"At the Painted Porch, we love our customers! So when they ignore us we get sad. It's fine if you don't want to talk to us. We'll be sad, but we get it. Just don't let your only words to us be: 'Is Ryan Holiday here?' " Floor staff at the Painted Porch Bookshop in Bastrop, Tex., posted a poignant Instagram reel about working in a bookshop owned by the well-known author, adding:
"Yeah, yeah we know he's written a few books and is really popular or whatever but WE want to talk to you too!!! Not sure what to say? Easy topics to engage with us are: books, cats, books about cats, hot dogs, cool rocks, shiny things.... Basically we are raccoons. Raccoons who work in a bookstore. Be kind. Say hi to the bookstore raccoons."