by Jacinda Ardern
Crown, 2025. 352 pages. Biography.
When Jacinda Ardern became Prime Minister at age thirty-seven, the world took notice. But it was her compassionate yet powerful response to the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, resulting in swift and sweeping gun control laws, that demonstrated her remarkable leadership. She guided her country through unprecedented challenges—a volcanic eruption, a major biosecurity breach, and a global pandemic—while advancing visionary new policies to address climate change, reduce child poverty, and secure historic international trade deals. She did all this while juggling first-time motherhood in the public eye. Ardern exemplifies a new kind of leadership—proving that leaders can be caring, empathetic, and effective. She is a model for anyone who has ever doubted themselves, or has aspired to lead with compassion, conviction, and courage.
Admittedly, I didn't know much about Ardern before reading this memoir. I found the story of an ordinary person who not only endured but thrived in extraordinary conditions. This work was written to an international audience and doesn't require any knowledge of New Zealand parliament or government structure to be accessible. There were remarkable moments of humble introspection that helped me reflect on my own values and the values of those in political power. It gives me hope to know there are people like this in government, despite what I so often see in my own nation and on the news.