As 6-year-old Elliott sits on his mother's knee, she explains to him that, to be a specialist in life, you need to know more and more about less and less, till eventually you can't be understood by anyone. He says in astonishment: "Well, I want to be a General Specialist, then!"

This book is about Elliot’s progress through life to become a General Specialist, odd though that oxymoron may be. Along the way, he hits upon real friendships. Via doctoring, he becomes a specialist advisor across politics, arts, security, entertainment, invention, environment and economics, yet is never honoured for his work.

His marriage a fiasco, his friendships a joy, his travels a marvel, his home and cars an intriguing wonder, he remains an enigma to all – except you, his reader.