The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution

by Ryan Grim

Semafor's Best Political Book of 2023

A riveting insider account of the progressive movement in Congress centering A.O.C., Rashida Tlaib, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Ayanna Pressley, and Ilhan Omar—their rise, their efforts to set an ambitious agenda for the country, and their struggle to find their footing within the Democratic party.

The Squad is the definitive, must-read book about the most exciting figures defining our new era. The story is urgent, and the stakes are high—for the country and the world—and Grim, an experienced political reporter who covered the Squad before they were the Squad, is uniquely qualified to tell it.

When Bernie Sanders, an obscure Vermont senator, launched his quixotic 2016 presidential campaign, few could have seen just how radically the Democratic Party would transform in just a few short years—or that such a transformation could be led by a Bronx bartender volunteering for Bernie in her spare time. The world as it was when that campaign began is almost unrecognizable today, and the Squad has both shaped and been shaped by the seismic social, cultural, and political changes underway.

Referred to informally as the Squad, led by the preternaturally politically savvy Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the group laid down a marker for an aggressive left-wing agenda. Grim takes you behind the scenes as that new energy makes impact with Washington, and the Squad spends as much time fending off assaults from Donald Trump—who regularly singled them out and led chants of “send them back” at rallies—as they did battling their own party’s sclerotic leadership. As they’ve grown in office, they’ve had to contend with the eternal question that confronts outsiders who power their way into the inside: Are they still radical organizers willing and able to lead a political revolution?

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, Biography, Activism, Social Justice

336 pages, Hardcover

Published December 5, 2023

Reviews

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

i read approximately 1 actual work of real, heavy nonfiction annually. i'm happy about my choice this year!

in truth, this book had so many commas—as in an unsettling, horror film-esque, simply unbelievable number of purely decorative commas—and it was significantly more about aoc than the actual squad, but it was made up of really detailed and interesting political writing that manages to convey what's happened on the left in the last 8 years without making all sense of hope and optimism die.

which is impressive in and of itself.

let alone that i actually read and finished it.

bottom line: hope, springs, eternal.

(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)

[caitlin]

confession: i’m in love with alexandria ocasio-cortez. i’ve known the truth for a while. i want her to take over the world and also i want to be her and also i want to be her housewife. there, it’s out now.
if it’s got her name on it, i will read it.

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Described as a "riveting insider account"... It is not. It was, instead, a play-by-play of every political event from 2016 to the present. Based on the title, I thought this book would give more background information about the members of the "Squad" - what shaped them, how they won their campaigns, how they pushed for change in our government. And while there were pieces of this strewn throughout the book, there was so many other side roads that the title didn't really match the content. Parts were fascinating glimpses, but overall, this book was not what I expected.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

[Maryanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never write reviews of books, but I had to after I saw the reviews on this book plummet. Clearly, a lot of people are not reading this, they are just attacking it. I understand if you do not like the format of the book in the way that it is written as a play-by-play of the progressive movement over the last couple of years. But I urge you to look beyond its central characters of AOC and Bernie Sanders, and other members of the squad. If you are interested in looking at the American political system, and how it is rigged for capitalism and corporatism to win, while Americans are utterly divided and distracted over identity politics, wedge issues, and semantics, then this book is very concise and thorough look at the last five years of politics in this country. If you have felt helpless, and wondered why the government and chosen candidates never reflect your values, and have wondered why the media plays out a story that isn’t reflective of the world you live in, this book shows mechanisms and rigging of our political system. Anyway, give it a chance!

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I cheated a little, because I was reading an ARC from NetGalley and then I finished by listening to the library audiobook. The material was kind of dense because there were so many details. Honestly, I was kind of horrified at some of the techniques used by people working against each other. Yes, it's politics, but surely it's more important to build trust than tear down your opponents.
Once lies are spread, there's no way to take them back. The biggest lesson here is that, like them or not, agree with them or not, here are some people who actually stand for something instead of just being against their opponents.

[Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. If you want an insider's look at how politics works in Washington I highly recommend this book. It will really show you how money runs Washington but also give you hope as to how the average Joe can fight back.

