Things Left Unsaid - by Glenn E Wichinsky (Paperback)

About the Book

An unexpected revelation upends a son's understanding of everything he thought he knew about his father as he attempts to piece together the truth.

Book Synopsis

In this true story, an unexpected revelation upends a son's understanding of everything he thought he knew about his father-setting him on a journey of discovery as he attempts to piece together the truth.

After Glenn Wichinsky's parents divorced, his mother took him and his siblings away from their father's questionable life choices. Glenn grew up in a sheltered South Florida neighborhood, dreaming of becoming a meteorologist. It wasn't until he was thirteen, on a visit to Las Vegas to see the father he barely knew, that Glenn's eyes opened to a wider world. A far cry from his life in Florida, the trips he made to the Sands Hotel and Casino over the years to see his father felt like living in a movie. Michael "Mickey" Wichinsky, a respected and noted pioneer in the slot machine and gaming industry, led a life of intrigue-where showgirls, glitz, and glamour sparkled around every corner and backroom deals with mobsters were simply part of doing business.

It was only after his father's death that Glenn discovered how deep the ties had been between Mickey and the Mob, forcing him to reconcile his father's early life and work in Las Vegas with his understanding of the kind and generous man he knew. Told with honesty, heart, and deep self-reflection, Things Left Unsaid is both a personal odyssey and a fascinating dive into the history of the Nevada gaming industry by a man trying to reframe the story of his father's past-and his own.

Review Quotes

"A deeply human story about love, legacy, and the silences that shape family histories.. . . Wichinsky's writing is reflective and precise, offering historical context without losing emotional intimacy. . . . There's a cinematic quality to his storytelling. . . . Ultimately, Things Left Unsaid is not just about the Mob or Las Vegas; it's about the lifelong effort to understand our parents and, through them, ourselves." -Manhattan Book Review

"Moving. . . . an appreciative memoir about a complicated father-son relationship, Things Left Unsaid covers shocking family secrets in addition to its records of fidelity and love." -Foreword Clarion Review

"Thought-provoking. . . . Readers seeking an astute blend of family memoir, political and social evolution, and psychological examination into Mob connections and Nevada's gaming industry will find much to love and learn from in Things Left Unsaid's vivid approach to exposing the roots of both the regulated global gaming industry and personal pivot points in life." -Midwest Book Review