Parallel Universes: The Story of Rebirth

by David B. Bohl

2018 Winner of Book Excellence Award in the Addiction/Recovery category In this poignant and powerful memoir, David B. Bohl reveals the inner turmoil and broad spectrum of warring emotions shame, anger, triumph, shyness, pride he experienced growing up as a relinquished boy. Adopted at birth by a prosperous family, Bohl battled throughout his earlier years to keep up a good front and surpass expectations as he tried desperately to fit in. An over-achiever at everything he undertook, whether in sailing, academics, or life as a trader on the Chicago Exchange floor, he continued his search for happiness, often finding it in a bottle or pill, and ultimately becoming a raging and wealthy alcoholic.   Not until David marries and has children of his own does he feel compelled to search for his birth parents to discover if genetics played a role in the well-being of his offspring. 'Baby Boy Bender,' as he was labeled in the adoption papers, had been born to a red-haired co-ed who struggled with alcoholism and an athlete who later died of a brain tumor.   After several severe seizures and frequent blackouts, it was time to make a drastic change and admit his addiction. Raised with no religious teachings, David struggled with traditional recovery fellowships and sought out secular supports, where he finally fit in. This approach allowed him to learn the stark facts about mental health and addiction, as well as the monumental issues many reliquishees need to overcome to find peace and a quality of life they deserve.

Genres: Adoption

310 pages, Paperback

Published February 15, 2018

Reviews

[Ava Eleyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir is a profoundly moving exploration of identity, addiction, and the lifelong search for belonging. David B. Bohl’s story is told with striking honesty and emotional intelligence, drawing the reader into the complicated inner world of a man shaped by relinquishment, expectation, and unspoken pain.

What makes this book so powerful is the way Bohl captures the quiet, persistent ache of growing up adopted particularly the pressure to perform, to be grateful, and to never show the cracks. His drive to excel in sailing, academics, and the high-stakes environment of the Chicago Exchange floor reads not as ambition alone, but as a desperate attempt to prove worth and outrun insecurity. That emotional throughline makes his eventual descent into addiction both heartbreaking and deeply understandable.

The sections detailing his struggle with alcoholism are especially compelling. They are raw without being self-indulgent, and honest without veering into despair. Bohl does not glamorize success or addiction; instead, he exposes how achievement and wealth can mask profound suffering. His seizures, blackouts, and ultimate reckoning with addiction feel like a turning point not just in his life, but in the emotional core of the book.

Equally impactful is his journey to understand his biological roots not out of curiosity alone, but out of love and concern for his own children. The revelation of his birth parents’ histories adds a poignant layer to the narrative, raising complex questions about genetics, trauma, and destiny without offering simplistic answers.

Perhaps the most refreshing aspect of this memoir is its thoughtful discussion of recovery outside traditional religious frameworks. Bohl’s embrace of secular supports will resonate strongly with readers who have felt alienated by conventional recovery models. His clear eyed approach to mental health, addiction, and the unique challenges faced by “relinquishees” offers both validation and hope.

By the final pages, this is not just a story of survival, but of understanding, service, and hard-earned peace. David B. Bohl’s journey is inspiring not because it is perfect, but because it is real. This is a five star read for anyone interested in memoirs, recovery, adoption, or the resilience of the human spirit.

[Mary E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adoptee & Alcoholic

Any adoptee who has ever felt “off” or different as well as an adoptee who has battled alcoholism should read this book. I read it twice just a few weeks apart and I’ll probably go for round 3 before long.

[PlrBrLvr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic memoir. Quite the unique story of the battle of addiction as an adoptee and the struggles he faced throughout his life. The turmoil described felt real and was explained thoroughly enough to imagine sitting right next to him.

Highly recommend to others!