[Musa Jamshed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan grim is an excellent journalist

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this on audible. Fascinating to get a history of something you lived through. Really enjoyed it. The first half was pretty captivating. Got a little bored of it by the end but I still really enjoyed it. Will be checking out Ryan’s other books at some point.

[Aidan Kohn-Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great account of the past 10 years in progressive politics

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I approached this book thinking there wouldn't be much new to me since I'd been following news closely for the last several years. However, I was wrong. There was some background about organizations and people. There was analysis of inside maneuvering that was fascinating. It also made for a lot of information for a writer to control.

I had expected more focus to be on the Squad itself from the title, but instead it seemed a survey of the key progressives beyond the squad as well. And of moments of that opposition--and sometimes assistance. Sometimes I lost track of the focus in the detail about opponents. But then a transition would bring me back. Another important detail: it wasn't a hagiography of AOC; she was presented with strengths and weaknesses. The analysis of moving from outside activist to inside actor was important and helpful.

Chapter 14, pointing out issues with a white-supremacy analysis made me ponder. I could see that using Tema Okun's analysis as a weapon was problematic; however, I don't think that is the whole of the anti-racist movement. Perhaps Grim doesn't either. His analysis of the shift from systemic to individualistic solutions is good, but I have seen systemic analysis in anti-racist literature too. I am not sure that one can't deal with both class analysis and identity/privilege analysis. I can agree, though, that the misuse of supremacy analysis is problematic. It is something that deserves more thought. The place it held in the book was to provide a frame for the analysis of the breaking up of groups, seemingly a stage in group formation when obstacles are thrown in the way.

[Phillip Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to check out Ryan Grim’s newest book The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution. As a person on the left, the last 5-10 years have been the most hopeful in my lifetime, so I was interested in reading something about progressives in the American congress.

Boy, this book was depressing at times.

It was nice to see that progress is being made at the electoral level. Not enough, obviously, but there is some. Still, my god, the pushback from Democratic leadership in the House under Nancy Pelosi against nearly everything that Congresspeople like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Cori Bush, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, and Jamaal Bowman (among others) proposed is infuriating.

It is nice to know that it sounds like there is a better relationship between “the Squad” and the leadership team of Hakeem Jeffries, but Pelosi’s hatred at least seems to be out of power.

One of my big takeaways early from this book is that Nancy Pelosi’s so Russia-pilled that her brain is partially leaking out of her head. In her first sit down meeting/lunch with AOC, Pelosi spent nearly an entire hour ranting about how she thought the “Abolish ICE” protests were “Russia’s plan”. Sure thing, Nancy!

The other major takeaway for me in this book is that the various progressive groups — from abortion rights to environmentalists to voting rights to healthcare groups — melted down from internal squabbles just when they needed to form a unified block to deal with Joe Biden’s inauguration.

I think Grim did a good job at setting where the progressive movement was at an electoral place from the 2016 US Presidential election through the 2022 Midterms. The book does a great job of picking the major event of the time and giving you the background of things from various progressive perspectives.

[James Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still undecided if reading this during the first week of Trump’s second administration is inspiring, as in “this is what the progressive left stands for and can achieve,” or incredibly depressing that two of the Representatives on the cover lost their 2024 primaries (thanks to AIPAC and the Pro-Israel super PACs, both of which are discussed in detail). I’m not sure how I would describe this book as it’s not really structured around a central thesis or idea. The chapters vaguely wrap around certain points but often go off on tangents, making the entire book an amorphous collection of ideas and current events. Maybe think of it as an oral history of the recent progressive movement with analysis and thoughts from those involved in the events described here. Interesting for the most part but often gets bogged down in extremely minute details that would only interest someone who is really into the political aspect.

[123abc · Rating 4 out of 5]

more of a recent political history w/ a focus on the democratic party & brand new congress/justice dems (and lots of AOC) from the first bernie campaign onwards.

sooo many incredibly frustrating examples of how politicians (and basically everyone involved in a meaningful way) don’t work for the causes they (say they) care about because of ‘politics’ (well, money and job security) —- e.g. truly enraging section about planned parenthood’s top lobbyist not supporting a vote on hyde because it would ‚probably‘ lose (:/)

anyway big ryan grim fan and he does some great journalism - some shocking things like hilary clinton (via mark penn…) starting the obama birther rumor - who knew (!)

was my ‚backup book‘ so took forever to finish…

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently, my husband and I attended an informational meeting for a local progressive group in our county. When they started the intro, a man stood up and said, “To quote one of my personal heroes, Nancy Pulosi…” My eyes rolled back so far in my head, I didn’t hear the rest of the quote.

To be polite we waited until the break, but we got out of there as soon as we could.

This book told me of a lot of things I already knew, but it also refreshed my faith in AOC and other members of the squad.

#freepalestine
#fighttheoligarchy

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

its good, it just reads like a long ass substack post which is cool

[Hasan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't been the biggest fan of Ryan Grim's politics over the years although recently I find myself drifting closer to his perspective. That led me to read this book about the Squad and the American Left.

This book goes over the revolutionary year of 2018 where four progressive women candidates replaced establishment politicians in deep blue seats and set off the leftward movement within the Democratic Party.

Grim goes over the various organizations that were part of the AOC race including Justice Dems, how these groups tried to remain influential when the new legislative year had begun and how AOC started to mold herself as an outside agitator to a more realistic insider without compromising on her principles.

I loved the reporting, much of which was new for me, and recommend the book!

[panthercitybooks]

I feel about this book the same way I feel about the endless tsunami of insidery books about Trump’s presidency: Mostly just confused about why it exists and who the audience is supposed to be?

I’m not saying the Squad isn’t worth writing about, and Ryan Grim, who is Washington bureau chief of The Intercept, is not a bad writer. But even my genuine interest in the subjects of his book — primarily AOC and Bernie Sanders — doesn’t make this play-by-play recounting of progressive infighting since 2015 interesting to read.

It’s just exhausting to wade through a relitigation of the 2016 Democratic primary, then the 2020 Democratic primary, plus the endless Twitter controversies members of the Squad were sucked into over the past five years. Moreover, Grim doesn’t really offer much of an answer to the big question in the room: Are politicians like AOC and Bernie outsiders fighting a terrible political system, or was their radicalism blunted and tamed by that system?

To be fair, the book offers some analysis of why progressives and democratic socialists have fallen short of a “political revolution." It provides useful insight into AOC’s mindset, characterizing her as someone who believed (wrongly) that she could please everyone, even her political opponents. When recounting her decision to occupy Nancy Pelosi’s office, Grim observes:

“While somebody like Obama wants to be seen as being all things to all people, Ocasio-Cortez actually thinks she can be all things to all people, even while leading a political revolution. She believed she could occupy the Speaker's office and have Pelosi appreciate it—if not immediately, then at least down the road."

Moments of clear insight like this are outliers, though.

I also had little gripes that are petty but still undermined my respect for the book. Multiple passages in the book are just straight up copy/pasted from stories Grim wrote for the Intercept (something he candidly admits in an author’s note, fortunately). That’s fine I guess, but I’d already read plenty of these stories! And sure, that may not be the case for most readers, but it still bugged me.

Ultimately, I can't see this appealing to avid news junkies (who already know most of the events the book covers) or people uninterested in DC politics. So to restate my initial question: Who is this book for?

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting insights into AOC as candidate, representative, and now, in a tough place politically as she is seen by some as “part of the Dem establishment” but still treated as an outsider/threatening presence by some colleagues. Overall, the book is mostly a summary of Washington politics from the last five years, which is fine, but I was hoping for some more examination and analysis from Ryan Grim—who is otherwise a really good journalist and unafraid of pointing out inconvenient truths. 3/5

[José María · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful and, in my opinion, required reading if you want to be a member of the informed and productive section of the left. Grim makes no effort to hide his political leanings (very much a progressive), but he does make an effort to hold rogressive and centrist democrats to the same standards. I wish he didn't make most efforts by centrist and conservative democrats to resist progressivism seem like a moneyed conspiracy. But this is Ryan Grim so you get what you pay for with I guess.

[Leanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was extremely disappointed with this book. It reads like a gossip rag of high school antics instead of putting forth a unified policy agenda with strong talking points that reflect successful context; create galvanizing and proactive policies that speak to a very strong direction to empower all Americans to vote in their best interests.

