Rating: 
Summary: Vastly More Practical (and Political) Than Title Suggests
Review: I almost did not buy this book, and I say that because an awful lot of really smart folks might be inclined to turn away on the basis of the title and the possibility that this is a fairy tale wishful-thinking la la land kind of book. It is not. It is practical (and political), it is enriching, and it is over-all a very high quality endeavor that has been well executed. Four "great truths" are articulated many times over across the various readings, and they merit listing here: 1) Campaign finance reform is the absolute non-negotiable first step that must precede every other reform. Until the people can reassert their great common sense for the common good, and restore the true democratic tradition, nothing else will happen. 2) Neighborhoods are the bedrock of both democracy and sustainable development, and we have spent fifty years building in the wrong direction. New legal and economic incentives must be found to redirect both urban and suburban real estate management back in the direction of self-contained neighborhoods. 3) Local production of everything, from electricity to food to major goods like automobiles) appears to be a pre-requisite for deconflicting high quality of life needs from limited resource availability. The book includes several very intelligent discussions of how this might come about. 4) Networking makes everything else possible, and by this the book means electronic networking. I was especially fascinated by some of the examples of near-real-time sharing that electronic networking makes possible--everything from a neighborhood car to scheduled hand-me-downs of winter coats from one family to another. We have not progressed one mile down the road of what the Internet makes possible at a personal and neighborhood level, and I would recommend this book for that perspective alone. The creative editorial role must be applauded. From the identification and recruitment of the contributors, to the selection of the photographs that each tell their own story, to the quality of the paper used to create the book, all testify to the competence and knowledge of the editor. Lastly, it merits comment that the book serves as a very fine calling card from something called The Global Renaissance Alliance, a spiritually-oriented group that nurtures Citizens Circles and uses a web site to provide pointers to resources and other like-minded folk.
Rating:
Summary: America's potential sprung forth!
Review: As a 25 year old, this book reignites my passion for leadership in this country. I am inspired to be a part of a movement that will take America into a new direction, so that our potential will emerge.
Rating: 
Summary: Articulating Paths to Improvement
Review: Developing scenarios for how worthy goals might be accomplished is one of the best ways that people make progress. The circumstances never end up being like that, but the insights prove to be worthwhile nevertheless. This thought-provoking book of essays uses that method to come up with many worthwhile observations and useful ideas. If you know the particular essayist's work, in most cases you won't find much new. Some, however, have created new materials that are extremely insightful. The volume's main weaknesses are two: the viewpoints of the essays' authors aren't varied enough, and the "desirable" outcomes are too easily assumed in many cases. I graded this brilliant book concept down two stars for these weaknesses in execution. Almost anyone would find benefits from reading this book. Even if you disagree with its premises, you will end up learning about the thinking of a lot of America's top authors. I was honored to receive this book as a gift from one of my sons, reflecting his knowledge of my desire for assisting social progress through personal effort. The book contains almost 40 essays, grouped into the following sections: The Soul of a Nation (What it means to be an American) Pillars (The basics that we need to flourish from health to meaningful work) The Rewoven Fabric (Community and identity) To Whom We Belong (Our relationships and ways of relating from family to divorce to aging) In God We Trust (Spirituality) The New Civitas (The new American governmental system) Each author was asked to think about America 50 years from now in creating a more positive environment. Two essays in the group stood out to me in capturing the essence of the issues throughout the book. The first was by Peter Senge (of Fifth Discipline fame). He points out that there are three ways to think about the future. First, extrapolate current trends. That doesn't work, because "aspects of our present ways of living . . . are not sustainable." Second, we can create a vision of the opposite of something we don't like now. He calls this "reactive imagination." This is "only a disguised version of the present." He correctly points out that many of the essays are of this nature. Third, we can "become agents of creating a future that is seeking to emerge, by becoming more aware of the present." "How did we get where we are?" is a question that begins this investigation. From those roots, we can help establish the foundation for moving into a better direction. If you read this book, start with Senge's essay. The book will make a lot more sense if you do. It will give you a star to guide by. This essay inexplicably begins on page 167, rather than at the beginning. The second key essay is at the end by Margaret J. Wheatley (starting on page 401). She did a little experiment. She recruited a group of teenagers to think through these questions about what they want for 50 years from now. Basically, they want a fairer, more cooperative, and more sustaining world. They see a "networked, boundaryless world" unconstrained by the geographical and psychological limits of America. Read this essay second. It gets past a lot of the personal agendas in most of the essays into touching closer to what is universal in our visions. Young people always seem to get these points best. Few of the essays made it into Senge's third category. As I read the better ones (such as those by Dean Ornish, Lance Secretan, and Peter Gabel), I came away with a vision of our suffering from poor decisions because people are not yet good at thinking through the consequences of their daily decisions. We optimize what is visible and closest to us, even when the distance effects (in time and space) are vastly counterproductive to the modest benefits we receive from what we choose to do today. (An example is eating poor quality food to save money individually, and having society incur hundreds of thousands of dollars in health care costs to "repair" us from our own misguided "money-saving" efforts.) In a sense, I came away with the notion that if we all learned from Senge and Wheatley, it wouldn't take long to arrive at a better society for all. After you master those lessons, be sure to read Sam Daley-Harris's fine essay on "Activism." Make the future into what it can best be, consistent with the visions of both those who agree with you . . . and those who do not! Read Thomas Moore's views on "Religion" for useful thoughts about this perspective. Imagine a better world in Peter Senge's third way!
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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: 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: More old age BS from Eric
Review: My original review apparently provoked some criticism. My response is as follows: Imagine this. It is the year 2158. The USS (United States Starship) Freedom 1 is about to embark on its maiden voyage to the Sirius System. The crew is aboard, 20 years worth of supplies have been loaded, the ship has been christened, and all is ready for departure. The matter-antimatter drive is activated, and the ship slowly begins its acceleration to near light speed. For the first time ever, humans endeavour to travel to and colonize nearby planetary systems. The risks are many, but the crew is undaunted. It is our first step into a larger world, the exploration of our galaxy. This is what the book IMAGINE should have been about. Americans at our absolute best - couragious, innovative, and confident, striding boldly into the future to expand our civilization to new worlds. Instead, we got this pathetic mess, this morass of politically correct New Age goo. Surely we are capable of better!
Rating: 
Summary: More New Age BS
Review: This book is an entertaining read - if you want to know what a handful of elitist, out of touch Euphorians think America should be by the middle of this century. Otherwise, use it as a door stop, boat anchor, or birdcage liner. Seriously, there is little of interest for the thoughtful reader, one who is reasonably well educated and knowledgeable about history, politics, and human nature. A major flaw of this book is that there is little actual diversity of thought and opinion, most of the essays could have been written by the same person and we never would have known the difference, so similar are the authors' world views. Why weren't other voices added, such as Colin Powell on foreign affairs or Alan Greenspan on economic matters? Instead we get this syrupy goo, the literary equivalent of "can't we all just have a group hug and sing 'Kumbaya' together?". Sorry, but the world, and our role in it, demands a more serious, realistic, and sober minded approach. The problems we face heading into this new century, issues like racial tensions, terrorism, and the struggle of societies trying to preserve their cultures and values against the relentless march of the high speed cyber-economy cannot be resolved with airy platitudes and Utopian dreams. After all, I too can imagine what the world will look like in 50 years, and while there will undoubtedly be improvements, especially in technology, the basics of human nature will change not one bit. We will still have to deal with tyrants, political and religious fanatics, criminals, drug and alcohol abuse, corruption, ethnic strife, and a host of other problems, none of which can be solved with a pie in the sky "Can't we all just get along" approach.
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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: What a book!
Review: This is an amazing book. So many topics covered. It is nice to see that someone has addressed both the interpersonal and outerworldy issues and concerns we face everywhere. I come from Austrailia, but this is a book that people everywhere should read. I would highly recommend it. This will be something for Americans to really think deeply about. Why would anyone not want to live up to the visions put forth in this book?
Rating: 
Summary: Utopia Means "Nowhere"
Review: We can all agree that the world would be a nicer place with more personal connection, a real sense of community, freedom to pursue dreams, security to safeguard those dreams, pluralistic tolerance, etc, etc. I do. But in a haphazard series of essys, beyond platitudes and some bad science fiction, I see little in the way of real thinking about the problems that confront the world, or well-reasoned, rigorously analytical responses to those problems. Instead, they range from the laughable to the dangerous--see one author proposing a monolithic Department of Peace with millions of officers devoted to everything from crime to regulation of interpersonal communication to domestic life to workplace interactions. How can somebody who claims allegience to personal freedom cry out for something so Orwellian? These liberal-minded egalitarian essayists would invest more unilateral power in government than John Ashcroft ever had wet dreams about.
The prose, often stilted, blowsy, pretentious or oblivious to its own ridiculousness, is workmanlike. To those that seek out the book, the pronouncements will be comforting. The implementation of its ideas--imagine!--will not be.
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