This book is actually called "The Age of Miracles" not "Miracles at Midlife." Whatever its title, it is familar ground for Marianne Williamson, self help guru and FOO (Friend of Oprah.) Williamson is like some kooky relative who shows up at Thanksgiving and rivets attention away from banal subjects. She doesn't mince words -- she believes people can heal the world through loving thoughts and actions. To do this you have to retrain your mind to focus on love instead of fear, a tenet of the New Age tome "A Course in Miracles" from which Williamson's philosophy is culled. She sees no less than a full spiritual revolution in progress.

None of this will be new to people who have read her books. What makes "The Age of Miracles" slightly different is that it's aimed at a particular generation - hers. For some reason I'm blanking on what this generation is called -- it's the one between Baby Boomers and Generation X. Instead of shrinking into old age, Williamson believes this generation has important spiritual work to do.

Who can argue with any of this? Of course the world needs to be healed. If people can gain tools from this, more power to them. That said, Williamson is merely a competant writer -- she isn't much of a stylist and her prose doesn't sing. Her writing takes on the tone of someone in casual conversation. She also isn't a very original thinker, and cribs heavily from her previous works and other people.