Pat Kennedy, a banker, realises his wealth is meaningless if he has to die. What was the point of being rich if he could not live to enjoy it. Today modern science promised to extend life and he like other rich men sets up a research firm with the object of reaching the age of 120 in good health, by which time new advances may offer an unlimited extension of life.

But would he reach the promise of unlimited life if the world around him was doomed, a world shaken by crises: conflict, authoritarian governments, exploding population, ecological collapse, climate change, and stalked by disease.

Together with his Clan of rich friends he sets about building a safe haven in the Andes, far from the threats of today's civilisation, at the same time seeking an answer as to why past civilisations collapsed and how to avoid their mistakes.

His search leads him to the Amazon and the discovery of its indigenous peoples living in isolation deep in the rainforest where perhaps he will find the key to survival.