[Jim Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book was intriguing. It started off being interesting with facts and slowly worked into a whole lot of mundane reading. If you are not into the political scene there are too many people, and alot of behind the scenes conversation to keep track of. Towards the end it was really hard to read.

[Socraticgadfly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is mendacious by silence in some big ways, one above all.

In other words, beyond the scattershot writing and relative lack of actual political biography mentioned by other low raters?

If you want a #BlueAnon PR piece, read away.

Speaking as a non-duopoly leftist, if you want an honest political bio of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, let alone the rest of the "squad," this ain't it.

The biggie?

The so-called Green New Deal.

The Green New Deal was actually crafted by the Green Party, then latched on to and watered down by the Sunrise Movement, which in reality is the youth wing of Gang Green environmental org Sierra Club, along with the Democratic Socialists of America (which are NOT a third party, their pretenses aside) then further latched on to by AOC, with more watering down.

Despite, per his index, the GND getting approximately 30 pages of discussion, Grim tells you none of this.

But I am. I wrote several times about it; this is the biggest. Of course, Grim also lied by omission at The Intercept, Sadly, alleged leftist Adam Tooze lies about that too; that's even though neoliberal mags have told the truth. Wikipedia also has the truth, about its GP start in 2012, under its Green New Deal page.

So, the rhetorical question is: Is DC insider Grim, reporter for Politico, contributor to MSNBC, then DC bureau chief for Puff Hoes before the Intercept, that idiotic, or mendacious? I think you know the answer.

Next? Israel-Palestine.

Oh Grim has lots of coverage, but most of it is national-level Democrat and Democrat funder inside baseball focused on New Jersey Congresscritter Josh Gottheimer.

Grim gets lucky to write his book before Oct. 7, 2023, when AOC and the rest of The Squad gets put to the test. And, found wanting, when put to the test more by Dementia Joe's "I'm still running" line, with even Ilhan Omar kissing the ring. Or that AOC has now been unendorsed by the national DSA.

There's plenty of other dross below the electroplated gold of AOC. I've got that too, since Grim doesn't.

And, since I was at light grokking, no, looking at the index and moving toward DNF at this point?

I've called Grim out before for turd-polishing the whole Squad, and beyond that, the whole Congressional Progressive Caucus, or Pergressuve Cucks, as I call them.

Related to that link? Almost all coverage about Russia is about 2016 election meddling, and Ukraine isn't even in the index, so Grim can hide where the Squad and the Cucks stand on the lead-up to a proxy war and the war itself.

I reserve the right to move this down to 1 star. The only reasons it isn't, right now, is that I hit the 2-star starring, and also because of the book's illumination of Grim. We have clear evidence he's a Blue Anon and willing to go to all ends for that, and related, that, political inside baseball/chess game floats his boat as much as or more than big ideas.

[Billy Hackett · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, it is worth clarifying what the book is not : It is not a biography of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or any member of the Squad, nor is it a story that dares to project an aspirational legacy for its principle subjects. It appears I am not alone in having harbored that expectation, to some extent.

That said, I appreciate what Ryan Grim does offer readers in The Squad: a snapshot of consequential events and players relevant to the progressive political movement in Washington, D.C., from roughly 2017 to 2022. While many of the moments chronicled herein — from the upset election of AOC, to the sabotage of Bernie Sanders’ prospects in the 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary, to the fights that surrounded former President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda — are very recent and may not feel novel to those of us who are politically engaged, I expect that this book will be an important and accessible entry point for future readers who someday wish to untangle the events of this era.

Grim adds depth to these events — even to those of us who closely followed as they unfolded in the public eye or were involved in a niche way, like myself — with personal conversations and text messages with the primary subjects of the book, both in-the-moment and in hindsight. His unique insider access provides a peek into the psyche of names we hear on the news in addition to a window to the surprisingly casual relationship that can exist between Members of Congress, their staff, and the media.

If I had to choose one word to describe this book, it would be modern. It is a piece of modern journalism, striving for a certain objectivity while preserving small, revealing details that are often lost to history. It reflects a new age of politics defined by our technology, social media, and the 24-hour news cycle. Further, one cannot help but notice the centrality of money in politics as the most powerful influence driving the events of the last several years — as told by Grim — is a far throw from the character-driven biographies of leaders in the prior century.

