The Success Myth cover art

The Success Myth

Letting go of having it all

 Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

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.

"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

©2023 Emma Gannon (P)2023 Penguin Audio

 Career Success Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Self-Esteem Career Success Mythology

Critic reviews

A highly comforting book which - while not minimizing the pressures that we're all under to achieve - nevertheless gently reminds us that it is what we are, not what we do, that will always ultimately count.
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.
This book changed how I think
A smart and insightful clarion call to everyone - my book of 2023
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.
Such a powerful and thought-provoking read
The book that got me through a hard time ... soothing and helpful
Emma Gannon is a "success veteran," who has climbed the ladder of achievement, and experienced the vast difference between our cultural definition of "success" and genuine happiness. In this book, speaking from her own experience and the wisdom of many others, she shows us just how misguided our collective ideas of success can be. Then she offers a fresh perspective from which readers can begin to see their own paths to joyful, fulfilling lives. A wise and immensely helpful book for anyone disillusioned by the struggle to "get ahead".
Emma is wise beyond her years and has a way of putting into words beautifully what we're all thinking. The Success Myth is inspiring, candid and intelligent - I encourage everyone to read it.
A deeply personal, authentic and relatable read. It made me breathe countless, heavy sighs of relief.
All stars
Most relevant
A wonderful book that takes you through a series of thought provoking chapters on modern day values.
Emma Gannon helps you to reflect on the values and ambitions you hold, whilst giving comfort in realising there is more too life than many of us are led to believe.

Explore What You Value Most

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
So many great questions posed in The Success Myth by Emma. There’s a balance of challenge and reflection and some wonderful insights. Thoroughly recommend.

A wonderful listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Having read or listened to many self help books before the title of this one really caught my attention and so wanted to explore more.

While I thought the concept was okay, it was just okay, nothing really new offered up that’s hadn’t been discussed previously.

What this book did do for me was to make me feel really uncomfortable. That’s a good thing, it’s a billion dollar business and many people like myself have been conned for many years with all the self help promises & yet rarely deliver, exception to that would be Atomic Habits by James Clear.

Success isn’t a myth & just depends how far you want to go down the self help rabbit hole!

Not for me

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book emphasised the value of being happy with where you are, and the disappointing nature of some successes - but was all over the place. No solid grounding in facts or studies.

Reasonable but heavy with platitudes

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Emma Gannon is fast becoming my favourite author. I'm a true millennial and she speaks to my heart and mind. The book has so many truths, so many "yes!" moments and so much food for thought. I felt the closing chapter was just what I needed to hear to reevaluate things after feeling very burnt out but not knowing where to start. Thank you Emma!

Fantastic as always

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews