What If You Could: An inspiring guide to chasing your dreams, by the former Prime Minister of New Zealand

by Jacinda Ardern

An inspiring guide to chasing your dreams from the former prime minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern, adapted from the adult biography A Different Kind of Power.

Genres: Leadership, Nonfiction

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2026

About the author

The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern was elected the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand at the age of thirty-seven, becoming the country’s youngest Prime Minister in more than 150 years. Since leaving office, Ardern has established the Field Fellowship on empathetic leadership. She is a Senior Fellow at Harvard University, continues to work on climate action, and is the Patron of the Christchurch Call to Action to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. Ardern also works on a number of projects that support women and girls, but considers her greatest roles to be those she will hold for life, including that of mum and proud New Zealander.

Reviews

[Taylor Shore]

Listening to Jacinda feels so homely.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

What If You Could is an uplifting and thoughtful book that encourages readers to approach the world with curiosity, kindness, and confidence. Jacinda Ardern has a warm, approachable voice, and the message comes across in a way that feels encouraging rather than preachy. The book is simple on the surface, but there’s a lot of heart packed into its pages.

What I appreciated most was its focus on possibility and empathy. It invites readers to imagine how their actions can make a difference, while also reminding them that courage and compassion often go hand in hand. It’s the kind of book that leaves you feeling hopeful and inspired long after you’ve finished reading it.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Penguin Young Readers Group | Philomel Books through NetGalley.
Ardern offers advice and encouragement to teens looking at their future. She shares her life and how she faced challenges at all levels to become New Zealand's first female Prime Minister. Her tone is welcoming but she doesn't hold back on how she faced crises while in office. She also shares mistakes she made along the way. I found it encouraging to see how vulnerable she was when sharing her story. This should resonate with teens looking for role models who hold to their principles.

[Lyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a privilege to read this book, so well written by former New Zealand Prime Minister, Dame Jacinda Ardern. While it is an easy to read memoir, it carries such powerful messages of hope and reassurance. Written with empathy and compassion, we are reminded that we are enough. What if you could?, at any age, helps us realise we are capable of more than we believe. Kindness is the key - and we are all capable of achieving that. Dame Jacinda Ardern, is a woman of great strength, courage and leadership. We should listen to her wisdom with open ears and hearts.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Julia Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps not as motivational for our students as I had hoped.
Rounded up because, well, it is Jacinda, and she is truly amazing.

[Bailey Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

What If You Could is an inspiring, uplifting, powerful, and needed read! Jacinda Ardern is a true inspiration as one of the youngest prime ministers New Zealand has ever had. She is a true leader, advocate, and empathetic voice. I loved learning her story; how her questioning, empathy, anxiety, and imposter syndrome that she worried would make her weak actually strengthened her leadership abilities. There is room for every voice at the table! Her advocacy focus of climate change, women's issues, and elimination of terrorism efforts was fascinating to learn about. All she did at the age of 37 and all she continues to do is a story youth (& us adults) need to read. You are never too young to make an impact!

As someone who never viewed themselves as a leader growing up but now aspires to lead in her industry, I loved the messaging of this book! We need to rethink the qualities that make a good leader as a society and help everyone find the leader within themselves.

#gifted #partner Thank you to @PenguinKids for the gifted copy & @storygramtours for the tour invite!

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