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The Pyjama Boy
Steven Murphy spent his formative years in Sydney's Redfern. Abandoned by his mother when only weeks old, his father left him in the care of a cruel, alcoholic stepmother while he himself was in jail.
Unbelievably the child dubbed the 'Pyjama Boy' fought his way through life to achieve the ultimate goal. His story is a poignant and haunting one that captivates its reader from the very beginning and remains long after the book has been closed.
Steve now lives in Queensland and continuously strives to motivate those who, like him, face incredible obstacles to live an ordinary life.
About the Author
Steven Murphy, the Pyjama Boy, has been a police officer for more than ten years. These days he speaks to the youth of Australia, illustrating to them how he overcame phenomenal hurdles to reach his ultimate goal. He uses film and photos to authenticate his story and continues to provide inspiration to the underprivileged. He has fulfilled his life ambition against all odds and now seeks to share that motivation with others.
Unbelievably the child dubbed the 'Pyjama Boy' fought his way through life to achieve the ultimate goal. His story is a poignant and haunting one that captivates its reader from the very beginning and remains long after the book has been closed.
Steve now lives in Queensland and continuously strives to motivate those who, like him, face incredible obstacles to live an ordinary life.
About the Author
Steven Murphy, the Pyjama Boy, has been a police officer for more than ten years. These days he speaks to the youth of Australia, illustrating to them how he overcame phenomenal hurdles to reach his ultimate goal. He uses film and photos to authenticate his story and continues to provide inspiration to the underprivileged. He has fulfilled his life ambition against all odds and now seeks to share that motivation with others.
324 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
9 people are currently reading
964 people want to read
About the author
Steven Murphy
1 book46 followersI've never thought of myself as special-just someone who has lived through life's challenges like everyone else. But over time, I've come to see that by sharing my journey, with all its imperfections, I might offer something meaningful to others. Life moves so quickly, and the choices we make shape everything. My hope is that by being honest about my experiences, others might find encouragement or even a little clarity for their own paths.
Speaking at Schools and events across Australia has been an unexpected privilege. These moments aren't about presenting a perfect image; they're about connecting with people on a real, human level. I bring photos, videos, and documents to show the truth of my story-not to impress but to connect. When I speak openly, sharing the vulnerabilities and lessons I've learned, something powerful happens: the audience feels it, and suddenly, it's not just my story-its something they can see themselves in, too.
If you would like to have Steve speak to your School, group or organization he can be contacted through email: stevenmurphy_11@bigpond.com
Speaking at Schools and events across Australia has been an unexpected privilege. These moments aren't about presenting a perfect image; they're about connecting with people on a real, human level. I bring photos, videos, and documents to show the truth of my story-not to impress but to connect. When I speak openly, sharing the vulnerabilities and lessons I've learned, something powerful happens: the audience feels it, and suddenly, it's not just my story-its something they can see themselves in, too.
If you would like to have Steve speak to your School, group or organization he can be contacted through email: stevenmurphy_11@bigpond.com
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 4, 2025
We all remember feelings of happiness, maybe our first kiss. If we’ve ever lost a beloved pet, we never forget the sadness we felt. But scientists tell us that the emotion that buries itself most deeply in our hearts, which we remember the best, is shame. Author Steven Murphy had the bad fortune to have been raised first in an atmosphere of neglect, followed by one of abuse.
His nickname “Pyjama Boy” (the author is Australian and uses Australian spelling throughout) arose when he was around six to eight years old and his stepmother, too lazy to do laundry, would send him to school in his PJs, earning mockery from the other kids. If he dared to ask why, and sometimes even if he didn’t, he’d be thrashed with an electrical cable. Murphy’s recounting of his early years can only be described as heartbreaking.
The Pyjama Boy is an exploration of the process by which a person overcomes challenges. A number of different mechanisms are brought into play here. First, a simple recounting of facts. We learn the basic trajectory of the author’s life, from when he was conceived through various abandonments and abuses, through trouble at school, his realization that he was always willing and able to do hard physical work, through his time in the Army, and finally as a policeman. In parallel were his efforts to find his original family and establish a new one, both of which proved challenging.
In parallel to this, we get insights into the thought process that, for instance, drove him into the Army in the first place. At age 18, he was living with a couple of friends in an acceptable lodging, had a girlfriend, a job, and a motorcycle, but something within him recognized a need for greater achievement, for becoming part of a committed team. This desire both to excel as well as work in a team is perfectly understandable, given his upbringing. But many other people in his position choose to drop out and not try. Murphy had enough smarts to know the only answer to loneliness and isolation was to make himself useful.
Finally, he has chosen to tell his tale in the third person, an unusual but effective choice for a memoir. What he seems to be saying is he will turn his pitiless lens on himself with the same objectivity he used for the other people in his life. This is not a man who drifted through life recklessly, but rather one who combined the physical facts of his existence with a great deal of introspection. Though his schooling was sporadic at best, he is a natural writer and keeps the story moving.
