The Success Myth by Emma Gannon
"Highly comforting" Alain de Botton, Founder of The School of Life
"This book changed how I think" Annie Macmanus, author of The Mess We're In
"You will not be able to put this book down" The Independent
OUR OBSESSION WITH ACHIEVEMENT IS A TRAP. THIS IS HOW TO BREAK FREE.
Emma Gannon was thriving in her portfolio career, enjoying a happy personal life and to anyone looking in, she was undoubtedly a success... She was also burned out and confused at why she felt unhappy, yet was still striving for more.
After taking a deep look at her own journey, and interviewing many other successful people on her podcast Ctrl, Alt, Delete, she realised that our overly celebrated and traditional version of success is making us lonely, unfulfilled and dispirited. Now she has worked out a way to do things differently, and here Emma shares her hard-won lessons, including:
• how to set goals that are ambitious but not overwhelming
• why the 'tick-box' moments in life often feel anticlimactic
• and how to break free from comparison and the endless pursuit of more
A manifesto to craft work (and life) on your own terms, The Success Myth will give you the belief and tools to walk away from 'having it all', uncovering your individual path to fulfilment.
The paradox of success is real. The things that the system tells us will make us happy often don't. Perhaps it's time to stop trying to win and start working to contribute instead. * Seth Godin, author of The Song of Significance *
This book changed how I think * Annie Macmanus, author of The Mess We're In *
A smart and insightful clarion call to everyone - my book of 2023 * Farrah Storr, author of The Discomfort Zone *
A brilliant book, and so necessary. We have to get away from the idea that happiness is just over the next hill, and that everything will be better when we've achieved the next big thing. This is a crucial and joyful part of that conversation. * Rebecca Seal, author of Solo: How to Work Alone (and Not Lose Your Mind) *
Emma Gannon is the Sunday Times bestselling author of nine books, including A Year of Nothing and OLIVE, which was nominated for the Dublin Literary Award. Her second novel, Table for One (2025), was selected as People magazine’s 'Fiction of the Week.'
Emma also writes one of the UK’s most popular Substack newsletters, The Hyphen, which has thousands of paid subscribers. In addition to her writing, she hosts creativity retreats around the world and served as a judge for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781804990766 |
| ISBN 10 | 1804990760 |
| Title | The Success Myth |
| Author | Emma Gannon |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Transworld Publishers Ltd |
| Year published | 2024-03-07 |
| Number of pages | 336 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |