Piecing Jacob

by Jack Cohen

Jacob was born in Tehran in 1961, in a world that taught him early how to survive by staying quiet. The last of four children in a tightly packed apartment building filled with extended family, neighbors, and unspoken rules, Jacob learned to watch, to listen, and to hide—even from himself. But silence has its limits.

As he journeys through childhood, exile, longing, and self-discovery, Jacob must eventually face the truth he carried like a hidden he is a gay man in a world that told him he couldn’t be. Coming out at the age of 36 is only the beginning of a deeper reckoning—with his past, his culture, his family, and the love he always knew he deserved.Piecing Jacob is a novel of memory, identity, and the quiet revolutions that shape a life.

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 11, 2025

About the author

Jack Cohen was a reproductive biologist and science fiction consultant and author.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Reviews

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this powerful memoir, the author takes readers on an intimate journey of identity, faith, and resilience. Growing up as a gay Jewish man in 1970s Iran, Jacob learns to navigate a world of cultural restrictions and personal discovery before finding freedom and acceptance in America. The readers are taken on a journey across time and cultures, getting to experience the story of an immigrant in the late 1970s who came to America and had to start a new life for himself.

The memoir also delves into the author’s complex relationship with his family, portraying both affection and restraint. Jacob's love for them is unwavering, yet his inability to fully reveal his true self underscores the emotional cost of secrecy and cultural expectation. In time, Jacob finds the courage to come out to his parents and begins a new chapter of life-one defined by authenticity, love and fatherhood alongside his partner.

[Gladia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very touching memoir. So well written and poignant . A meaningful read for anyone going through a journey of self discovery. Mr. Cohen has written a piece that will be relatable for generations to come. Highly recommend this book to all readers.