Warm, witty, wise, informative, and a jolly good read.
Feature image credit: Penguin Books Australia
Jacinda Ardern has packed more into her life thus far than most mortals do in 100 years. Famous for her time as prime minister of New Zealand, she blazed a trail, not so much for women in public office (she was at that time the third woman to hold that title), but for a new compassionate flavour of politics. Perhaps the most widely disseminated photograph of Ardern shows her wearing a headscarf, embracing surviving victims of the Christchurch mosque terrorist attack.
Last year her memoir A Different Kind of Power was published, and the documentary feature Prime Minister was released. Now, Ruby Shamir has adapted the former into an inspirational book for young adults.
What if You Could is a memoir which speaks directly to young people. It opens with a description of Jacinda throwing up in a toilet from nerves, just before participating in a school debate: a situation most of us can relate to! It follows a roughly chronological pattern, from childhood to her resignation as PM in 2023. Essentially, she tries to answer the question of whether somebody sensitive and thin-skinned can actually survive in the cut-throat world of politics. Each chapter speaks to a specific source of strength: choosing your own path; being useful; being kind. And although she hangs these strengths within a framework of public service and political power, these all have immediate relevance to most young people trying to find their way in the world. Despite this, the work never becomes didactic or preachy. Its explanations of political processes are clear without being condescending, and her passion for politics shines through in a way which is neither partisan nor entirely agnostic.
This is a book which should be compulsory reading for any young person, but would also make a fantastic addition to the social studies, politics, or legal studies, reading list in schools. As a teacher I will certainly be recommending this one to some of my students.
Shamir has done an outstanding job of adapting this for young adults, because it is also very readable for ‘old’ adults. If you enjoy reading but don’t quite have the attention span or time for Ardern’s full memoir, then this is still a very satisfying option. Ardern proves in these pages that she is very much the vulnerable, open, honest, and compassionate person she always seemed to be on the telly.
Buy this for the young person in your life (but quickly read it yourself before giving it to them!)
Reviewed by Tracey Korsten
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Penguin Books Australia
Released: June 2026
RRP: $26.99
