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Burnt out to embracing joyous reading + writing

In this episode of The Secret Library Podcast, I am joined by Petya Grady, writer and the creator of A reading life on Substack. Petya shares her unique journey from Bulgaria to the US, including her unexpected career transition from academia to UX strategy and social impact startups. Burned out from the corporate world, Petya turned to her love of books to find solace, leading to a fascinating discussion about 'reading and writing kinks.' We explore the psychological allure of reading and writing, how certain themes and settings captivate us, and why it's important to embrace what truly excites us in our literary pursuits. This episode fully embraces the pleasure principles of reading and writing, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.

Chapters:

01:26 The Concept of Reading and Writing Kink04:01 Exploring Pleasure Principles in Literature07:44 Personal Reading Kinks and Favorite Authors11:10 The Joy of Recognizing You Personal Reading Fingerprint17:08 Preferences Regarding Place and Setting in Books21:35 Cold War Fascination and Spy Stories22:12 The Bulgarian Umbrella Case23:55 Surveillance and Spy Devices24:49 Cold War Literature and Personal Reflections26:44 The Relevance of Historical Fiction28:42 When Life and Literature Meet36:17 Speculative Fiction and Creative Freedom

About Petya:

Petya K. Grady is the author of A Reading Life, a newsletter exploring books, reading, and the pursuit of intellectual fulfillment. She is currently at work on her first novel, set in Communist-era Bulgaria. Petya lives and writes in Memphis, Tennessee.

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