Generation Occupy: Reawakening American Democracy

by Michael Levitin

From the fight for a fifteen-dollar minimum wage to the nationwide teacher strikes, from Bernie Sanders to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and from Black Lives Matter to #MeToo, Generation Occupy reveals the lasting impacts of the Occupy movement on American politics and culture.

On the ten-year anniversary of the Occupy movement, Generation Occupy sets the historical record straight about the movement's lasting impacts. Far from a passing phenomenon, Occupy Wall Street marked a new era of social and political transformation, reigniting the labor movement, remaking the Democratic Party, and reviving a culture of protest that has put the fight for social, economic, environmental, and racial justice at the forefront of a generation. The movement changed the way Americans see themselves and their role in the economy through the language of the 99 versus the 1 percent.

But beyond that, in its demands for fairness and equality, Occupy reinvigorated grassroots activism, inaugurating a decade of youth-led resistance movements that have altered the social fabric, from Black Lives Matter and Standing Rock to March for Our Lives, the Global Climate Strikes, and #MeToo. Bookended by the 2008 financial crisis and the coronavirus pandemic, Generation Occupy attempts to help us understand how we got to where we are today and how to draw on lessons from Occupy in the future.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Published September 14, 2021

Reviews

[Jonathan Wettstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is provides an informative narrative of the Occupy Wall Street movement, as written by a very talented journalist. Anybody who is interested in politics and social justice, and making a difference should read it. The book holds the reader's interest, because it reads like a fictional story, but in a non-fictional setting. Read this book and you will learn about many interesting and important people in the movement!

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a few short weeks, Occupy Wall Street became the genesis for the social change movement that is in full force today. Levitin, who spent much time at Zuccotti Park during the autumn of 2011, speaks with the movers and shakers who began their activism there and have become some of the major agents of change today. We see how Occupy Wall Street begat Bernie Sanders' incredible national rise to prominence and his presidential campaigns, which begat the election of progressive representatives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Squad.

Although OWS lacked in organization and focus, those who learned from what worked there and what did not work have taken lessons from that volatile and educational time to spurn the hashtag movements we know well today: The Movement for Black Lives, Fight for $15 minimum wage, #MeToo, Medicare For All.. We understand that economic inequality, the focus of OWS and the attempt to shine the light on the 1% controlling the 99%, continues today, and would not have been possible without the pioneers in Zuccotti Park.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

10 years have passed since Occupy Wall Street, it's long enough to take a historical stock about what has happened since. I really like the book's coverage and discussions, reminding me of a lot of things I didn't link to Occupy. The biggest contribution in my mind is that it opened new space for discussion, topics off limits earlier no longer taboos. The only complaint I have is the discussion about other places in the world. While I'm not necessarily familiar with all those places, my impression is that things were likely much more complicated than from Occupy angle.

[Kane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who watches the news every day? There was a time in my life that I had no choice to, 5pm my family and I would watch ‘The Weakest Link’ then a few years later it changed to ‘The Chase’ then for the next 2/3 hours would be BBC News then Channel 4 News. Then years later I had enough.

Every week we are introduced to a new villain, a new challenge, a new issue we’re faced with, and many of these are out of our hands, so we think, but that’s not always the case. Michael Levitin takes us through the historic encounters that the Occupy movement undertook to change the world we live in.

Many of the challenges we face; Income inequality, climate change, increased taxes and capitalism itself are caused by one group, and the Occupy movement wanted all to know who they are. 

Historically America has had many inept presidents, promising change or creating disastrous changes, but not on many occasions do they get a president where they feel real change may come, but in 2009 they did, at a time they needed it most. Following the great recession, Americans knew who were to blame, and was hoping that these bankers and large corporations will get what they deserve, but that wasn’t the case. Feeling betrayed and heartbroken the Occupy movement done what they do best.

Generation Occupy reinstalls the message that power is truly with the people, especially when the people are united. From taking down large corporations, putting their foot down on governments, and putting their own in positions to fix issues within. 

The Occupy movement is phenomenally written, highlighting the disparities inside the highest positions of power. Taking us through many of their involvements to force change and the impact of what can be done when people unite. 

This book has cemented its way into my Top 10 books of 2021, or maybe even Top 5. Essentially a book that could easily be placed into the US education system. Bravo Michael Levitin!

Thanks again to everyone at @Counterpointpress & @Catapult for sending me this book

Check out my other reviews on Instagram- @ReviewsByDru

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is a compelling window into the social activism that erupted from the 2007-2008 financial crisis, with all the flaws one would expect from an author who candidly admits the movement fell far short of its goals. While it probably could have been slimmed down here and there, and teeters on the brink of self-importance at times, this labor of love does an excellent job of attempting to make the case for what concerted action can achieve when properly marshalled. More troublingly, it also lifts the lid on some of the dangers of preening left-wing factionalism, which often allows the forces of reactionary conservatism to prevail in the teeth of public opinion. There are valuable lessons for what the left got right after the meltdown, and where it could still go wrong in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election. In particular, 'Generation Occupy' raises important questions about how far the U.S. left can get pressing for higher minimum wages when 95% of humanity is still light years away from closing the gap that the peculiar conditions of history created between the U.S. economy and the rest of the world - and hence whether advocates for social change might instead be better off focusing more on trying to deflate the vertiginous disparity, growing daily, between the top of the corporate pile and the average U.S. worker.

[Asuka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does something really well. It is non-fiction, but hard to remember that while you're reading it. Some people may view that as a bad thing, but I personally think it shows great writing skill. Non-fiction books often feel very monotone, and drone on, making them hard to get through. Generation Occupy, to my surprise, did not have that fault. Most of the time I forgot I was even reading a non-fiction book, and was only reminded by the talk of real events.

I'm not nearly as good as a writer as Michael is, and I worry I will fail to use some words properly if I try to go into too much detail lol, but this book is very informative. I also feel it does a great job at getting the message that it wanted across to the reader in an entertaining and easy to understand way. Which is something I think we are lacking in the activism and politics sphere. Many books and even articles with large words and complex concepts are hard to comprehend for many. However, this novel tackles it all in kind of a different, more comprehensible way as I said earlier.

Overall, this was a good read, and I think it will be very helpful to anyone looking to learn more and grow their knowledge about the topics within. Also, you won't fall asleep reading this non-fiction book haha!

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

In his classic, invaluable manual for American organizers Saul Alinsky warns against the common habit would-be radicals have of writing themselves into the historical process:

The further danger of mythology is that it carries the picture of "genius at work" with the false implication of purposeful logic and planned actions. [...] The mythology of "history" is usually so pleasant for the ego of the subject that he accepts it in a "modest" silence, an affirmation of the validity of the mythology. After a while he begins to believe it.

No such silence is to be found in Michael Levitin’s Generation Occupy. Modesty? Forget it, either from the author or his protagonists, the Generation Ratings who, who in the Fall of 2011 took over a park in Downtown Manhattan in an attempt to grab the credit for an emerging social tendency.

[full review to follow]

[Julie Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Levitin first captured my attention when I read one of his magazine articles because of the way he uses language to activate shared values. I was impressed by his framing ability and looked forward to more of the same in his book. What I found was a mini-encyclopedia in which Levitin identifies, compares and contrasts the elements of when and why subsequent protests reflected the successes and failures of the mothership that was Occupy Wall Street. Armed with the new communication technology of social media in providing a super-charged platform for crowdsourcing, Levitin methodically makes the case for Occupy Wall Street’s legacy and influence. From Black Lives Matter to Standing Rock, #MeToo, Greta Thunberg, the Women’s March and more, this textbook for future generations will explain how their forebears pressed beyond the obstacles of public will being ignored and earned hard-won changes to the system.

[Julie Swearingen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the publisher before an event at my bookstore.

Is it possible to "enjoy" a book that shows you that you don't know even a tiny percentage of what is going on behind the scenes of our economy, government, and country? At several points in this reading, I sucked in my breath or said an expletive. However, I'm so glad that I read it, and that I was able to ask the author questions. I truly think this is a book that every over the age of 15 should be reading. It might be centered on an event that happened 10 years ago, but it is absolutely speaking to everything that is happening now and will be happening if we don't do something to save our planet and our humanity.

[Sankalp Katta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it for modern-day history! I think Michael Levitin does a great job detailing all the injustices that have occurred in America, and exposed the grave inequalities of our society. Occupy has absolutely reinvigorated the working class, and has empowered a new generation of activists. Levitin's attention to detail is definitely admirable. This book is so well organized you can't help but want to fight for what you think is right by the end.