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Book Review
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Audio Review
Sabotage
Andrews McMeel Publishing (September 29, 2020)
98 pages
A pocket-sized investigation into self-sabotage: what it is, why we do it, and how we can break our toxic patterns.
How do we get out of our own way? With personal stories and research-based insights multi-hyphenate Emma Gannon explores her own relationship with self-sabotage and presents a quick, meaningful guide to help you recognize your own forms of self doubt, identify what is holding you back, and the steps you can take to loosen its grip.
Imposter Syndrome – have you heard of it? It’s not as commonly understood as it should be. I myself only learned the term in 2020. You know, the year we all stayed home and suddenly learned the meaning of life (kidding). I’ve struggled my adult life with Imposter Syndrome, and just a year ago I learned its name.
If I can do this, anyone can. I’m not special.
For years, when someone congratulated me for graduating college, getting a job promotion, etc. on the inside I would think, well anyone could do that. Rationally, I know I worked for these things. Irrationally, I don’t feel deserving. Just because I graduated college doesn’t mean that anyone else couldn’t do that too.
Luck has been a key word in my brain too. I’ve always felt like my happiness and success came from luck. While listening to Sabotage, I’ve come to learn that we might start a job or a task by chance, but it is our own skills and determination that will decide what we do with that chance.
You deserve success, and you define what success means to you.
One of my favorite things that Emma Gannon talks about in her book, Sabotage, is that we define our own success. That we should consider success a race track. We determine the road, and we set the finish line. Once it’s crossed, we set a new road and keep going. It’s challenging to stop comparing our own life to the lives of others. By focusing inward on what our own happiness looks like, we can realize even small victories on the path to individual success.
Evaluate who you keep as friends.
Those of us who struggle with self doubt should also evaluate the friendships and relationships we keep. Are they healthy for our growth? Gannon tells a story of her own toxic friendship that she kept for much longer than she should have. Before listening to her book, I hadn’t considered that the way I allow others to talk to me affects my self worth. I do have people in my life that I don’t enjoy sharing good news with. When someone starts a compliment with a negative reaction offset by a positive, it’s discouraging. Example: “I could never do what you did. But you’re brave for trying.” or my personal favorite (not), “Oh wow. Must be nice.” I’m hoping to be brave enough to challenge these remarks head on in the future.
Overall, this audiobook get five stars from me.
I think Emma Gannon allowed herself to be vulnerable for the chance to help others. I don’t have a long history of self-help books but I think any little piece of a book that can cause you to reflect and hopefully heal, is worth your time. Sabotage by Emma Gannon is well worth your time and I’m proud of her for taking a leap, and reading this book herself.
Kristin lives in the PNW with her husband, and three kids. She loves to read YA fiction, fantasy, and romance. She enjoys a few side-hustles, including creating bookreels/booktoks for authors. The only shows she watches are re-runs, and if she’s not reading a book, she’s listening to one.
