In "Hitchhiking to Madness," Dr. Carol Hamilton takes readers on a soul-stirring journey through the 1970s—a time marked by hippies, Jesus freaks, and the awakening of social consciousness. After being excommunicated from her church for advocating a more accepting form of Christianity, Hamilton dropped out of college and embarked on an odyssey across America with her young husband. Through humor and horror, she explores life on the road, the terrifying descent of her husband into madness, the sexual assault she endures, and his attempt to murder her and their unborn child. Amid the crisis, Hamilton decides to trust in herself, drawing strength from the support of friends and family, and eventually severing the marital bond. She navigates through a sea of post-trauma emotions and outlines her journey to becoming a physician at a time when female doctors were a rarity. Hamilton ends her memoir with thoughtful insights on mental illness and encourages readers to find courage in their unplanned detours—it's never too late to redirect one's path.