Pretend They Are Dead

A Father's Search for the Truth

By: Steven Scott Eichenblatt

Narrated by: Steven Scott Eichenblatt

When Steven's dad, Allen, disappeared, he left behind more than his children—he left a legacy of loss and family secrets. Though working just miles away, Allen gave up his kids for adoption. He was soon replaced by another man, one with his own four children, whose strict rules and explosive temper made home a place of fear rather than refuge.

Steven spent decades wrestling with the wounds of abandonment and abuse, burying his pain so deep it became "the feeling of no feeling." A forced move to Florida, a brutal fist fight, and a grisly car crash pushed Steven to life's edge resulting in a move to Israel, where he discovered that "self-help" meant he would die a failure unless he learned to help himself.

Pretend They Are Dead is a gripping memoir of survival, trauma, and resilience—told with raw honesty, filmic detail, and defiant humor.

Steven grew up rejected: Two men claimed to be his father, but neither proved to be a dad. Determined not to repeat the past, he become an unwavering presence in the lives of his own five children. His story will both shock and inspire.

©2025 Steven Scott Eichenblatt (P)2025 Steven Scott Eichenblatt

Resiliency and courage

I very much enjoyed this thought provoking book. I couldn't put it down and even when I did I couldn't stop thinking about it. It was one man's story of self discovery but what he uncovers can apply to many families and relationships. A person's inability to express feelings doesn't minimize the impact on those who need them. This book is beautifully written which also serves to remind us that the written word can be just as revealing as the ones that are spoken. I highly recommend this book. David Shapiro

Loved this story but…..

At least in my downloaded version, there were technical issues starting at the end of Chapter 22 and continuing on for several chapters.

heart-wrenching

I thought the theme was close to "I'm Glad My Mom Died," but the title will make sense closer to the end, and it will be heart-wrenching. Also perfect for men who grew up with stepfathers and know the pain of competing for the love of the woman who should have, in my opinion, always taken the needs of her kids first.