Take Up Space - The Unprecedented AOC

A stunning four-color biography of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the bestselling tradition of Notorious RBG and Pelosi that explores her explosive rise and impact on the future of American culture and politics. The candidate was young—twenty-eight years old, a child of Puerto Rico, the Bronx, and Yorktown Heights. She was working as a waitress and bartender. She was completely unknown, and taking on a ten-term incumbent in a city famous for protecting its political institutions. “Women like me aren’t supposed to run for office,” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said in a video launching her campaign, the camera following her as she hastily pulled her hair into a bun. But she did. And in perhaps the most stunning upset in recent memory, she won. At twenty-nine, she was sworn in as the youngest member of the 116th Congress and became the youngest woman to serve as a representative in United States history. Before long, Ocasio-Cortez had earned her own shorthand title—AOC—and was one of the most talked-about public figures (loved and loathed) in the world. Her natural ability to connect with everyday people through the social media feeds grew her following into the multimillions. Every statement she made, every tweet and Instagram Live, went viral, and her term had barely begun before people were speculating that she could one day be president. The question seemed to be on everyone’s mind: How did this woman come from nowhere to acquire such influence, and so fast? Now, in Take Up Space , that question is answered through a kaleidoscopic biography by the editors of New York magazine that features the riveting account of her rise by Lisa Miller, an essay by Rebecca Traister that explains why she is an unprecedented figure in American politics, and multiform explorations (reportage, comic, history, analysis, photography) of AOC’s outsize impact on American culture and politics. Throughout, AOC is revealed in all her power and vulnerability, and understood in the context of the fast-changing America that made her possible—and perhaps even inevitable. An engaging, all-encompassing biography of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the bestselling tradition of Notorious RBG and Pelosi that explores her explosive rise and impact on the future of American culture and politics. Sworn in at twenty-nine years old in 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was the youngest member of the 118th Congress, and the youngest woman to serve in United States history. She is one of the most prominent politicians on social media, with millions of followers on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, making headlines consistently when she utilizes each platform to communicate her opinions, ideas, and progressive policies. Now, through essays and reported stories on AOC’s meteoric rise and impact written by New York’s top-tier writers and commentators, including Rebecca Traister, Lisa Miller, Tim Shenk, David Wallace-Wells, Molly Fischer, and more, we get an in-depth look at one of the most prominent political and cultural stars in recent memory. Including: —An opening essay about AOC’s unprecedented position in American politics by Rebecca Traister —A contextual look at her place in history of the American left by Tim Shenk —Highlights of pivotal moments such as, The Campaign (by Bridget Read), The Making of the Green New Deal (by Kate Aronoff), The College Years (by Angelina Chapin), and The Dakota Access Pipeline (by Michelle Ruiz) —What the Green New Deal actually means for climate efforts by David Wallace-Wells —An essay on the role that her beauty plays in her public perception by Rhonda Garelick —Analysis of her social media greatest hits by Madison Malone Kircher —Her relationship with Puerto Rico by Andrea Gonzalez-Ramirez —An essay on her rare authenticity by Molly Fischer —How today’s teens see her as the politician of their futures Also featuring a deep dive on “The Squad,” a lighthearted piece on the “total average-ness of her boyfriend,” as well as informative graphics and illustrations, Take Up Space offers a dynamic and comprehensive look at one of today’s most influential political and cultural icons. A child of Puerto Rico, the Bronx, and Yorktown Heights, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took on a ten-time incumbent-- and won. She was sworn in as the youngest member of the 116th Congress and became the youngest woman to serve as a representative in United States history. Here the editors of New York magazine explain AOC in all her power and vulnerability. Readers will come to understand her in the context of the fast-changing America that made AOC possible-- and perhaps even inevitable. -- adapted from jacket