How to be Less Useful
Priyanka MattooA journal of my ongoing recovery from over-functional to just functional enough.
| Platform |  | Pricing | Freemium | Publishes | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issues | 92 | Founded | 3 years ago | Last Issue | 6 days ago |
| Active | |||||
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primattoo.substack.comLatest Issues
I am Not the Best at Anything
Qwaya, A Day Spent Lying on the Couch (2026)
A big-deal gallery owner once told me she had attended art school, for painting. I was shocked to hear this. Why hadn’t she continued? We had our final student shows, she said, and I looked arou...
How to Dress Yourself, in 3 Clicks
advice for sartorial idiots
Naturally chic people stop reading right now. You don’t need this. Come back when I do a food map or travel guide.
We Need to Talk About Michael
on big, unfinished conversations
I was washing dishes last week when my son asked if he could go see Michael, the Michael Jackson biopic currently in theaters. With my back toward him, I could mask my flustered response. What was I suppose...
20(ish) Treats Around $20
useful, pretty things
Some housekeeping: Anyone paying attention may notice I’ve changed the name of the newsletter to what it probably should have been all along. But don’t worry, posts will remain exactly the same (whim-based). Rec email...
How to be a Baby Bird
a marriage story
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| Subscribers | Engagement | 78 | Monthly Web Visits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accepts Sponsors | Estimated Cost per Ad | ||||
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Authors
The writers behind this newsletter.
Author of the upcoming HOW TO BE LESS USEFUL: THE JOY OF INEFFICIENCY (Knopf Nov ‘26), BIRD MILK & MOSQUITO BONES: A MEMOIR (Knopf ‘24). Former talent agent and producer, current author/screenwriter/parent.
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