What do you think?
Rate this book
Jacinda Ardern: A New Kind of Leader
Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern is a leader for a new generation, one tired of inertia in the face of pressing issues such as climate change, immigration and the rise of far-right terrorism. Ardern was catapulted onto the international stage with her grace and compassion following the Christchurch mosque shooting. Oprah Winfrey invited us to ‘channel our inner Jacindas’ as praise for Ardern flooded headlines and social media.
The world’s youngest female head of government, and only the second elected world leader to give birth while in office, Ardern describes herself as a progressive and a social democrat. In this revealing biography, journalist Madeleine Chapman discovers the woman behind the headlines. Politically engaged from an early age, Ardern has encountered her fair share of sexism, but rather than let that harden her she advocates ‘rising above’ critics. In her first press conference, she announced an election campaign of ‘relentless positivity’. The tactic was a resounding success: donations poured in and Labour rebounded in the polls.
But can Ardern live up to her promise? What does her new style of leadership look like in practice? And what can we learn from the world’s reaction to this inspiring leader?
The world’s youngest female head of government, and only the second elected world leader to give birth while in office, Ardern describes herself as a progressive and a social democrat. In this revealing biography, journalist Madeleine Chapman discovers the woman behind the headlines. Politically engaged from an early age, Ardern has encountered her fair share of sexism, but rather than let that harden her she advocates ‘rising above’ critics. In her first press conference, she announced an election campaign of ‘relentless positivity’. The tactic was a resounding success: donations poured in and Labour rebounded in the polls.
But can Ardern live up to her promise? What does her new style of leadership look like in practice? And what can we learn from the world’s reaction to this inspiring leader?
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2020
174 people are currently reading
1110 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
January 18, 2021
This recently released biography of the New Zealand Prime Minister is authored by Madeleine Chapman and is an interesting study on Jacinda Ardern. Not a large tome, it is eminently readable and gives good insight into this world leader, a New Zealand woman who gave birth to her first child within the first year as leader of her country. From her rural upbringing that shaped much of her life, her journey to the world stage is clearly detailed. A good understanding of her subject is presented by the author, if somewhat disappointing in part, to its brevity. Nonetheless a well-crafted revelatory of this female progressive leader who represents the essence of her country so well. Four-and-a-half-star rating.
April 4, 2020
Really admire the subject - worth reading for that alone
Two things - I really like the author, and I really like and admire Jacinda Ardern. I did learn some interesting things in reading the book, but I found it a bit disjointed as in jumping around timewise. I see the intent - cover a significant incident as a subject on it's own, and then have a catchall to interpret say leadership style in which the incident is discussed again as an example, but it didn't quite flow for me by doing it the way it was done here.
Two things - I really like the author, and I really like and admire Jacinda Ardern. I did learn some interesting things in reading the book, but I found it a bit disjointed as in jumping around timewise. I see the intent - cover a significant incident as a subject on it's own, and then have a catchall to interpret say leadership style in which the incident is discussed again as an example, but it didn't quite flow for me by doing it the way it was done here.
May 30, 2020
Biographies are not a genre I visit often however, I was intrigued to learn more about Jacinda Ardern. Her youth and specifically her gender tends to draw a cynical tone from the middle aged white men I have the privilege of listening to! While it’s enlightening to experience episodes of mansplaining I was tempted to do some of my own research. This book outlines her childhood, education and political experience well enough for me to draw the conclusion that Jacinda is an intelligent, passionate leader who is forging a new way through an old establishment. Her style of politics is certainly different to what the world is used to but does that mean she doesn’t have the balls to deal with the big issues. Let’s hope not because I think it’s the lack of balls that’s making her such a successful, popular and effective leader.
April 12, 2020
Jacinda represents a new age of political figures that myself and many other like-minded younger citizens would be proud to call our Leaders. Ardern gives politics a human face. She gives a voice to the issues facing younger generations that are so often belittled and ignored by current people in power. Leaders like Ardern give me hope for change; hope for a future where leaders remember that themselves and their citizens are - above all else - human.
