Thanks for your review Gary, good points you’re making. I’m also in the midst of reading it and full praise of her sharing her personal life story. She’s a genuine human being and I miss her leadership. The world would be a better place if we would allow more ‘kind’ leaders like her!
Dear Petra, thank you for that very insightful response! I couldn’t agree with you more. And thank you so much, Gary for taking the time to give a rational humane response.!
I intend to buy the book as well. I was totally shocked the first time a young woman expressed really nasty disapproval of Jacinda as our PM. You are absolutely right to read the book and then comment - how the personal gets in the way of reason from commentators who have not read much. Thank you for your response. How lucky we were to have experienced such a leader. It is hard to be living in these times/
👍👏 I bought it as an e-book the day it came out and read it from cover to cover in 2 days - I personally recognised the Jacinda I knew from both public appearances as PM through good times and bad, but I was also one of those who enjoyed the Facebook updates she used to do when Neve was (supposed to be!) in bed - policy explainers with cameo appearances from Clarke bringing chocolate or tea 😁. In this memoir she is the same person I felt connected to as both a leader & a human being, and the parts you have highlighted speak to that perfectly.
I was amused that SOME seemed to be disappointed that she didn't break the habit of a lifetime & take the opportunity to "dish the dirt" on people (hrrrmph Winston P...) and on the other hand criticised her for dropping David Cunnliffe in it for his leadership style 🤷 I may be over-interpreting, but I immediately saw that this was an opportunity to be apolitical in expressing disapproval of a leadership style which is chillingly similar to that we have today 🤔 ie criticise a LABOUR leader for trying to do what a NATIONAL leader is now doing by style & (lack of) substance ⁉️
And yes, the COVID results bear repeating over and over because we were so fortunate in Aotearoa to have the team, led by Jacinda, leading us through - nothing will ever be perfect, but "better than most" is worth acknowledging 🫂 Many lives saved statistically at the time and since via vaccination, and unknowable how many saved by changes to the firearms laws 🤔
Thank you for this. I was always grateful for Jacinda’s extraordinary leadership especially during covid. She deserves to be loved and admired, not assaulted with hate and death threats. She was exactly who we needed. I’m always going to miss her calmness and wisdom as she steered us ahead of everywhere else.
Brilliantly summarised Gary! I'm nearly finished reading - funnily enough those quotes from the book you used in summarising her early life are exactly the ones I read aloud to my husband - who is keen to read it as soon as I'm finished. We are both Jacinda supporters and are not afraid to say so - living in a wealthy right wing neighbourhood, we hear a lot of reviling comments. Reading her memoir was enlightening and, as you said, reinforces that we are who we are because of our own life experiences - Jacinda's strong desire to make New Zealand better was derived from what she saw and heard and lived.... she was a great leader. That closing line where she tells herself that the person standing in front of her being critical and waving a fist could very well be one of the people that her government's Covid policies saved - well, that says it all about who she is as a human. She is off living her best life away from NZ and being lauded worldwide for the amazing job she did running this little country. Kudos to her! Loved reading the book and getting to know her as a person, a mother, a partner, a leader, a friend, a daughter, and a sister, etc.
I enjoyed your critique of Jacinda’s book. I haven’t read it. What you have said resonates with my understanding and thoughts of who she is. So grateful to have experienced her leadership of Aotearoa NZ.
I just finished her amazing book a couple of nights ago after receiving it for my anniversary gift. My husband knows me sooooo well!
I enjoyed every single page & now feel even more honoured to have had such a wonderful caring astute Prime Minister leading our country through such a difficult time.
Godforbid this lot are in charge when the next pandemic strikes. There'll be sweet f all hospital beds & no health professionals left to look after us let alone a functioning brain cell amongst any of the MPs to distinguish a pandemic from a stubbed toe.
Thanks for your review Gary, good points you’re making. I’m also in the midst of reading it and full praise of her sharing her personal life story. She’s a genuine human being and I miss her leadership. The world would be a better place if we would allow more ‘kind’ leaders like her!
Dear Petra, thank you for that very insightful response! I couldn’t agree with you more. And thank you so much, Gary for taking the time to give a rational humane response.!
I intend to buy the book as well. I was totally shocked the first time a young woman expressed really nasty disapproval of Jacinda as our PM. You are absolutely right to read the book and then comment - how the personal gets in the way of reason from commentators who have not read much. Thank you for your response. How lucky we were to have experienced such a leader. It is hard to be living in these times/
👍👏 I bought it as an e-book the day it came out and read it from cover to cover in 2 days - I personally recognised the Jacinda I knew from both public appearances as PM through good times and bad, but I was also one of those who enjoyed the Facebook updates she used to do when Neve was (supposed to be!) in bed - policy explainers with cameo appearances from Clarke bringing chocolate or tea 😁. In this memoir she is the same person I felt connected to as both a leader & a human being, and the parts you have highlighted speak to that perfectly.
I was amused that SOME seemed to be disappointed that she didn't break the habit of a lifetime & take the opportunity to "dish the dirt" on people (hrrrmph Winston P...) and on the other hand criticised her for dropping David Cunnliffe in it for his leadership style 🤷 I may be over-interpreting, but I immediately saw that this was an opportunity to be apolitical in expressing disapproval of a leadership style which is chillingly similar to that we have today 🤔 ie criticise a LABOUR leader for trying to do what a NATIONAL leader is now doing by style & (lack of) substance ⁉️
And yes, the COVID results bear repeating over and over because we were so fortunate in Aotearoa to have the team, led by Jacinda, leading us through - nothing will ever be perfect, but "better than most" is worth acknowledging 🫂 Many lives saved statistically at the time and since via vaccination, and unknowable how many saved by changes to the firearms laws 🤔
Thank you for this. I was always grateful for Jacinda’s extraordinary leadership especially during covid. She deserves to be loved and admired, not assaulted with hate and death threats. She was exactly who we needed. I’m always going to miss her calmness and wisdom as she steered us ahead of everywhere else.
Thank you for your review Gary; I am in the midst of reading it. You mention excellent pertinent points.
Great review. I admire her ability to see round corners.
Brilliantly summarised Gary! I'm nearly finished reading - funnily enough those quotes from the book you used in summarising her early life are exactly the ones I read aloud to my husband - who is keen to read it as soon as I'm finished. We are both Jacinda supporters and are not afraid to say so - living in a wealthy right wing neighbourhood, we hear a lot of reviling comments. Reading her memoir was enlightening and, as you said, reinforces that we are who we are because of our own life experiences - Jacinda's strong desire to make New Zealand better was derived from what she saw and heard and lived.... she was a great leader. That closing line where she tells herself that the person standing in front of her being critical and waving a fist could very well be one of the people that her government's Covid policies saved - well, that says it all about who she is as a human. She is off living her best life away from NZ and being lauded worldwide for the amazing job she did running this little country. Kudos to her! Loved reading the book and getting to know her as a person, a mother, a partner, a leader, a friend, a daughter, and a sister, etc.
I enjoyed your critique of Jacinda’s book. I haven’t read it. What you have said resonates with my understanding and thoughts of who she is. So grateful to have experienced her leadership of Aotearoa NZ.
I just finished her amazing book a couple of nights ago after receiving it for my anniversary gift. My husband knows me sooooo well!
I enjoyed every single page & now feel even more honoured to have had such a wonderful caring astute Prime Minister leading our country through such a difficult time.
Godforbid this lot are in charge when the next pandemic strikes. There'll be sweet f all hospital beds & no health professionals left to look after us let alone a functioning brain cell amongst any of the MPs to distinguish a pandemic from a stubbed toe.