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American Alt: A True Story of Madness and Friendship in a Fractured Country
A glimpse into the mind of an American conspiracy theorist and the schizophrenia, trauma, and disinformation that drove him to the brink
On the eve of January 6, 2021, Michael Dodd and his three friends sat in a stolen vehicle on the grounds of the Washington State capitol armed to the teeth and ready to kidnap Governor Jay Inslee. Only there weren't actually three others in the car; Dodd was alone.
Months later, the violent plan thwarted, Dodd was a patient in a psychiatric hospital, where he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder. His memory of that fateful day was spotty, fractured by the different personality states he now knew were affecting his reality. Skeptical of a state mental-health system but eager to figure out how his world had turned upside down, he reached out to his longtime friend, the author Chris Lockhart, for help.
American Alt is the odyssey of two friends trying to piece together the fragments of Dodd's shattered memory and uncover the truth of what pushed him to the edge. Set against the beautiful but economically broken region where both men rambled in their youth, Lockhart delivers a suspenseful, profoundly moving story of discovery and affirmation.
On the eve of January 6, 2021, Michael Dodd and his three friends sat in a stolen vehicle on the grounds of the Washington State capitol armed to the teeth and ready to kidnap Governor Jay Inslee. Only there weren't actually three others in the car; Dodd was alone.
Months later, the violent plan thwarted, Dodd was a patient in a psychiatric hospital, where he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder. His memory of that fateful day was spotty, fractured by the different personality states he now knew were affecting his reality. Skeptical of a state mental-health system but eager to figure out how his world had turned upside down, he reached out to his longtime friend, the author Chris Lockhart, for help.
American Alt is the odyssey of two friends trying to piece together the fragments of Dodd's shattered memory and uncover the truth of what pushed him to the edge. Set against the beautiful but economically broken region where both men rambled in their youth, Lockhart delivers a suspenseful, profoundly moving story of discovery and affirmation.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published July 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 27, 2026
Loved this read—
Landscape & wilderness driven, touches on mental health, politics & the importance of compassion
Landscape & wilderness driven, touches on mental health, politics & the importance of compassion
July 9, 2026
4.5★: A MOVING MEMOIR UNDONE BY NARRATION & QUESTIONS OF AUTHENTICITY. This is a fascinating memoir/biography hybrid in which the author tells the story of his longtime friend Michael, a man living with dissociative identity disorder (DID), while also reflecting on their shared experiences in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). It’s an engaging, compassionate portrait that never reduces Michael to his diagnosis. Instead, it presents him as a complex, resilient person whose life is full of adventure, hardship, humor, and humanity... just trying to navigate both a fractured mental health system and conspiracy-filled political landscape.
The PNW setting feels like a character in its own right, and the friendship at the heart of the book gives the story warmth and credibility. I finished with a genuine appreciation for both men.
The book is also unexpectedly funny. The humor feels authentic to lifelong guy friends. Lines like, “you’re just one more fart in an industry of farts” and describing someone who “stands out like a random booger eater” made me smile because they’re so oddly specific and completely unpretentious. It also reminded me of a former coworker who, while trying to adlib an example in a discussion on workplace culture, said “a culture of burps and farts.” Shaun, IT DOES EXIST! 😆
Unfortunately, the Bloomsbury-published audiobook introduced enough questions that it affected my overall experience.
As a lifelong resident of the PNW, I noticed repeated pronunciation errors involving local place names. A few mistakes are understandable, but there were enough that they became distracting and suggested the production lacked local fact-checking.
More importantly, because this is presented as a true story, I was left questioning its authenticity. One chapter identifies a one-armed Makah tribal member from tiny Neah Bay by name. Given how identifiable that description is in such a small community, I couldn’t tell whether the individual was being named directly or whether a pseudonym had been used. If names or identifying details were changed to protect privacy—which would be entirely appropriate—I think that should have been disclosed, especially in the audiobook. Without that transparency, I found myself wondering where the line was between documented fact and protected identity, and that uncertainty cast an unfortunate shadow over an otherwise compelling story.
The underlying story is excellent, and I still recommend it. I just wish the audiobook had received stronger quality control and clearer disclosure where privacy considerations may have required changes, because both issues pulled me out of what was otherwise a memorable and moving listen.
Published two days ago on 7/7/26, I was the 8th Goodreads reviewer who brought its average rating to 4.63★.
The PNW setting feels like a character in its own right, and the friendship at the heart of the book gives the story warmth and credibility. I finished with a genuine appreciation for both men.
The book is also unexpectedly funny. The humor feels authentic to lifelong guy friends. Lines like, “you’re just one more fart in an industry of farts” and describing someone who “stands out like a random booger eater” made me smile because they’re so oddly specific and completely unpretentious. It also reminded me of a former coworker who, while trying to adlib an example in a discussion on workplace culture, said “a culture of burps and farts.” Shaun, IT DOES EXIST! 😆
Unfortunately, the Bloomsbury-published audiobook introduced enough questions that it affected my overall experience.
As a lifelong resident of the PNW, I noticed repeated pronunciation errors involving local place names. A few mistakes are understandable, but there were enough that they became distracting and suggested the production lacked local fact-checking.
More importantly, because this is presented as a true story, I was left questioning its authenticity. One chapter identifies a one-armed Makah tribal member from tiny Neah Bay by name. Given how identifiable that description is in such a small community, I couldn’t tell whether the individual was being named directly or whether a pseudonym had been used. If names or identifying details were changed to protect privacy—which would be entirely appropriate—I think that should have been disclosed, especially in the audiobook. Without that transparency, I found myself wondering where the line was between documented fact and protected identity, and that uncertainty cast an unfortunate shadow over an otherwise compelling story.
The underlying story is excellent, and I still recommend it. I just wish the audiobook had received stronger quality control and clearer disclosure where privacy considerations may have required changes, because both issues pulled me out of what was otherwise a memorable and moving listen.
Published two days ago on 7/7/26, I was the 8th Goodreads reviewer who brought its average rating to 4.63★.
July 25, 2026
Reminded me of The Best Minds by Jonathan Rosen, whose friend was also coincidentally named Michael. What the mind can do is so crazy and scary. I learned a lot about schizophrenia and mental health care in the US, which is really not good.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Intertwining stories of a friendship, a place, two men, and rural America form a book that will have great appeal to those who love long form nonfiction narratives Both Michael and Chris are compelling as characters and share both grief and joy with the reader.
July 12, 2026
4.25⭐️
As someone with schizophrenia and OSDD (another dissociative disorder similar to DID) this book hit incredibly close to home. I came away being grateful to be mentally ill in Australia and not the US
As someone with schizophrenia and OSDD (another dissociative disorder similar to DID) this book hit incredibly close to home. I came away being grateful to be mentally ill in Australia and not the US
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I really enjoyed this book. It has a great representation of what some people endure when experiencing mental illnesses. A little slow but definitely worth the read!
Goodreads giveaway ARC copy.
Goodreads giveaway ARC copy.
July 8, 2026
Mental illness in the southwest area of Washington. Very different sort of book and not for me.
July 20, 2026
American Alt offers an eye-opening and intense look at the person behind the diagnosis and the trauma that shaped his life, reminding us that compassion can be just as important as understanding.
July 24, 2026
Empathetic portrait of the author’s friend and his experience with dissociative mental illness. Northwest landscapes play a big part in the atmosphere and storytelling.
July 25, 2026
But it's all relative: one person's foie gras-eating snob is another person's banjo-playing f*cktard.
July 28, 2026
Well written
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews