Park City author roars with ‘Gratitude Tiger,’ a new take on thank you letters

Joel Zuckerman, Park City-based author of Gratitude Tiger, a new book exploring the transformative power of writing personal letters of thanks. Photo: Joel Zuckerman

PARK CITY, Utah—Local author and longtime golf travel writer Joel Zuckerman is releasing his 10th book, Gratitude Tiger. It is a fast-paced, whimsical guide to writing meaningful letters of thanks and rekindling the power of expressive gratitude in a disconnected world.

A sharp departure from his previous work, which earned him two International Network of Golf “Book of the Year” awards, Zuckerman’s latest title blends memoir, instruction, and heartfelt storytelling. The book includes one dozen sample letters selected from a personal archive of nearly 300, to inspire others to adopt a practice he calls “fierce gratitude.”

“I wrote my first letter of gratitude in 2013 after reading Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff,” Zuckerman said. “It never occurred to me I would write a second letter. But I was so taken aback by how it made me feel to drop it in the mailbox. I just kept going.”

What started as a spontaneous exercise turned into a lifelong practice. Since then, Zuckerman has written over 270 letters to friends, colleagues, family members, and even celebrities, all expressing genuine appreciation. The act, he said, changed the course of his life.

“The most important thing in the book is the Seven Pillars of Expressive Gratitude,” said Zuckerman. “Pillar number one? Writing letters makes you, the letter writer, feel good. And pillar two—it makes the recipient feel good. That’s the beating heart of this book.”

Unlike a typical gratitude journal, Gratitude Tiger is both a “why” and a “how-to.” It includes practical prompts, example phrases—like the “seven-word thank you”—and strategies to overcome the initial awkwardness of expressing appreciation. Chapters range from concise meditations on thankfulness to in-depth explorations of grief, resilience, and community. One of the most powerful, Zuckerman said, is “Grateful When the World is Hateful,” which features profiles of Park City locals Ron Jackenthal and the Manson family, who transformed personal loss into nonprofit action.

“The chapter dives deep,” he said. “How do you maintain gratitude when things crumble around you? The truth is, some people can’t. But others—like the families behind Live Like Sam and the Little p Project—show us what it looks like to live with open-hearted courage.”

Zuckerman’s writing style is intentionally accessible. The 20 chapters are short, vivid, and often humorous. A foreword by Olympic ski legend Picabo Street sets the tone, while original illustrations add a whimsical layer to the subject matter.

“I wanted this book to be memorable, digestible, and easy to return to,” Zuckerman said. “The metaphor of the tiger came to me early on: T-I-G-E-R stands for Tapping Into Gratitude Engenders Rewards. That’s what fierce gratitude looks like—proactive, expressive, and direct.”

The book also includes guidance for writing in different tones and contexts: from professional thank-yous to deeply personal messages. Letters to his granddaughter, a favorite golfer, a young bride, and even to a grieving friend all reveal the diverse terrain of modern gratitude.

For those who may be skeptical or shy about writing thank-you notes, Zuckerman offered a gentle challenge.

“Imagine getting a letter out of the blue, not for your birthday or a holiday, just someone telling you: ‘You’ve been important to me. I’m grateful to know you,’” he said. “It’s transformative—for both of you.”

Zuckerman will be hosting several book signings around Park City, including appearances at Dolly’s Bookstore, Stio Boutique, Barnes & Noble, and the St. Regis lobby. Gratitude Tiger will be released in hardcover next week.

“I’m not a psychologist or a behavioral scientist,” he said. “I’m just a guy who got tired of being entitled and decided to live with intention. This book is the result of that metamorphosis.”

For more information, visit Joel Zuckerman’s official website or for an autographed copy, reach out to Joel at joelzuckerman317@gmail.com.