By Neal Lemery
Stephen Grant’s memoir of his time as a corporate desk-bound Zoom meeting bureaucrat turned mailman in his hometown in the Appalachian Mountains takes us into not only the work of essential workers during the Covid pandemic, but also is a thoughtful examination of one’s purpose of life. How can work during economic and social upheaval lead to a new appreciation of family, community, and the strength of established community services and historical institutions? How we are enriched and empowered by our work relationships and in servicing the broader community? This well-crafted book is a compelling examination of who we are as Americans and as a nation.
This is not as much as a deep dive into the lives of rural postal carriers, as a compelling study of who we are as service workers, family members, and citizens, calling us to examine the essence of work and serving the public. It is a delightful mix of humor, poignant, and endearing tales, mixed in with thoughtful introspection relevant to all this post-Covid era.
“I think the distinction between white-collar work and blue-collar work is a false one. Both forms of labor want all of your time and both exact a toll. One form is no more or less noble than the other. The real distinction is between work and service, and I think it’s one of the great dividing lines in American life. I wonder if part of how we’ve become so atomized that that while we all work, few of us serve. It is service that gives life meaning, and it is service to our community and our nation that gives the ideas of ‘community’ and ‘nation’ meaning as well.”
“…It is service that makes community real.”
Grant bares his often lost and searching soul to the reader, taking on his journey through 21sth Century life in his home mountain country, pursuing the American Dream. Yet, he still is discovering his own place in the modern world and his beloved mountain neighborhood. He raises vital questions for these times, for all Americans who are searching for where we Americans are headed.
This book leapt off the bookstore shelf, a great gift for my post office friend. I bought a second copy for me as the bookstore clerk took the time to rave about its delights and important messages. “My favorite book of the summer.” And, indeed, they were right.
