Jacob has every reason to believe life has dealt him a bad hand.
With a celebrity-academic father who ostensibly wants nothing to do with him, and brought up by a single mother in Ireland with issues of her own, it’s no surprise he went off the rails.
It’s only when he learns that he’s been named as the sole beneficiary in Morris Barnet’s will that Jacob wonders if there’s more to the esteemed professor of Philosophy than he’d been led to believe.
Seeking answers from therapist, Simon Freedman, Jacob learns more about himself than about his father as he embarks on a search for his own identity.
Gradually, he discovers the truth about his father, comes to terms with his past and is able to move on with his life.
Jacob Returns is a tale about a journey of self- discovery, where resentment arising from adversity eventually gives way to a life of purpose and meaning.
Launch at JW3 in April 2026
On Wednesday 22nd April 2026, John joined a panel of distinguished thinkers at JW3 in Finchley and they discussed the personal and universal themes behind his latest work. The evening explored the ways in which the novella mirrors John’s own spiritual journey.
The panel featured:
John Steinberg, Author of Jacob Returns
Dr Tali Lowenthal, Associate Professor, Department of Hebrew & Jewish Studies at UCL
Patricia Pitchon, Author, freelance journalist & retired psychotherapist
Rabbi Dr Harvey Belovski, Organisational psychologist & Rabbinic Head, University Jewish Chaplaincy
This event is in partnership with Spiro Ark.
Any questions for John?
If you have any questions for John Steinberg on this, or any of his other novels please submit them below.
Stories by John Steinberg 