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Camel Crazy: A Quest for Miracles in the Mysterious World of Camels
In this page-turning odyssey, a mother on a mission travels the globe — from Bedouin camps in the Middle East to Amish farms in Pennsylvania to camel-herder villages in India — to obtain camel milk, which dramatically helps her son’s autism symptoms. Chronicling bureaucratic roadblocks, adventure-filled detours, and Christina Adams’s love-fueled determination, Camel Crazy explores why camels are cherished as family members and hailed as healers. Adams’s work uncovers studies of camel milk for possible treatment of autism, allergies, diabetes, and immune dysfunction, as well as ancient traditions of healing. But the most fascinating aspect of Adams’s discoveries is the gentle-eyed, mischievous camels themselves. Huge and often unpredictable, they are amazingly intelligent and adaptable. This moving and rollicking ode to “camel people” and the creatures they adore reveals the ways camels touch lives around the world.
Includes users’ and buyers’ guides to camel’s milk
Includes users’ and buyers’ guides to camel’s milk
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
304 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2019
15 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 11, 2021
I reviewed this book in blogging format for my husband and I’s company, Camel Culture. Christina has a really engaging writing style and I appreciated her ability to pull you into whatever situation she is describing. We have shared similar experiences on camel farms in the United States and I hope to follow in her foot steps in touring camel concentrated areas globally one day. Her mission is sharing the success that making dietary changes and supplementing camel milk’s had for son struggling with an autism diagnosis. She truly is a mother on a mission and because of her efforts, camel milk was recognized and brought into the United States, Amish farms jumped on board to meet this need, and the scientific articles that she was searching for as a young mom which did not yet exist, were published. As a camel milk supplier in the US, we are standing today upon much of the groundwork Christina laid and we are grateful.
March 23, 2020
I learned a lot--interesting read.
October 23, 2019
Endorsements:
“For ages, these strong and beautiful beasts have been venerated for their courage, stamina, intelligence, and the healing powers of their milk. These fascinating and important pages detail Christina Adams’s personal journey of discovery that the camel herders were right. Her excellent book makes the case for camel milk’s medicinal value and for treating camels with the respect, compassion, and even reverence that they deserve from humans.”
— Sy Montgomery, author of the National Book Award Finalist The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness
“As a self-professed ‘beauty hunter,’ I felt like I found the beauty-hunting bible within these pages. This is a book for anyone who believes in the power of belief, science, and love. Combining these things, Christina Adams has created a magical story that feels part memoir, part fairy tale, pure heart. I want everyone I know to read this book to be reminded how one woman can change the world by following her own path.”
— Jennifer Pastiloff, bestselling author of On Being Human: A Memoir of Waking Up, Living Real, and Listening Hard
“In her fascinating book Camel Crazy, Christina Adams describes her quest to help her son, which is both heroic and an important reminder of the arrogance embedded in the prevailing wisdom of Western medicine and modern industrial life. We recklessly toss out important traditional knowledge, remove direct contact with the animals — like camels — who have shaped human civilization, and belittle the important steps to regain control over our lives by searching for answers in unexpected places. Camel Crazy is a joy to read and should inspire those of us who feel powerless in the face of industrialized life. Biodiversity matters. Animals matter. And it matters to enter into a space in which we consider possibilities that otherwise would seem impossible.”
— Richard McCarthy, executive director, Slow Food International
“Christina Adams’s writing and work are important to many indigenous cultures around the world, like my own nomadic tribe, the Tuareg camel herders. We need protecting.”
— Sidi Amar, nomad, camel handler, and Tuareg cultural protector, Sahara Desert, Niger
“Her firsthand experience with the benefits of camel milk turned Christina Adams into an expert on its therapeutic potential and an explorer of the camel communities around the globe. Her personal story is a testimony of a determined, intelligent woman whose ability to think outside the box enabled her to go beyond conventional medical boundaries to overcome her child’s challenges.”
— Amnon Gonenne, PhD, scientist, researcher, and biotechnology executive
“A story as wondrous as a fantastic novel, full of amazing moments. This is an exploration fueled by love.”
— Anita Hughes, author of California Summer
“Christina Adams’s brave, inspiring, and deeply exciting narrative is about her search for help for her son, which she found in the most unlikely of places — the milk of camels. She is the best kind of tour guide, propelling her intimate narrative through the Middle East to Amish country to a Manhattan doctor, and Adams does it all with such an infectious sense of wonder, a love of facts, and an insistence to get at the truth that I’d follow her anywhere. As she falls more and more in love with camels, so do we. This is a book that can change the world.”
— Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You and Is This Tomorrow
“Mesmerizing. Far more than an enchanting trip through camel lore and a look at the biology of this fascinating mammal, Camel Crazy offers a compelling description of how its milk quieted her young son’s autism symptoms. Just as I was awaiting a scientific explanation, there it was, eloquent and exciting. Camels, and their milk, are indeed special.”
