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MONDAY

Are you afraid that the bridge to the 21st century is leading you to Camden, N.J.? Marianne Williamson might be able to help. She’s put together Imagine: What America Could Be in the 21st Century, a collection of essays by “three dozen of our country’s foremost thinkers.” Well, some are more foremost than others. But all discuss the most pressing economic and environmental problems in the most general, high-minded ways, all with a healthy leftist tilt. The book’s offerings include Peter Coyote on the arts, Dean Ornish on health, Paul Hawken on the environment and capitalism, bell hooks on feminism, as well as a wonderful foreword by Anne Lamott. But parts of this tome are too spiritual or simply state the obvious: Throw in a discussion of “paradigm shifts” and, voilà, you have an essay. Please. Generally, though, it’s a good mix and will provoke some intellectual conversations. Williamson discusses the book at 7 p.m. at Olsson’s Books & Records, 1200 F St. NW. Free. (202) 347-3686. (Dave Mann)