Ultimately, Grim’s book leaves readers with the impression that there are two worlds: events as they are spun and events as they occur. Perhaps most notable is the subversive revelation that the Squad — as a cohesive and close-knit group of young, progressive lawmakers — is more a media fabrication than reality. What else is not quite as it appears?

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Squad is a layman accessible monograph on the younger Democratic party in the USA considered by political analyst and journalist Ryan Grim. Released 5th Dec 2023 by Henry Holt, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

Politics and legal analysis can be very dry, and, frankly, boring difficult to read and assimilate. The author is an experienced astute analyst who manages to distill the unwieldy and chaotic realities of the political disharmony in the USA into salient and comprehensive bites.

The book contains a play-by-play recounting of the history of AOC and to a lesser degree, the other members of the Squad since 2016. There is quite a lot of commentary about -how- and -why- things became gridlocked, but it's also blended into the narrative. This is a book to read from cover to cover, and not arranged such that particular material will be easy to find (except for the search text function on the ebook format).

Inevitably, the overall takeaway is that a two-party system is untenable and that it hasn't worked well at all post-Reagan. There don't seem to be a lot of options other than one side trying to score political points against the other and to lie, cheat, and blur the boundaries to prevent the other side from making progress (which will be turned into political credit). The author does a good job of pointing out places where the titular subjects of the book actually seem to stand for something and are earnestly seeking lasting positive change for their constituents, and the USA as a whole.

4 stars. Dystopian, and even more so because it's factually true. We can hope the forces of objective truth, honor, and dignity win. The book is not annotated and there are no chapter notes.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Jorge Maldonado · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was a great recap on the political progressive movement that emerged following the first Bernie Sanders campaign. It offered a personal meditation on my own political journey, as a product of the movement the emerged from the Squad and beyond. Key moments, like AOCs win, the Nevada primary in 2020, and controversial twitter fights around Build Back Better and Beyond, were examples of moments where I could assess the failures and successes of these fights, and also my own political evolution.

Without a doubt, the success of progressive electeds in Federal office were a net positive and in many ways necessary to build the modern left. However, the shortcomings are real. As I find myself increasingly removed from building the electorally-aligned, and specifically, democratic party-adjacent wing of the left, the balance sheet required for the development of the left lead me to fixate on how far removed AOC and the Squad are from real organizations and the principles of class struggle. We cannot divorce ourselves from Federal Politics, and what happens in Capitol Hill decidedly influences the lives of millions of working class Americans.

The book's focus on power, where it lies, how it's utilized, should beg leftists to consider what we consider transformative social change and what we believe is possible, and measure what power it will take to get there. There is genuine cost on expending our energy and resources to the insider strategy. Unfortunately, looking to build outside of it is consistently viewed as idealistic and irrational. Like the legacy of much of what the Squad has accomplished, time will demonstrate how much closer we are to a. more dignified future.

[Stephen Morrissey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ryan Grim's "The Squad" is an in-depth dive into the growth, and attendant growing pains, of the left of the Democratic Party in the wake of Bernie Sanders's surprisingly strong showing in the 2016 presidential primary. While the focus is mainly on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), Grim goes into the weeds on many characters from the progressive wing of the party, from Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley to Sanders, Jayapal, and others. Since 2016, progressives have captured the imagination of large swaths of the Democratic Party, as long-term, out-of-touch incumbents like Joe Crowley and Eliot Engel have been tossed out in favor of candidates with a more activist bent and movement type of politics centering on Medicare For All, the Green New Deal, and other pieces of legislation mimicking the enormous strides achieved in the New Deal and Great Society programs of the 20th Century.

Grim teases out the difficulties of the progressive wing, balancing ideological purity with Congressional realpolitik. AOC emerges as a surprisingly conciliatory and conflict-averse personality, a type more conducive to the relationship-driven processes of Capitol Hill than the searing rallies and Puritanical stances of outside activist groups.

