This work investigates the psychological motivations and social circumstances that lead an individual to adopt a career in professional crime. Tony Parker, a noted interviewer and social observer, documents the life of Robert Allerton, a career criminal. Through a series of candid interviews, the book examines the internal logic and external pressures that sustain a life outside the law. It presents a detailed portrait of the criminal subculture in mid-20th-century Britain, focusing on the subject's own justifications for his actions.

Experts and readers often cite this book as a significant example of the 'as-told-to' biographical format in criminology. It is frequently noted for its objective, non-judgmental tone which allows the subject's perspective to remain the primary focus of the narrative.