John Fetterman’s memoir 'Unfettered' sees zero sales at hometown Barnes & Noble on launch day
YORK, PENNSYLVANIA: Democratic Senator John Fetterman’s memoir, 'Unfettered', had a rocky start in the book market.
According to Defector Media’s Alex Shultz, the 'Barnes & Noble' in York, Pennsylvania, where Fetterman was born and raised, had sold zero copies on launch day. In a social media post, Shultz noted that the politician's memoir had sold fewer than 2,600 copies in its first week.
John Fetterman’s 'Unfettered' struggles to find an audience
John Fetterman’s 'Unfettered' reportedly received over a million-dollar advance from publisher Crown, but the book has struggled to find an audience both in stores and online. “The day after Fetterman’s book dropped, I called a handful of Barnes and Nobles [sic] and independent bookstores in Pennsylvania,” wrote Alex Shultz in his review.
“The Barnes and Noble in York, where Fetterman was born and raised, had sold zero copies. The Barnes and Noble in Philadelphia had sold two copies,” Shultz revealed. He also mentioned that two independent bookstores didn't even carry the book, while another described interest in 'Unfettered' as “lukewarm.”
“There is no audience for Unfettered, and I do not think Crown will get its money’s worth on this memoir,” Shultz bluntly wrote, describing the book as “boring,” predictable, filled with "what the country already knows." “In fairness, things can of course change. But the early signs are not good,” he added.
“A few days after Unfettered came out, it was ranked No. 82,145 among all books on Amazon. As of Monday, Nov. 17 (not quite a week since the book’s release), it’s No. 15,713. That ranks No. 19 in the adult autobiographies category, two spots behind Chris Matthews’ RFK hagiography. Not what you want, numbers-wise,” Shultz futher informed.
Despite everything, 'Unfettered' currently ranks number one on Amazon's "Best Sellers in United States Local Government" list, narrowly surpassing Pete Buttigieg’s 2019 memoir, 'Shortest Way Home'.
Inside 'Unfettered', John Fetterman’s journey from Braddock to the Senate
In my career, I’ve picked the battles that matter. This story started by a single vote 20 years ago.
— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) July 30, 2025
My public service path, the stroke, depression—UNFETTERED lays it out and pays it forward for anyone dealing with mental health challenges.
Preorder now.https://t.co/DckPTbiwdD pic.twitter.com/25S5XLXEsA
'Unfettered' promises to take readers through John Fetterman’s journey from being the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, to his seat in the Senate. The book gives an insight into personal challenges, including his 2022 stroke and struggles with clinical depression.
The 240-page memoir, released by Crown Publishing Group, presents itself as an “unapologetic account” of the Pennsylvania senator’s “unconventional life.” “My public service path, the stroke, depression - ‘Unfettered’ lays it out and pays it forward for anyone dealing with mental health challenges,” Fetterman shared on X (formerly Twitter).
