Mickey Hawkins is seeking a doctorate degree, but first he has to decide on a specific subject matter. He's fascinated with the nature of thought, but that leaves him open to more philosophical complications than he feels able to handle alone. He discusses the subject with friend, Corrigan Emery, who holds a PhD in math.But this eventually leaves him caught between Corrigan, academic advisor Holcomb Norwell, and Mickey's comfort with university culture. The book is a tour de force portrayal melding intuition and intellectualism in a rapidly evolving world of ideas.