The Elephant's Graveyard tells the story of a young man's journey through higher education and ultimately pursuing a career in medicine. Medical School and internship and residency are described in all their hardships and demands. Further challenges are met and described as the young doctor must establish his practice in a large southern Californian retirement community. The biggest joys and hardships are to be found in caring for the diverse group of retirees who now call this area home. Plus managed care seemed to arrive at the same time changing all the previous rules and ways which medicine had operated.