Rites of Passage: My Schizophrenic Youth in Mosaic [Paperback]

Jason Ratcliff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 16, 2002

In this memoir of schizophrenia, Jason Stuart Ratcliff describes his struggle to manhood through the firestorm of schizophrenic psychosis, his journey though an often abusive mental health system, and his ideas of the necessity of "mental illness pride" in a society that socially excludes the psychotic person. Readers will continually have to remind themselves that this is not a novel but a true story.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A valuable contribution to the field of human psychology. . . . It should be required reading in every introductory psychopathology class. -- The Thresher, December 2003

About the Author

Jason Stuart Ratcliff was born in California in 1972 and grew up in Aurora, Colorado. At the age of 17 he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and spent the next two years in various institutions, including what he considers ?the longest year of my life? at the often physically rough Cleo Wallace center in Westminster, Colorado. He currently lives in Denver.

Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (July 16, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595238467
• ISBN-13: 978-0595238460
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,247,483 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rites of Passage: My Schizophrenic Youth in Mosaic, August 4, 2005

By 

Annis Pereyra (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rites of Passage: My Schizophrenic Youth in Mosaic (Paperback)

Great read. The book helped me understand more about what my loved one deals with in his journey thru life dealing with Schizophrenia. I suggest it for any family who has a member with this life-distorting affliction. He is now reading it too and wants more copies for staff members to read at his long-term care facility. It should be required reading for all those who work with the mentally ill, and would be useful in changing their perspective. I would also suggest it for the library of any National Alliance for the Mentally Ill chapter.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Opening Doors, February 28, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Rites of Passage: My Schizophrenic Youth in Mosaic (Paperback)

This book opened a door for me, allowing some understanding of behavior of persons with this illness. Jason is obviously such an intelligent man, and is able to articulate the details of his life - so stange to most of us - but now made much clearer trough his sometimes disjointed writing. I was able, shortly after finishing the book, to pass it along to a co-worker whose brother - homeless in Arizona - has recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia. I know it will help her to see her brother's problem in a different light. Thank you Jason!