This isn’t BookTok. It’s not productivity porn. It’s just one reader—thinking out loud about what stories do to us. Unhustled is where you go when you want the reading part of your life to feel like yours again.
What’s a Reading Hill You’ll Die On?
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Hey Reader, A couple of weeks ago, a reader emailed me to say that Amazon is evil and that, because I use a Kindle, I’m a corporate sellout (worse than that, actually). I get it. There’s a lot to dislike about Jeff Bezos and Amazon. A lot. But here’s the thing: Kindle keeps my 85-year-old mom and me reading.
Kindle just works for us at this stage in our lives. That doesn’t make us anything but avid readers who want a wide selection. And yeah, I could draw a hard line and refuse to engage with Amazon. But moral purity in consumer decisions is…complicated. There’s a lot to dislike about a lot of people behind the mega-brands and services that shape our lives. Like Walmart. I live in the shadows of Walmart Corporate Headquarters. Back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, it was hard watching the retail business big-foot small-town businesses. Today’s small-town charm killer is Dollar General, but that’s another story. The reality about Ol’ Sam Walton’s Arkansas legacy is this: Walmart has been good to my state. I mean, really good. Stock options made millionaires out of cash register clerks. In my small town, we have a great local grocery store, and we shop there a lot. But some things are just better from Walmart or Sam’s.
So,I shop at Walmart. And I read on a Kindle. I also make plenty of choices to not engage with certain platforms and companies, quitting Facebook and Instagram nearly a decade ago, and I probably wouldn’t drive a Tesla if you handed me the keys. To be fair, I’ve never had to make a decision like that so if somebody wants to give me a Tesla, we’ll find out. 😆 These are my choices—at least for now. But they don't have to be yours. We all draw our lines in different places, and that’s okay.
And speaking of reader mail…Last week, I got a message from a reader, Robert A., about what reading without pressure means to him. And honestly? It was beautiful.
When I think of reading without the pressure, I think of freedom. Freedom to linger over a sentence that moves me. Freedom to put a book down and pick up another without guilt. Freedom to read something just because—not for work, not for a class, not to impress anyone, but simply because it sparks curiosity or joy.
It’s reading for pleasure, for comfort, for exploration. It’s getting lost in a story, revisiting a beloved book like an old friend, or stumbling upon words that unexpectedly heal something in me. It’s reading in a cozy spot with no clock ticking, no agenda, just me and the pages. That’s it. That’s the whole thing. Reading should be easy. I'm so glad you shared this with me Robert A. Thank you. Some choices in life are complicated. Some aren’t. But what we read, how we read, and why we read? That should be the easiest choice we make. Speaking of choices…I’ve been reading Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes by Dr. Sunita Sah. (Yep, this is an Amazon affiliate link 😉.) The book is packed with research—including the author’s own studies. It breaks down the actual process of defiance. It’s not a snap decision but a series of steps. Here’s to books—no matter how we read them! —Tracy P.S. I read every email and love hearing your take on things—even (especially?) when we see the world differently. Where do you draw your lines when it comes to brands and services? If you're enjoying Unhustled, you might also like: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through the links in this newsletter. This doesn't affect your purchase price, but it helps support my work. Thank you! |
Unhustled Books
This isn’t BookTok. It’s not productivity porn. It’s just one reader—thinking out loud about what stories do to us. Unhustled is where you go when you want the reading part of your life to feel like yours again.
Hey Reader, You’re not in school anymore. So why does your reading list still feel like assigned homework? You scroll through your Kindle, open a few samples, skim a chapter. They’re fine. But not important. Not impressive. Not worth the time. Meh. Maybe later. Says who? Most reading slumps don’t come from bad books. They come from trying to read for approval instead of curiosity. Some slumps come after a heavy, intense book. The Count of Monte Cristo did that to me—brilliant, immersive,...
Hey Reader, The College World Series is where the best teams in college baseball fight it out for the national title. Double elimination. High stakes. Every pitch counts. This week, Gage Wood—a junior pitcher from my hometown Batesville, Arkansas—threw a complete-game shutout to keep the Razorbacks alive in the tournament after an early loss. Coming from the loser’s bracket means a team needs four straight wins to stay in it. This was win one. And it wasn’t just a win—it was history. Gage...
Hey Reader, If you watched any U.S. sporting events this past weekend, you probably caught at least one player pausing—mic in their face—to say something solemn about Memorial Day. I believe they meant it. I also think they were cornered by the moment. What do you say, when someone asks you to sum up war, sacrifice, or national grief in a single soundbite? For what it’s worth: Memorial Day honors U.S. military members who died in service. But that includes more than combat casualties. It...