In a world that often associates leadership with a loud voice, tough assertiveness, and displays of absolute, unwavering power, the book “What If You Could” by former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern offers a completely different and revolutionary vision of the concept of human and political influence. This book is considered one of the most prominent inspiring books. Because it redefines the concept of "power."The book is originally an edited version specifically directed to the new generation, young people, and teenagers, adapted and simplified from her original best-selling memoir published in 2025 entitled: (A Different Kind of Power).
Ardern drafted this work in collaboration with the author and specialized researcher, Rabi Shamir, with the aim of providing a practical and ethical guide for young people who are going through stages of self-doubt, or what is known as “Adaptation Syndrome” or “Impostor Syndrome”.The book poses a fundamental and motivating question: “What if you could achieve your biggest dreams without abandoning your sensitive nature, and without assuming a personality that does not resemble you?”
Jacinda Ardern is a prominent New Zealand politician. She assumed the position of New Zealand's fortieth Prime Minister in 2017 at the age of thirty-seven, becoming at that time one of the youngest political leaders in the world, and the youngest woman to lead a government in the history of her country. Ardern has gained widespread global respect and admiration for her leadership styleUnique, based on intense empathy, direct human communication, and honesty.
She has led her country through a series of unprecedented crises, including the 2019 terrorist attack on two Christchurch mosques, the Isle of Wight volcanic eruption, and the COVID-19 pandemic. She suddenly announced her resignation from her position, stressing that she “no longer had enough energy in the tank” to continue giving as required, a position that strengthened the world’s view of her as a courageous leader who was honest with herself and her people.In each chapter of the book, Ardern incorporates real-life stories and funny or sad situations from her childhood and upbringing in a small rural town in New Zealand, all the way to the scenes of making fateful decisions at the top of the political pyramid.The book's most revolutionary central idea is to refute the traditional idea that a leader must be cold-blooded or aggressive to assert control. Ardern argues that the traits that many believe are barriers to success – such as anxiety, overthinking, hyper-sensitivity, and the desire to care for and listen to others – are in fact the essential tools that have made her a successful, resilient and adaptable leader. Shows readers how a shy child or young person can lead their community more effectivelyBy introducing “compassion” and “kindness” into political discourse and action.
This book is highly recommended for teens, students, emerging leaders, women, and anyone who has ever felt like they are "not enough" or that their over-sensitivity might be keeping them from reaching the heights of success. It is a book that calls for reconciliation with oneself, embracing human weaknesses, and having the courage to transform them into positive energy to change the world for the better.
