair."
(P.J. O'Rourke)

-SLiGH

Rating:
Summary: The Most Inspiring Collection of Thinkers Ever!
Review: This is a great book, that is doubly-powerful (no TRIPLY, no QUADRUPALLY powerful!) because so many inspiring thinkers are in it: from Deepak Chopra to Neale Donald Walsch, from James Redfield to Anne Lamott. And these thinkers come from all sectors of society: from John Robbins, a whistle-blower of the food industry, to the actor Peter Coyote; from Eric Utne, founder of the Utne Reader, to educator Dee Dickenson. What Marianne Williamson has assembled is a collection of ideas covering all sectors of society representing the viewpoints of very unique individuals each with differing backgrounds. And the beauty of this diversity is that all the contributors are unified in fundamental ways, all visualizing a more accepting, more loving, more grounded future that can truly celebrate the individual. It is a vision of what can WORK given our true natures, and given the tuggings of our soul for a more love-based world. Everyone in the world ought to read this book! If you're skeptical, go ahead and buy it and try it out. You'll be glad you did, even if it provides fodder for a time for all the reasons you dislike new-agey spiritual types. And for all of you who like me are already new-agey spiritual types, or compassionate open-hearted types, go ahead and check this book out, because you're going to love it!

Rating:
Summary: One of the most inspiring books I've read
Review: With all the unrest in our world today such as the challenges in health care, education and politics, this book comes along and gives hope for a great future. It's time for a paradigm shift and this book is written to show us new ways of thinking about our culture. Some of our greatest contemporary writers and teachers contribute their wisdom in this great book. Thank you Marianne Williamson for having the vision to put together this inspiring book!