Emma Gannon’s Idealistic Take on the Future of Work

This book was probably relevant in 2018, but comes off as dated in 2024.

In ‘The Multi-Hyphen Method’, Emma Gannon urges the reader to let go of traditional metrics of success when it comes to careers. She discusses the changing nature of work with the rise of the gig economy, rapid development of technology, and increasing prevalence of the ‘side-hustle’, suggesting that in breaking free of traditional structures, we must also develop a more robust metric of success based not on rising up some metaphorical ladder, but on the idea of living by one’s values. In essence, we should not let ourselves be defined by a single job. This is important, she claims, in a constantly evolving landscape where we don’t necessarily know what the job market will look like in five, let alone ten years time.

Gannon, a successful blogger, writer, and podcaster, writes about the freedoms and joys of the so-called ‘multi-hyphenate’ career — that which encompasses multiple simultaneous projects, income streams, jobs, hobbies, or side hustles. Gannon’s multi-hyphen approach is loosely defined and is not limited to projects that can be monetised. Basically, Gannon is making the not-so-groundbreaking suggestion that it’s a good idea to be a well-rounded human. I agreed with the majority of advice in this book…