My first brush with the concept came in a hearing a classical musician talk about his arrival in a major symphony orchestra and looking around at all the talent and amazing sound they were creating. “I felt like an imposter,” he said.
Oh, my, I could identify.
Little did I know of the Imposter Syndrome, a term coined by psychologists in the 1970s.
Rather than go into the details and nuances – there are many, look them up if you wish – I’ll mention ten places it hits me.
- Music circles. Yup, despite my extensive knowledge of repertoire and so on, I can find myself cowered at times in choir when a technical issue pops up. We’re singing in what key, now that we’ve hit this chord? What do you mean? Or of course I’m supposed to know which Chopin etude that is, not that I play piano.
- Books. No matter being a fairly well-read author, there’s no way I can keep up with the output. “Have you read” has a 99.9 percent chance of a negative answer, even in one of my specialty areas. Reading the New York Review makes me feel like a complete ignoramus. How about you?
- Poets. At least few other poets or poetry lovers know of the writers I’m most fond of, even the ones considered major figures. Now, what are their best lines?
- News events. Forty years in a newsroom and I still can’t follow it all. Local? Regional? National? International? As for the players’ names? Which leads to ….
- Politics. A congressman, for one, faces more proposed new legislation than anyone could ever examine. And I’m supposed to be one up? How about city council issues? Like when I’m having a beer once a week with some fine neighbors?
- Cambridge. Despite singing in a chorus with a number of Harvard and MIT grads, they are an inside circle. Being told my portrait hangs in one of the dorms on the Yard – I don’t remember which one – only made things worse.
- Quakers. There are circles I know but so many more I don’t. As for keeping up with the current reading? Back to books!
- People’s names and faces. I’m really at a loss there most of the time. Sorry.
- Money dealings. I’m still baffled by our cell phone contract and the monthly bills. As for dealing with car salesmen or realtors? WTF? A guy’s supposed to be savvy with this, right? Well, that leads to truly painful area:
- Male role: Yup, capable of repairing anything, solving any problem, knowing just who to contact when needed.
Tell me I’m not alone. Please?
Jnana's Red Barn 
You are definitely not alone.
There is so much knowledge available, and we only have so much time. We can’t know it all.
After all, what is important to me may not be of the slightest interest to you. Cambridge? I have a friend whose business was there. I knew Harvard was nearby – but now you tell me MIT also? Now I know.
My list would have a few different categories, but I do hear what you are saying.