This memoir chronicles the formative years of an anthropologist, detailing his academic training and initial fieldwork. Alan MacFarlane recounts his experiences at the London School of Economics and the School of Oriental and African Studies, outlining the rigorous process of becoming an anthropologist. The narrative then shifts to his immersive fieldwork among the Gurungs of Nepal, set in a remote village within the Annapurna Mountains. This account is meticulously constructed from his extensive personal archives, including letters, diaries, and photographs.

This memoir offers a direct look into the development of an anthropologist during a specific period of academic and practical training. The use of personal archives suggests an intimate and detailed portrayal of both the academic environment and the experience of fieldwork. The focus on Nepal and the Gurung people points to a specialized ethnographic study presented through a personal lens. The inclusion of photographs and personal writings indicates a visually and textually rich account of anthropological practice.