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thenthomwaslike's review
2.0
I wish that I had learned more about AOC's background, her policy proposals, her pre-political life. What I got, instead, was a collection of essays from people who probably want the same questions answered. I loved seeing how people connected with her but there was simply too much of a distance between the writers and the subject.
cpellegrino's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5 stars.
Oops I should have read the synopsis a bit more. While I was looking for more of a biography of AOC, and to find out how and why she has become the powerful woman we see today, what I got was a bunch of fan love letters on how they relate to AOC, and support her rise to power. There is also a bit of self promo in many of the the essays to AOC.
It's an interesting listen, but nothing that is going to sway you to AOC's camp if you are on the fence.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
Oops I should have read the synopsis a bit more. While I was looking for more of a biography of AOC, and to find out how and why she has become the powerful woman we see today, what I got was a bunch of fan love letters on how they relate to AOC, and support her rise to power. There is also a bit of self promo in many of the the essays to AOC.
It's an interesting listen, but nothing that is going to sway you to AOC's camp if you are on the fence.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
szucker6's review against another edition
4.0
This book is not at all what I expected—I thought it was going to be like a journalistic account studying AOC, based on the title. Instead it’s an essay collection where it seems like all the authors were asked “what does AOC mean to you?” And it does a good job of that! It’s just not what I thought I was about to dig into!
callunavulgaris's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
This book is as much about each essay’s authors (and their families) as they are about AOC. As a white woman reading this, I learned so much about what AOC’s brand of Democratic Socialism means and the long and troubled history of Puerto Rican immigrants to NYC.
rashelreads's review against another edition
2.0
*** thank you to Goodreads and the publisher for the ARC, all opinions are my own ***
A series of short stories from various authors and predominant women about AOC. My criticism is that this book was written too early in AOCs political career; many stories touched on the same exact facts and seemed repetitive. You can only read about AOCs lipstick and her dancing outside her office so many times
A series of short stories from various authors and predominant women about AOC. My criticism is that this book was written too early in AOCs political career; many stories touched on the same exact facts and seemed repetitive. You can only read about AOCs lipstick and her dancing outside her office so many times
asphodelic's review against another edition
QUOTES:
"It shouldn't be surprising that a culture founded on genocide and forced assimilation would consider a woman of color's refusal to mispronounce her own name for white people's benefit an act of defiance. American who demand every name be made easy for them resent the bit of effort it takes to just listen harder. They feel entitled to a comfort made only possible by oppressing others." - Natalia Sylvester
"When it comes to identity, black Latinos tend to choose nation over race, not least because blackness in the United States isn't exactly advantageous. If you're a political or public figure, being black automatically puts you in the crosshairs of conservatives, who are always triggered by race..." - Erin Aubry Kaplan
"This isn't about agreeing with her stances on all these issues. I know I don't, This is about understanding how revolutionary it is to have someone who looks like us, who shares out history and our expansive underrepresented culture, speaking to power. And money-boring, scary money-is the key to leveling the playing field. AOC knows that. Now millions more oef us are getting to know and see that, too." - Carmen Rita Wong
"The millennial generation has often been criticized for "hashtag activism" because some feel that they post about critical isues-from racism and police brutality to sexual assault and inequality-without actually having skin in the game. President Obama made headlines when he said that today's callout culture is "not activism." - Mariana Atencio
"Instead [AOC] was someone who became outraged as she saw a small class of people becoming ever more rich while working people in Queens and the BRonx could not afford housing or health care. AOC has been quite explicit that by "socialism" she means "worker power," not "government ownership." - Nathan J. Robinson
"...Trump manages to absolve the USA of any wrongdoing and "others" AOC, a citizen..., by telling her and the other women of color that they do not get to have a say in what other straight white cis men like him built." - Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez
"...the idea that [BIPOC] must "go back to our countries" when we seek to improve the country we call home is xenophobia. Trump is implying that is we don't look like them then we must bot be American. But the USA would not be the USA without immigration, and let's not forget that the white people of this country are really just land-grabbers who stole from the brown indigenous people who ruled the Americas long before white men came." - Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez
"It shouldn't be surprising that a culture founded on genocide and forced assimilation would consider a woman of color's refusal to mispronounce her own name for white people's benefit an act of defiance. American who demand every name be made easy for them resent the bit of effort it takes to just listen harder. They feel entitled to a comfort made only possible by oppressing others." - Natalia Sylvester
"When it comes to identity, black Latinos tend to choose nation over race, not least because blackness in the United States isn't exactly advantageous. If you're a political or public figure, being black automatically puts you in the crosshairs of conservatives, who are always triggered by race..." - Erin Aubry Kaplan
"This isn't about agreeing with her stances on all these issues. I know I don't, This is about understanding how revolutionary it is to have someone who looks like us, who shares out history and our expansive underrepresented culture, speaking to power. And money-boring, scary money-is the key to leveling the playing field. AOC knows that. Now millions more oef us are getting to know and see that, too." - Carmen Rita Wong
"The millennial generation has often been criticized for "hashtag activism" because some feel that they post about critical isues-from racism and police brutality to sexual assault and inequality-without actually having skin in the game. President Obama made headlines when he said that today's callout culture is "not activism." - Mariana Atencio
"Instead [AOC] was someone who became outraged as she saw a small class of people becoming ever more rich while working people in Queens and the BRonx could not afford housing or health care. AOC has been quite explicit that by "socialism" she means "worker power," not "government ownership." - Nathan J. Robinson
"...Trump manages to absolve the USA of any wrongdoing and "others" AOC, a citizen..., by telling her and the other women of color that they do not get to have a say in what other straight white cis men like him built." - Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez
"...the idea that [BIPOC] must "go back to our countries" when we seek to improve the country we call home is xenophobia. Trump is implying that is we don't look like them then we must bot be American. But the USA would not be the USA without immigration, and let's not forget that the white people of this country are really just land-grabbers who stole from the brown indigenous people who ruled the Americas long before white men came." - Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez
hshipl's review against another edition
1.0
I received an audiobook version from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Before you accuse, my low rating is not because I do not like AOC and disagree with her views. Because that would be a lie and a complete waste of my time to read this book. It was quite the opposite actually - I don’t think this book did Alexandria justice.
I listened to this audiobook almost completely all in one sitting. And unfortunately, it disappointed me. I expected more from this and maybe I should’ve read the reviews before deciding to read this book, but now it’s too late isn’t it? Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a huge inspiration to me and I was hoping to learn more about her from this book. I may have learned a thing or two, but then those things or twos were repeated over and over and over again in every essay or letter submitted. Honestly, how did the publisher allow that?
I chose this book on NetGalley based off of the cover. I realize now that it was a bad decision. I saw “AOC” huge and bold on the cover and I was sold. I was ecstatic. I hadn’t read that many biographies before and I was hoping that one of AOC would be enjoyable. I keep using the term biography, I don’t even know if this book is considered as one. The essays were incredibly disappointing to me.
This book summed up in 6 key and repetitive(!!) points:
1. Her red lipstick.
2. Her family had to sell their home because her father had cancer.
3. Her father died.
4. She danced.
5. Lots of Donald Trump insults.
6. For the rest, connect your life to AOC’s and make the book all about yourself and your life experiences.
Before you accuse, my low rating is not because I do not like AOC and disagree with her views. Because that would be a lie and a complete waste of my time to read this book. It was quite the opposite actually - I don’t think this book did Alexandria justice.
I listened to this audiobook almost completely all in one sitting. And unfortunately, it disappointed me. I expected more from this and maybe I should’ve read the reviews before deciding to read this book, but now it’s too late isn’t it? Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a huge inspiration to me and I was hoping to learn more about her from this book. I may have learned a thing or two, but then those things or twos were repeated over and over and over again in every essay or letter submitted. Honestly, how did the publisher allow that?
I chose this book on NetGalley based off of the cover. I realize now that it was a bad decision. I saw “AOC” huge and bold on the cover and I was sold. I was ecstatic. I hadn’t read that many biographies before and I was hoping that one of AOC would be enjoyable. I keep using the term biography, I don’t even know if this book is considered as one. The essays were incredibly disappointing to me.
This book summed up in 6 key and repetitive(!!) points:
1. Her red lipstick.
2. Her family had to sell their home because her father had cancer.
3. Her father died.
4. She danced.
5. Lots of Donald Trump insults.
6. For the rest, connect your life to AOC’s and make the book all about yourself and your life experiences.
bookishkate517's review against another edition
5.0
I have received this title via NetGalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review
This book was not what I had expected. I had anticipated a biography on AOC. Instead it was a collection of articles from people in the general public who admire AOC. Overall it was a really fascinating and quick read/listen. The audiobook narrator was fun to listen to and easy to understand.
This book was not what I had expected. I had anticipated a biography on AOC. Instead it was a collection of articles from people in the general public who admire AOC. Overall it was a really fascinating and quick read/listen. The audiobook narrator was fun to listen to and easy to understand.