AOC and the Squad are not going away anytime soon. In fact, poll numbers suggest Democrats, particularly in urban enclaves, value these candidates more than the "establishment" creatures of yore. What remains to be seen is whether progressives can cohesively fight for and win legislative victories, or be consigned to pecking at the margins while the centrist wing dictates policy.

[Cami · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning more about recent political history, although it does baffle me that nearly a decade has passed since the 2016 presidential election. This book addresses many topics that interest me, from the progressive movement in Congress to groups such as Sunrise that are tackling the climate crisis.

Sometimes remembering so many names in each chapter made my head spin, and admittedly, I lost track of certain politicians and their employees. But other times, it was neat to hear about a person whose name I recognized because they've headlined in recent news, such as Chuck Schumer.

As with many nonfiction books that I've been reading these past several months, especially those that deal with politics, I wish the author knew the results of the 2024 presidential election, so I could hear their thoughts on the matter. Luckily, Ryan Grim doesn't say anything too ironic in this book (like other authors who have expressed their relief that the American public stood against Trump in 2020 and kicked him out of the White House once and for all).

Still, this is an interesting book, and most of its information remains relevant to the current political climate. Bernie Sanders and AOC are currently traveling the country with their "Fighting Oligarchy" tour, and now is a pivotal moment to stand up for human rights and be politically informed. I hope to read more books on this topic so I can better understand this country and what we as individuals can do to make a positive difference.

[Amyiw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've occasionally read the Intercept and think Ryan Grim is one of the best independent journalist out there. He is definitely more left than right. Most of the issues I have heard at least some of but he definitely rounded out the way these issues were reported and dealt with. Mostly this is history of left politics from 2016-2024 with a little from before that. It shows the manipulations and how dysfunctional the political process is no matter what side of the isle, with them or against them, and always against the other side not matter what if you are with them. And if you are against them, they are going to make your career as short as they can. There are a few that have managed to buck the process and play here and there to get their agenda on the map but it is only a handful against all the rest. All the rest are beholden to the money, big corp money, so not exactly the representative government the founding fathers started with, though... they didn't represent all the people either as only white men voted. But now it is the corporation and big money that is being represented mostly. It is an up hill battle just to get a issue dear to the majority of the people even heard. Yet we are the people that vote for this. So change comes slowly and hopefully we can slowly dig ourselves out of this corruption. Maybe the first thing is to repeal citizen's united that allows all the money into the election campaigns.

[LaShanda Chamberlain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This captivating book delves deep into the progressive movement among House Democrats. Grim skillfully tells the story of how this outstanding group formed a strong bond and earned the nickname The Squad. As you read, you gain a good understanding of how politics works, witnessing The Squad's determination to bring about changes in Congress, even when facing resistance from their own party.

Over the last ten years, the progressive faction of the Democratic Party has undergone significant changes, gaining more influence and power. Now, its leaders are actively shaping laws in Congress and influencing decisions in the White House. While AOC is often seen as the main face of The Squad, the other members are also making important contributions in their own ways.

Despite encountering some challenges with Party Leadership in The House, The Squad is undeniably making its mark and has the potential to bring about lasting changes. As I read through this enthralling book, I was drawn into the story, excited to see more from this group of dynamic and visionary leaders. Their promise to continue impacting the political scene is both thrilling and inspiring, and I can't wait to see what they do next.

[Dimas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not always sure how to handle these play-by-play types of political books. If you follow this stuff closely, it can be redundant to read it all in a book right after it happened. If you give it a couple of years, it kinda loses its bite. Really, what holds these books up is how many cutting on-the-record quotes you can get from some of the subjects. (And the most interesting tidbits end up getting aggregated by HuffPost or whatever.)

With that being said, this is a pretty decent recap of the rise of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Squad. But I wouldn't call it essential. The book doesn't tell much about the Squad outside of the context of politics; and the narrative kind of falls apart midpoint and turns more into a book about topics, rather than one that has narrative cohesion.

Do think there is some healthy stuff to chew on about the changes of activism on the left and some of the clashes within the space. It also helped contextualize the storylines around AOC, who, as her career has grown, has grown more into an Obama type of figure rather than a radical. (Spoiler: the book basically ends with her being like, "this gig isn't too bad once you're working with the establishment.")