— Ricki Lewis, PhD, author of The Forever Fix: Gene Therapy and the Boy Who Saved It
“As a neurologist, I can say that Christina Adams’s observations of medical signs and symptoms are on par with a neurologist’s clinical skills. Remarkable in her steadfast determination to uncover an ancient, unfamiliar food that has truly healing powers for people with autism, Adams also explores the many fascinating ways that camels and humans interact in the world. Camel Crazy is an excellent introduction to the background and future promise of camels and their milk. The healing and immune-modulating power of camel milk in people with autism is bona fide and realistic. Camel milk can be useful in autism and in medical conditions that mimic autistic behavior. The healing power of camel milk alters the immunity tied to human pH balance and reduces inflammation, so that correct nutrients, rather than abnormal ones, can enter the system and feed the brain. Both her research and mine show that the safety profile is very high.”
— Caroline Choan, MD, Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
“Christina Adams sweeps up the reader on her colorful, entertaining, and very personal quest to find out more about camels — and the exotic milk that proved so beneficial for her son and other autistic children. Her wonderful book takes us on fascinating travels, encounters, and discoveries, winding up with a useful trove of practical advice in the Appendix.”
— Nancy Jones Abeiderrahmane, founder of Tiviski and winner of the ROLEX Award for Enterprise
“If you think you know everything, then you haven’t read Christina Adams’s page-turning memoir about her quest for camel milk to help her son’s autism. It’s part the story of one mother’s determination to help her son and part travel narrative, plus much camel lore. Adams has woven an incredible tapestry that will fascinate you with its science and touch you with its story. Reminiscent of John Vaillant’s wonderful nonfiction book The Tiger, Camel Crazy will teach you things you never imagined and move you to tears.”
— Mary Morris, author of Gateway to the Moon and All the Way to the Tigers: A Memoir
“Christina Adams has a powerful, passionate, and convincing story to tell. Myself, I was looking for a camel milk source by page 38.”
— Randy Fertel, PhD, author of The Gorilla Man and the Empress of Steak: A New Orleans Family Memoir and cofounder of the Edible Schoolyard, New Orleans
“Camel Crazy relates an extraordinary story and captures how camels represent freedom to pastoralists like me. This book’s camel wisdom rings true and will help the humble animals who in turn sustain millions of pastoralists globally.”
— Roba B. Jilo, camel herder and member of the Karrayyu-Oromo tribe of Ethiopia
“For me, as both a parent and self-advocate for autism spectrum disorder, seeing the development of science-based natural resources to increase functionality for people with autism is outstanding. Christina Adams has been an amazing international leader in finding solutions that geneticists are only now starting to understand. The trailblazing work she describes in this book has led to significant multidisciplinary scientific studies.”
— Anne Delery McWhorter, autistic advocate and owner of Quiet Calm LLC
“Camel milk played, and continues to play, a huge role in our son Jack’s nutrition. Our family is grateful to those like Christina Adams, who are forging a new path for those who need it most. Switching Jack to camel milk has been the single most beneficial thing we have done for our very picky eater.”
— The Harris Family, White Oak Pastures
“Combining a mother’s love with the skill of a scientist and the finesse of a diplomatic ambassador, Christina Adams glides through international and cultural barriers with the realization that we are all part of a global village. In tirelessly striving to resolve her son’s challenges, Adams expertly fits together several pieces of the puzzle in making fulfilling and productive lives for people on the autism spectrum more the rule rather than the exception.”
— Stephen M. Shore, EdD, person with autism, author of Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome, professor of special education at Adelphi University, and board member of Autism Speaks
“For ages, these strong and beautiful beasts have been venerated for their courage, stamina, intelligence, and the healing powers of their milk. These fascinating and important pages detail Christina Adams’s personal journey of discovery that the camel herders were right. Her excellent book makes the case for camel milk’s medicinal value and for treating camels with the respect, compassion, and even reverence that they deserve from humans.”
— Sy Montgomery, author of the National Book Award Finalist The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness
“As a self-professed ‘beauty hunter,’ I felt like I found the beauty-hunting bible within these pages. This is a book for anyone who believes in the power of belief, science, and love. Combining these things, Christina Adams has created a magical story that feels part memoir, part fairy tale, pure heart. I want everyone I know to read this book to be reminded how one woman can change the world by following her own path.”
— Jennifer Pastiloff, bestselling author of On Being Human: A Memoir of Waking Up, Living Real, and Listening Hard
“In her fascinating book Camel Crazy, Christina Adams describes her quest to help her son, which is both heroic and an important reminder of the arrogance embedded in the prevailing wisdom of Western medicine and modern industrial life. We recklessly toss out important traditional knowledge, remove direct contact with the animals — like camels — who have shaped human civilization, and belittle the important steps to regain control over our lives by searching for answers in unexpected places. Camel Crazy is a joy to read and should inspire those of us who feel powerless in the face of industrialized life. Biodiversity matters. Animals matter. And it matters to enter into a space in which we consider possibilities that otherwise would seem impossible.”