Even as a young adult who survived a horrific childhood, life was not kind. Imagine tracking down a long-lost relative after years of effort only to have that relationship suddenly and irrevocably severed within a few weeks. But it turns out that, due to some irresponsible behavior by his parents, he had biological relations scattered throughout the country, and some of the warmest parts of the story were his descriptions of tracking these people down.
It would be nice if his demons had just lain down and died, but with remarkable candor, he described his failures as well as his successes. While he achieved many of his goals, he still has failed to become the hero of his own life. But for many readers of The Pyjama Boy, Steven Murphy will be a hero of theirs.
Stay tuned! The author promises that the second volume of his life story will be published soon.
His nickname “Pyjama Boy” (the author is Australian and uses Australian spelling throughout) arose when he was around six to eight years old and his stepmother, too lazy to do laundry, would send him to school in his PJs, earning mockery from the other kids. If he dared to ask why, and sometimes even if he didn’t, he’d be thrashed with an electrical cable. Murphy’s recounting of his early years can only be described as heartbreaking.
The Pyjama Boy is an exploration of the process by which a person overcomes challenges. A number of different mechanisms are brought into play here. First, a simple recounting of facts. We learn the basic trajectory of the author’s life, from when he was conceived through various abandonments and abuses, through trouble at school, his realization that he was always willing and able to do hard physical work, through his time in the Army, and finally as a policeman. In parallel were his efforts to find his original family and establish a new one, both of which proved challenging.
In parallel to this, we get insights into the thought process that, for instance, drove him into the Army in the first place. At age 18, he was living with a couple of friends in an acceptable lodging, had a girlfriend, a job, and a motorcycle, but something within him recognized a need for greater achievement, for becoming part of a committed team. This desire both to excel as well as work in a team is perfectly understandable, given his upbringing. But many other people in his position choose to drop out and not try. Murphy had enough smarts to know the only answer to loneliness and isolation was to make himself useful.
Finally, he has chosen to tell his tale in the third person, an unusual but effective choice for a memoir. What he seems to be saying is he will turn his pitiless lens on himself with the same objectivity he used for the other people in his life. This is not a man who drifted through life recklessly, but rather one who combined the physical facts of his existence with a great deal of introspection. Though his schooling was sporadic at best, he is a natural writer and keeps the story moving.
Even as a young adult who survived a horrific childhood, life was not kind. Imagine tracking down a long-lost relative after years of effort only to have that relationship suddenly and irrevocably severed within a few weeks. But it turns out that, due to some irresponsible behavior by his parents, he had biological relations scattered throughout the country, and some of the warmest parts of the story were his descriptions of tracking these people down.
It would be nice if his demons had just lain down and died, but with remarkable candor, he described his failures as well as his successes. While he achieved many of his goals, he still has failed to become the hero of his own life. But for many readers of The Pyjama Boy, Steven Murphy will be a hero of theirs.
Stay tuned! The author promises that the second volume of his life story will be published soon.
May 29, 2025
Absolutely compelling. Totally recommend to anyone, especially young people. A true story of courage and resilience in the face of an appalling childhood, the author takes the reader on journey marred by a great deal of tragedy and pain, to become the man he is today. A great read
August 7, 2011
a good book
November 11, 2025
The Pyjama Boy is one of those rare books that lingers with you long after you’ve turned the final page. Steven Murphy tells the harrowing yet deeply inspiring story of a boy abandoned almost at birth, left to navigate a world that seems determined to break him. From the very start, I felt an ache for this child dubbed “the Pyjama Boy” whose innocence is met with cruelty, neglect, and the kind of loneliness that’s hard to put into words.
Murphy’s writing is raw and unflinching. He doesn’t shy away from the darker moments, the pain of an abusive stepmother, the absence of love, the crushing sense of being unwanted, but somehow, amidst all the hardship, there’s a thread of resilience that shines through. What struck me most was how vividly the author captured the boy’s inner world: his confusion, his yearning for affection, and his determination to carve out something better for himself. It’s not just a tale of survival; it’s about the quiet, stubborn hope that refuses to die.
As the story unfolds, watching the Pyjama Boy fight his way toward his dreams feels both heartbreaking and uplifting. There are scenes that made me angry, others that made me pause and reflect, and a few that genuinely brought tears to my eyes. By the end, I wasn’t just admiring his strength, I felt changed by it.
This isn’t an easy read emotionally, but it’s a profoundly worthwhile one. The Pyjama Boy is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a reminder that even in the bleakest circumstances, hope can take root. If you’re drawn to true stories of endurance, courage, and redemption, this book will stay with you long after you’ve closed it.
Murphy’s writing is raw and unflinching. He doesn’t shy away from the darker moments, the pain of an abusive stepmother, the absence of love, the crushing sense of being unwanted, but somehow, amidst all the hardship, there’s a thread of resilience that shines through. What struck me most was how vividly the author captured the boy’s inner world: his confusion, his yearning for affection, and his determination to carve out something better for himself. It’s not just a tale of survival; it’s about the quiet, stubborn hope that refuses to die.
As the story unfolds, watching the Pyjama Boy fight his way toward his dreams feels both heartbreaking and uplifting. There are scenes that made me angry, others that made me pause and reflect, and a few that genuinely brought tears to my eyes. By the end, I wasn’t just admiring his strength, I felt changed by it.
This isn’t an easy read emotionally, but it’s a profoundly worthwhile one. The Pyjama Boy is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a reminder that even in the bleakest circumstances, hope can take root. If you’re drawn to true stories of endurance, courage, and redemption, this book will stay with you long after you’ve closed it.
December 18, 2025
The Pyjama Boy is a powerful and deeply moving memoir that stays with you long after you finish reading. Steven Murphy’s story is one of unimaginable hardship, yet it is told with honesty, resilience, and remarkable emotional strength.
From his early years in Redfern, marked by abandonment, cruelty, and neglect, Murphy draws readers into a childhood that is both heartbreaking and haunting. His portrayal of life under an abusive, alcoholic stepmother is raw and unflinching, making his survival, and eventual success, all the more extraordinary. The nickname “Pyjama Boy” becomes a haunting symbol of vulnerability, endurance, and quiet defiance.
From his early years in Redfern, marked by abandonment, cruelty, and neglect, Murphy draws readers into a childhood that is both heartbreaking and haunting. His portrayal of life under an abusive, alcoholic stepmother is raw and unflinching, making his survival, and eventual success, all the more extraordinary. The nickname “Pyjama Boy” becomes a haunting symbol of vulnerability, endurance, and quiet defiance.
November 29, 2025
Steven Murphy’s story is raw, powerful, and unforgettable. Growing up in Sydney’s Redfern, abandoned by his mother and left with a cruel stepmother while his father was in jail, he endured unimaginable hardship. Yet, against all odds, the “Pyjama Boy” fought through adversity to achieve his dreams. This book grips you from the first page, leaving a lasting impression of resilience, courage, and the human spirit’s unbreakable strength.
December 6, 2025
The Pyjama Boy is a powerful, raw tale of pain, survival, and ultimate triumph. The journey from abandonment and cruelty to hope and achievement is both heartbreaking and inspiring. The author doesn’t shy away from harsh truths but neither does he hide the strength, resilience, and will to overcome. This story stays with you long after you finish reading, a reminder that even the most difficult beginnings don’t have to define us. Emotionally honest, hard-hitting, and ultimately uplifting.
November 6, 2025
One of the most compelling true life books I’ve read this year. Steven Murphy’s story delivers both heartache and hope as he fights through a painful childhood marked by abandonment and abuse. His courage and determination shine through each chapter, offering a powerful reminder that our beginnings don’t define our future. A truly inspiring and unforgettable read.
December 12, 2025
This story stays with you long after you finish it. From a tragic beginning as the neglected “Pyjama Boy” to conquering unimaginable odds, his journey is both haunting and deeply inspiring. The writing pulls you in with raw emotion, resilience, and hope. A beautifully told, unforgettable true story of survival and triumph.
December 30, 2025
This book tells a powerful true story of resilience and survival against overwhelming odds. Steven Murphy’s journey from abandonment and abuse to personal achievement is deeply moving and confronting. A raw, inspiring read that stays with you long after the final page.
If you want it even shorter, more emotional, or more professional, tell me which tone to lock in and I’ll adjust it.
If you want it even shorter, more emotional, or more professional, tell me which tone to lock in and I’ll adjust it.
January 16, 2026
Pyjama Boy is a haunting and deeply moving true story of resilience and survival. From devastating beginnings to hard-won strength, Steven Murphy’s journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
Written with honesty and emotional clarity, this book stays with you long after the final page. A powerful reminder of the human capacity to endure and overcome unimaginable adversity.
Written with honesty and emotional clarity, this book stays with you long after the final page. A powerful reminder of the human capacity to endure and overcome unimaginable adversity.
January 30, 2026
The Pyjama Boy is a powerful and moving memoir that shows how strength of spirit can triumph over even the hardest beginnings. Steven Murphy’s journey from abandonment, abuse, and hardship in Sydney’s Redfern to becoming a police officer and inspiring speaker is nothing short of incredible. His honest, unvarnished storytelling made this book both compelling and deeply inspiring.
May 29, 2025
Astounding resilience, bravery and courage. For a child to endure such a childhood and develop into such a wonderful human being through service to his country and community is amazing. All teens should read this book. All schools should have this book as part of its curriculum.
November 18, 2025
A heartbreaking yet uplifting story. Steven Murphy’s journey from a neglected child in Redfern to achieving his dreams is nothing short of extraordinary. This book is both haunting and inspiring—highly recommended.
January 8, 2026
This book is a powerful and deeply moving account of resilience in the face of profound childhood trauma. From the moment we meet the child cruelly nicknamed the “Pyjama Boy,” the story grips the reader with its raw honesty and emotional weight.
May 14, 2025
i found the atmosphere especially compelling dark, tense and full of mystery. the author did a great job creating layered characters
November 17, 2012
This was quite an enlightening book about a boy who managed to drag himself out of the appalling circumstances he found himself in during the first ten years of his life, with a father in prison and an alcoholic step-mother. A real story of where a huge amount of courage and determination can get you.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews