[1][2][3][4] The story centers around the friendship of two college students at Columbia University and follows them from their freshman year in 1974 to their adult lives in the late 1990s.

Soon after the school year starts, Orno befriends Marshall, a charismatic student from a wealthy New England family who has a photographic memory.

At first, Orno is in awe of Marshall's abilities, and becomes jealous of him when he uses his talent to gain the attraction of women or easily skate through school.

Eventually, Orno's view of Marshall becomes fractured when he learns about his history of mental illness, troubled family life, and many secrets.

Marshall soon drops out of college and moves to Los Angeles to work as a TV writer, and develops an addiction to cocaine.