Way Out: A True Account of Schizophrenia

You’re homeless, living on the street, fighting to keep body and soul intact.

Not so long ago, you were successful, competent, and liked, and your future was assured. But the unimaginable happens. Aliens begin watching you through their super-evolved technology. No one is aware of them except you. Then they begin speaking to you. After that, things get crazy. Approximately one in a hundred people suffer from schizophrenia, a disorder characterized by delusions and/or hallucinations. For Eugene Uttley, the delusions are profound and kaleidoscopic, involving spirits and extraterrestrials, celebrities and spies. In his extended period of psychosis, Eugene also hears voices nearly constantly, and believes himself to be in telepathic communication with the objects of his delusions. Albert Morton examines Eugene's life and illness in great detail, bringing us fully into Eugene's world, revealing the fascinating workings of the schizophrenic mind. Joining Eugene on a mad journey spanning decades and continents, the author captures the essence of the illness and the bizarre, desperate behavior it can cause. From a good job and comfortable lifestyle, Eugene is reduced to raving in the streets. Struggling for survival in Asia, on the road in America, and even in jail, Eugene weathers a turbulent storm of thoughts from which he can find no shelter. Morton painstakingly tracks his progress in this raw and gripping chronicle, which includes unflinching accounts of drug abuse, homelessness, and despair, as well as true friendship, love, and hope.