May 10, 2021
Las biografías no es uno de mis géneros predilectos, la verdad, pero ésta me llamó la atención, y más en estos tiempos, debido a la buena gestión que Arden ha realizado de las últimas crisis que ha sufrido Nueva Zelanda, destacando los ataques terroristas de Christchurch y la pandemia del COVID-19.
En el libro, la autora te lleva por la vida de Jacinda Ardern, desde su niñez, su paso por el colegio, donde ya destacó como líder del consejo estudiantil, su entrada en política y su carrera desde entonces, incluyendo cómo se convirtió en candidata a primer ministro, cómo ganó las elecciones y cómo se convirtió en madre durante la primera legislatura.
Me ha gustado especialmente cómo se plasma su gestión sobre los ataques terroristas de Christchurch. La narrativa está bien, es amena y está bien escrita, perfecto para los que no solemos leer biografías.
En el libro, la autora te lleva por la vida de Jacinda Ardern, desde su niñez, su paso por el colegio, donde ya destacó como líder del consejo estudiantil, su entrada en política y su carrera desde entonces, incluyendo cómo se convirtió en candidata a primer ministro, cómo ganó las elecciones y cómo se convirtió en madre durante la primera legislatura.
Me ha gustado especialmente cómo se plasma su gestión sobre los ataques terroristas de Christchurch. La narrativa está bien, es amena y está bien escrita, perfecto para los que no solemos leer biografías.
December 19, 2020
To be honest, I don’t care if you have negative views of the author or the subject matter, all I know is I have finished this book in awe of what Jacinda has accomplished, the grief I hold in regards to the Christchurch attacks, the gratefulness I have for the sense of justice, peace, equality and how forthwith Jacinda is and promotes. Whilst we have the belief system that politicians are not transparent, I found the author has captured her subject matter quite transparent even though many people forget we don’t have to bare our private lives to all and it’s ok to be wrong sometimes.
May 10, 2020
It was ok. Nothing profound. Mainly a chronological order of her political career. I was left wanting more
June 17, 2020
Got a bit frustrated at the writing (why did she keep saying "not cool, but not uncool" so many times in the first few chapters!!?) but there is no doubting Jacinda being an inspiration for all.
December 18, 2020
This book needs a rewrite. Give it a logical structure, tighten up the facts and remove the numerous digressions
March 6, 2022
Jacinda Ardern is possibly the politician who I have the most respect for in the world. She represents all that politics should be - kindness, personability, pragmatism and social liberalism. Compare that to our own political leaders and one can’t help but find our side lacking.
This biography attempts to go beyond ‘Jacindamania’ and understand what drives this politician who seemingly has no ambition. We get an insight into her childhood, her formative years as a politician and how she seemingly became leader of Labour against her will.
Once Prime Minister, Ardern was an immediate hit with Kiwis. On the international stage, she was unanimously praised for her response to the Christchurch shootings and the pandemic, something recognised domestically when she won an unprecedented outright majority in 2020.
Highly recommend this biography to those attempting to understand, as the title suggests, this ‘new kind of leader’.
This biography attempts to go beyond ‘Jacindamania’ and understand what drives this politician who seemingly has no ambition. We get an insight into her childhood, her formative years as a politician and how she seemingly became leader of Labour against her will.
Once Prime Minister, Ardern was an immediate hit with Kiwis. On the international stage, she was unanimously praised for her response to the Christchurch shootings and the pandemic, something recognised domestically when she won an unprecedented outright majority in 2020.
Highly recommend this biography to those attempting to understand, as the title suggests, this ‘new kind of leader’.
March 7, 2021
Very repetitive- needed a lot more editing.
October 5, 2021
Yawning 🥱 a worthy story but could have been a lot shorter and less repetitive. yes she didn’t want to be PM and yes she took her baby daughter to the UN examples used too often to make various similar points. The subject will I am sure inspire many women and a different kind of politician is cause for celebration. But it was a struggle to stay with even though it is a relatively easy read. Recommended for the committed fan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2020
I found Chapman condescendingly cynical at times, possibly due to her own lack of world life experience.
Chapman can't believe that Jacinda could have reached the role of PM unless they were extremely ambitious and manipulative. I feel rather, that Jacinda is a totally committed do-gooder who more likely got where she is through wanting to be an integral part of a group, any group that she thought was going to bring about improvements for the wider community.
I definitely recommend this very readable and informative book to anyone interested in knowing more about this amazingly caring, honest and real, leader.
[for some reason this paperback edition ISBN 9781760641818, is also listed as a kindle edition]
Chapman can't believe that Jacinda could have reached the role of PM unless they were extremely ambitious and manipulative. I feel rather, that Jacinda is a totally committed do-gooder who more likely got where she is through wanting to be an integral part of a group, any group that she thought was going to bring about improvements for the wider community.
I definitely recommend this very readable and informative book to anyone interested in knowing more about this amazingly caring, honest and real, leader.
[for some reason this paperback edition ISBN 9781760641818, is also listed as a kindle edition]
August 10, 2021
Don't bother reading if you are a New Zealander or know anything about New Zealand politics. This book is a boring repeat of Jacinda's political history. It is awkward when the writer predicts certain things won't ever happen in New Zealand politics, that have happened in the year since the book was released. The final 40% of the book is copies of speeches, photos and references. A complete waste of time.
April 4, 2020
I'm a big fan of Madeline's articles so I was excited to read this. It's a simple, straightforward read and good for people who don't read a lot of biographies.There was a weird theme of coming up with loads of reasons why Jacinda is not cool but not uncool? Maybe a weird NZ tall poppy thing, I dunno. Anyway good for people who want to know where Jacinda comes from.
May 13, 2020
Disappointed in the way it’s written... was genuinely interested to know what forms a leader like Jacinda Arden but from her childhood through to leadership she is painted throughly as a saint.
No one is perfect and I think the affect this book on young women wanting to go into politics could be detrimental
No one is perfect and I think the affect this book on young women wanting to go into politics could be detrimental
September 20, 2021
Oh how I wish I could skim-read. This biography is an easy read but I was bored so it took me ages to get through it. Jacinda Ardern looks & sounds good, but hasn’t really done anything worth writing a book about. She’s just not that interesting. Maybe it’s a better read if you are a New Zealander, which I am not.
January 27, 2022
An interesting study of Jacinda Ardern's journey as a politician. Give us an insight into her childhood and her life before politics.
I love this book. It was an enjoyable read, but it's quite repetitive.
I love this book. It was an enjoyable read, but it's quite repetitive.
September 9, 2020
3 stars for the book. 5 stars for Ardern.
November 3, 2020
As an Australian, you realise that you are very much an outsider to New Zealand domestic politics (and their voting system which is unlike most Australian systems).
The difference between NZ local and international perceptions of their current, recently resoundingly endorsed, leader is interesting. A bit like your view of others relationships, very different sometimes when you are one of the intimately involved parties.
That said I believe Ardern has done so very well, particularly when compared with Australia's PM, Scott Morrison. The genuine compassion brought out over the Christchurch tragedy is a stand out example of a very inclusive, broad view of her relationship with own constituents and the world.
As she and her young family have taken the International stage, one is delivered the impression of a leader who has some real control of where she is at. Domestically, for instance on Capital Gains it would seem however, that Ardern may simply be another politician, an intelligent and compassionate one, but a shrewd politician none the less.
Clearly some additional chapters need to be added to account for the NZ management of COVID19.
A worthwhile read and understanding of a woman who is very much of this world and it's future.
The difference between NZ local and international perceptions of their current, recently resoundingly endorsed, leader is interesting. A bit like your view of others relationships, very different sometimes when you are one of the intimately involved parties.
That said I believe Ardern has done so very well, particularly when compared with Australia's PM, Scott Morrison. The genuine compassion brought out over the Christchurch tragedy is a stand out example of a very inclusive, broad view of her relationship with own constituents and the world.
As she and her young family have taken the International stage, one is delivered the impression of a leader who has some real control of where she is at. Domestically, for instance on Capital Gains it would seem however, that Ardern may simply be another politician, an intelligent and compassionate one, but a shrewd politician none the less.
Clearly some additional chapters need to be added to account for the NZ management of COVID19.
A worthwhile read and understanding of a woman who is very much of this world and it's future.
August 31, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I am already something of a Jacinda fan admittedly but I did relish the chance to get to know her a little better. Next I would love to read about Jacinda from someone who has access to her, an authorised account. This bio., whilst informative, clearly used second hand info and published articles etc. from which to glean its information. It served simply to whet my appetite and maybe one day Jacinda will write her memoirs - fingers crossed. I would definitely gift this to any of my overseas friends, many of whom are fascinated by Jacinda and her leadership style. With her focus on kindness and compassion what's not to love!
June 1, 2020
An engaging account of Jacinda Ardern’s political career so far, and (for an Australian reader) a good way to learn more about New Zealand’s political system. As the last chapter acknowledges, Ardern the person remains somewhat of a mystery, but there is plenty of insight her into her as a leader.
August 27, 2023
Madeleine Chapman writes really well, and this is a very interesting account of Jacinda's life prior to and her rise in the Labour party. It was interesting to read what was true and what the media spin was. Whether you liked Jacinda or agreed with her politics, you can see why she inspired such global admiration.
August 2, 2020
While the subject of this book- Jacinda Ardern makes the book an interesting and worthwhile read I feel that the writing and editing process could have been better. Nevertheless, I certainly enjoyed learning more about this progressive, compassionate leader
December 20, 2020
Great woman and leader, not so great biography.
February 11, 2021
Well written and cuts to Arden's rise without padding it out. I feel I now know some more about her, with a handful of 'stories' here and there, but some mystery remains.
March 1, 2021
I didn’t know Jacinda Arden was a Mormon. Religion aside, I really enjoyed this. Occasionally got bogged down in the political minutiae but overall an interesting and insightful biography into and interesting and intriguing world leader. I wish Australia could steal her.
June 20, 2021
i make it a rule not to idolize politicians but i've never felt more admiration for one than i do for this woman
March 4, 2022
I myself arrived in New Zealand in 2020 and I was there during her re-election. I thought Jacinda was popular because of the way she handled the covid-19 pandemic, but during conversations with kiwi's I often heard about the Christchurch terrorist attack. This book pays a lot of attention to the way Jacinda handled this and that is what made the biggest impression on me. In that part of the book you can really see why she is called an "empathic leader." I sometimes found the theoretical, political pieces a little boring. The writer is usually very positive about Jacinda, which makes me wonder if it is written objectively. Although I personally agree with the author, I can imagine that there is also another side to the story. In some parts of the book, the author is a bit more critical. For example, about the moderate climate approach and the housing crisis. All in all, I now know a lot more about the political rise of Jacinda Ardern and I remain a fan of hers.
March 23, 2021
Jacinda Arden is nothing short of fascinating and I was very exciting to read more about her life.
The first half of the book, unfortunately, was a disappointment. It was shallow and the writing was fragmented. At times, the timeline of events confusing and I felt that there were many gaps in the first half of the story.
The writing of the second half was much better, with deeper and thought provoking analysis. I particularly enjoyed the Highs and Lows chapter comparing Arden’s domestic and international ratings.
Given that this is currently one of the two biographies available on Arden, it’s worth a read. However, I hope that another one issues soon that gives the story justice, especially since this biography ends before Arden’s landslide victory in the 2020 election, and her internationally recognized positive response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The first half of the book, unfortunately, was a disappointment. It was shallow and the writing was fragmented. At times, the timeline of events confusing and I felt that there were many gaps in the first half of the story.
The writing of the second half was much better, with deeper and thought provoking analysis. I particularly enjoyed the Highs and Lows chapter comparing Arden’s domestic and international ratings.
Given that this is currently one of the two biographies available on Arden, it’s worth a read. However, I hope that another one issues soon that gives the story justice, especially since this biography ends before Arden’s landslide victory in the 2020 election, and her internationally recognized positive response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews