I’m not sure what I just listened to, but it wasn’t at all what I expected. I thought it would be a biographical story about AOC and her rise to congress. Instead of being uplifted and left with a positive feeling, I felt like the authors of these essays spewed just as much hate as those they claim are racists.

AOC is an amazing woman and the kind of person we need in politics right now. I really enjoyed the narrator but thought it was be more of a biography. That being said I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and the essays about AOC. Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher.

This book is a collection of essays by Latinx people chronicling the rise of AOC and how her presence in Congress is not only important with regards to identity, but her democratic socialist policy as well. I would say that this book is more in celebration of AOC that it is a dedicated biography about her and her work in detail, and that's important to know going in!

All in all, I found this book enjoyable and worthwhile. I listened on audio, and the audio performance by Marisa Blake was great. There were many overlapping ideas and topics covered in the essays, and there were times when I wish it was a bit more differentiated across essays. I do appreciate that the writers spoke about their own lives and work in detail, and I did learn about organizations new to me, which was valuable as well!

Interesting perspective of AOC in relation to other's stories. Wish it was more of a biography of AOC - but a good quick read

Reading this book gave me so many emotions. AOC is a queen and so inspirational to women of all ages. I love the humility and wisdom that comes through this book.

This is a hard audiobook to review. The narration was well done. I was, for some reason, expecting more biographical information about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), but this is a collection of essays by various contributors about what AOC becoming a Congresswoman has meant to them. Some of the essays have more biographical information about the writer than about AOC.

Many people have a hard time visualizing how they can make a difference in the world at large or their own world, and some of the essays tie AOC's passion, hard-work, and compassion for populations that have typically been underrepresented and/or disenfranchised, to being a person who wants to make a difference "despite" not being a typical politician. I think that is where the value in this collection lies. 

Those who don't agree with her politics (or don't think other politicians also have to learn as they go, so how dare she have opinions before she knows everything in the world) will not find anything to appreciate here. However, those who want an idea of why she is a big deal, regardless of her politics or knowledge, will find some value in reading or listening to this book. (Although I don't agree with all her political ideas, I do think she is a big deal.)

I really like to know people's stories as a way to help understand their choices, drives and POV's better and AOC is a person I have always been very curious about. This is a listen I think I would find myself going back to time and time again.

This audiobook was fun and informative. AOC is such an icon in this day and age, and it was so interesting to find out where she came from.

Listening to this audiobook has been a breath of fresh air during this exhausting political climate. Hearing not only about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's life and career, but also hearing from so many individuals whose lives AOC touched and influenced, instilled in me a long-forgotten optimism about the state of things. Each essay had such a distinct take on things, though I think my favorite has to be Keegan Michael-Key's introduction because his awe and respect felt so palpable -- and obviously with him reading the introduction for the audiobook, it was a great way to start the audiobook by including a familiar. Lopez did a great job in her audio, though I might have preferred to have a mix of narrators considering there are so many different voices and writing styles throughout. Otherwise a very enjoyable listen!

This book is not a biography, but a collection of essays on the life and career of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and what she means to the writers.  I was definitely expecting the book to be more of a biography, but this anthology of essays really blew me away.  This book made me feel so proud and hopeful, not just for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, but for the people that she's going to inspire through her activism and political work. 

The writers reflect on their personal stories, on AOC's life as a progressive young Latinx woman, and how her political career means so much to so many people, especially to Latinx women who have had to fight for far too long for the same opportunities that others are given.  The essays all illuminate over and over how AOC is brave, outspoken, and she is fighting for all Americans (especially underserved and vulnerable ones)to be heard, seen, and represented.  

I knew some of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's history before I started this audiobook, but I learned quite a bit more through this series of essays.  Just as important though, I got to hear from some of the people who have been profoundly inspired by her.  The essays were all deeply personal and very moving.  

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the audiobook!

Get inside the grassroots activist to political leader process with this eye-opening audiobook. As a politically-inclined New Yorker I learned more about Progressive leadership in NYC than I've learned more from this book than via general osmosis and socializing in my 10 years here.

3/5 stars

Thanks to the publisher and the author for providing this e-arc!

A very informative audiobook on AOC that i appreciated despite knowing a lot about the info therefore not learning too much

Inspirating! I've been so impressed with AOCs intelligence, her drive, and passion. She's accomplished so much in such a short time. This book is a great intro for anyone who is equally captivated by AOC and wants to learn more about her. Engaging and well written. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this book in exchange for my honest opinion

AOC isn't that old and hasn't been a major part of the political scene for very long so I guess I wasn't surprised that this wasn't more in depth about her.  It is a great book for anyone that wants a quick introduction to AOC and what she means to the progressive movement. It does cover how AOC grew up and her family's struggles and how she overcame them but also how she still relates to the average person. However, these pieces of her history are tied into other's stories about how she inspires them and struggles that they have also faced by being Latina so you may find at times that you are wondering if the book is really about AOC.

This was an inspiring and enlightening collection of essays that feature the huge impact AOC has had in her few years in office. Full of personal anecdotes, historical recollections, and hope for the future, this is definitely a must-read—especially for those who are already fans of AOC.

This is essentially a collection of essays on what AOC and her rise in politics means to people. All of them are personal and inspiring.

I had a great time with this book. I already knew a lot about AOC, but this book helped me love her even more. It does a great job of giving just enough of her background and how she came involved in politics. Her reach is further than I knew, and I'm excited to see what she does next. I took one star away only because a collection of essays isn't my thing, so I can't say that it rocked my world. Informative and interesting, but not my favorite.

I was able to listen to this because of an ALC from NetGalley.

Less a bio, more a series of essays of what AOC means as a young, progressive, woman of color from a working class background.

I would have liked more biography than just one chapter, and more depth on her political ideologies.

But I loved seeing what she means as a symbol of a changing future. Her election is a sign of a shift towards a more diverse, more representative Congress. And the narrators for this book were well chosen. They were personable and spoke clearly. Listening to this book felt like sitting down with some friends who feel very passionately about something.

And I can’t wait to see what she accomplishes.

I received a post-publication copy of the audiobook courtesy of Dreamscape Media via NetGalley this fall. In the days leading up to Election Day and throughout this very long month of November post-election, I have turned to this book as a source of inspiration for hope. Hope for New York, hope for women, hope for my fellow Americans who don't share the same privileges that I was born into; hope for a better world beyond 2020. The voices that celebrated AOC in this collection of moving and inspired essays celebrate a force that is actively changing what it means to be an American. AOC gives me hope each day and, more importantly, this book helped me to understand the power that a hope like that holds for people who don't look like me. 

These essays were emotional and thought provoking, and like, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez herself, deeply inspiring. My only qualm was that I wish the audiobook had been narrated by the essayists themselves. I feel that this would've given a more authentic level of emotion to the tone of some essays; but without it, this recording still brought tears to my eye multiple times.

I think that I expected something different when I requested this book. What this book is, actually, is a series of essays about Ocasio Cortez and the way in which the authors feel about her, her work and the way in which her accomplishments have impacted them. Some of the essays are interesting and well written, but it becomes very repetitive. We hear a lot of commentary about AOC. but nothing by her.

I found that the narrator talked in a monotone and didn't add a lot - I may have enjoyed reading a physical copy more.