UPS Driver Surprises NJ Author with Heartfelt Book Review

Viral video shows driver's kind words after delivering boxes of the author's new book

Feb. 1, 2026 at 12:47pm

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A New Jersey author named Damian Lewis received an unexpected surprise from his UPS driver, Kyle Thurkauf, after delivering multiple boxes of Lewis' new book "Call Me First: A Man's Blueprint to True Leadership at Home". Thurkauf, a Sayreville native living in Old Bridge, returned to Lewis' home days later without a scheduled delivery and left a heartfelt message on the Ring camera praising the book, which has now been viewed over 33 million times.

Why it matters

This feel-good story highlights the power of simple acts of kindness and how they can have an outsized impact, especially for authors and creators who may not always receive direct feedback on their work. It also showcases how social media can amplify these types of uplifting interactions between everyday people.

The details

In the original Ring camera footage, Thurkauf is seen delivering the boxes of books and asking Lewis about the large shipment. Lewis then gives Thurkauf a free copy of the book. Days later, Thurkauf returned to Lewis' home unannounced and left a message on the Ring camera praising the book, saying "Hey what's up, man I just wanted to say the book is really good." This unexpected gesture from the UPS driver clearly meant a lot to the author, who said "it was like, I feel like I made it at that point."

  • The original Ring camera footage was captured on an unknown date.
  • Thurkauf returned to Lewis' home with his review a few days after the initial delivery.
  • As of February 1, 2026, the video had reached 33.2 million views.

The players

Damian Lewis

A New Jersey author who wrote the book "Call Me First: A Man's Blueprint to True Leadership at Home". He is a leadership author, coach, and founder of the "Call Me First" movement focused on helping men lead their homes.

Kyle Thurkauf

A UPS driver from Sayreville, New Jersey who lives in Old Bridge. He delivered multiple boxes of Damian Lewis' book and later returned to leave a heartfelt video review.

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What they’re saying

“Hey what's up, man I just wanted to say the book is really good.”

— Kyle Thurkauf, UPS Driver

“It was like, I feel like I made it at that point.”

— Damian Lewis, Author

What’s next

There are no clear next steps mentioned in the story, as it is a self-contained feel-good interaction between the author and UPS driver.

The takeaway

This heartwarming story shows how a simple act of kindness and genuine feedback can have an outsized impact, especially for creators and authors who may not always receive direct praise for their work. It's a reminder that small gestures can make a big difference in someone's day.