The book highlights intriguing elements such as the challenges of establishing postal routes across vast terrains and the debates over funding and expansion. It emphasizes the proactive role of the government in creating vital communications infrastructure. The book progresses chronologically, starting with the Continental Congress's early attempts and culminating in an assessment of the postal service's role in shaping national identity and westward expansion.
Using primary sources like postal records and congressional documents, Early Post Origins reconstructs the realities faced by postal administrators and carriers. It connects to broader themes in political science, economic history, and communications studies. The book's approach helps readers understand the historical context and enduring relevance of the national postal system.