THE MAILMAN
By Stephen Starring Grant
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
After losing his corporate job and being diagnosed with cancer, Grant becomes a mailman in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
Review by By The Books Reviewer
Stephen Starring Grant's memoir, "Mailman: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home," is a perplexing concoction of self-indulgence and occasional insight. The premise—a former marketing executive turned rural mail carrier—holds promise, yet Grant's execution leaves much to be desired.
Grant's narrative begins with his abrupt job loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by a recent cancer diagnosis. In need of health insurance, he takes a position as a rural letter carrier in his hometown of Blacksburg, Virginia. This setup could have provided a profound exploration of personal transformation and the intricacies of the U.S. Postal Service. Instead, readers are subjected to a barrage of expletives and meandering anecdotes that often fail to coalesce into a coherent story.
The Washington Post notes that Grant's writing is "boisterous and foulmouthed," a description that barely scratches the surface. ([css.washingtonpost.com](https://css.washingtonpost.com/books/2025/07/24/mailman-book-steven-grant-review/?utm_source=openai)) The excessive use of profanity is not only distracting but also undermines the potential depth of his experiences. While some may argue that this reflects authenticity, it often comes across as gratuitous and detracts from the narrative's impact.
Furthermore, Grant's portrayal of his colleagues and the residents on his route oscillates between caricature and condescension. His attempts at humor frequently fall flat, and his observations lack the nuance necessary to provide genuine insight into rural Appalachian life. The Kirkus Review describes the book as "a charming book that's guaranteed to make you think differently about the USPS," ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/stephen-starring-grant/mailman-2/?utm_source=openai)) but this charm is overshadowed by Grant's self-aggrandizing tone.
The memoir's structure is another point of contention. The first half is bogged down with excessive background information, including tedious details about mail sorting procedures and postal history. While some context is necessary, Grant's penchant for digression makes the narrative feel disjointed and sluggish.
In terms of prose, Grant occasionally demonstrates a flair for vivid descriptions, particularly of the Appalachian landscape. However, these moments are few and far between, buried under layers of unnecessary verbosity and tangential musings.
In conclusion, "Mailman" is a frustrating read that squanders its potential through poor execution and a lack of editorial restraint. Readers seeking a thoughtful exploration of personal reinvention or an insightful look into the postal service would be better served elsewhere.
Final recommendation: Not recommended.
Recommendation: Not recommended.
written on: 6/18/2026