— Richard McCarthy, executive director, Slow Food International
“Christina Adams’s writing and work are important to many indigenous cultures around the world, like my own nomadic tribe, the Tuareg camel herders. We need protecting.”
— Sidi Amar, nomad, camel handler, and Tuareg cultural protector, Sahara Desert, Niger
“Her firsthand experience with the benefits of camel milk turned Christina Adams into an expert on its therapeutic potential and an explorer of the camel communities around the globe. Her personal story is a testimony of a determined, intelligent woman whose ability to think outside the box enabled her to go beyond conventional medical boundaries to overcome her child’s challenges.”
— Amnon Gonenne, PhD, scientist, researcher, and biotechnology executive
“A story as wondrous as a fantastic novel, full of amazing moments. This is an exploration fueled by love.”
— Anita Hughes, author of California Summer
“Christina Adams’s brave, inspiring, and deeply exciting narrative is about her search for help for her son, which she found in the most unlikely of places — the milk of camels. She is the best kind of tour guide, propelling her intimate narrative through the Middle East to Amish country to a Manhattan doctor, and Adams does it all with such an infectious sense of wonder, a love of facts, and an insistence to get at the truth that I’d follow her anywhere. As she falls more and more in love with camels, so do we. This is a book that can change the world.”
— Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You and Is This Tomorrow
“Mesmerizing. Far more than an enchanting trip through camel lore and a look at the biology of this fascinating mammal, Camel Crazy offers a compelling description of how its milk quieted her young son’s autism symptoms. Just as I was awaiting a scientific explanation, there it was, eloquent and exciting. Camels, and their milk, are indeed special.”
— Ricki Lewis, PhD, author of The Forever Fix: Gene Therapy and the Boy Who Saved It
“As a neurologist, I can say that Christina Adams’s observations of medical signs and symptoms are on par with a neurologist’s clinical skills. Remarkable in her steadfast determination to uncover an ancient, unfamiliar food that has truly healing powers for people with autism, Adams also explores the many fascinating ways that camels and humans interact in the world. Camel Crazy is an excellent introduction to the background and future promise of camels and their milk. The healing and immune-modulating power of camel milk in people with autism is bona fide and realistic. Camel milk can be useful in autism and in medical conditions that mimic autistic behavior. The healing power of camel milk alters the immunity tied to human pH balance and reduces inflammation, so that correct nutrients, rather than abnormal ones, can enter the system and feed the brain. Both her research and mine show that the safety profile is very high.”
— Caroline Choan, MD, Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
“Christina Adams sweeps up the reader on her colorful, entertaining, and very personal quest to find out more about camels — and the exotic milk that proved so beneficial for her son and other autistic children. Her wonderful book takes us on fascinating travels, encounters, and discoveries, winding up with a useful trove of practical advice in the Appendix.”
— Nancy Jones Abeiderrahmane, founder of Tiviski and winner of the ROLEX Award for Enterprise
“If you think you know everything, then you haven’t read Christina Adams’s page-turning memoir about her quest for camel milk to help her son’s autism. It’s part the story of one mother’s determination to help her son and part travel narrative, plus much camel lore. Adams has woven an incredible tapestry that will fascinate you with its science and touch you with its story. Reminiscent of John Vaillant’s wonderful nonfiction book The Tiger, Camel Crazy will teach you things you never imagined and move you to tears.”
— Mary Morris, author of Gateway to the Moon and All the Way to the Tigers: A Memoir
“Christina Adams has a powerful, passionate, and convincing story to tell. Myself, I was looking for a camel milk source by page 38.”
— Randy Fertel, PhD, author of The Gorilla Man and the Empress of Steak: A New Orleans Family Memoir and cofounder of the Edible Schoolyard, New Orleans
“Camel Crazy relates an extraordinary story and captures how camels represent freedom to pastoralists like me. This book’s camel wisdom rings true and will help the humble animals who in turn sustain millions of pastoralists globally.”
— Roba B. Jilo, camel herder and member of the Karrayyu-Oromo tribe of Ethiopia
“For me, as both a parent and self-advocate for autism spectrum disorder, seeing the development of science-based natural resources to increase functionality for people with autism is outstanding. Christina Adams has been an amazing international leader in finding solutions that geneticists are only now starting to understand. The trailblazing work she describes in this book has led to significant multidisciplinary scientific studies.”
— Anne Delery McWhorter, autistic advocate and owner of Quiet Calm LLC
“Camel milk played, and continues to play, a huge role in our son Jack’s nutrition. Our family is grateful to those like Christina Adams, who are forging a new path for those who need it most. Switching Jack to camel milk has been the single most beneficial thing we have done for our very picky eater.”
— The Harris Family, White Oak Pastures
“Combining a mother’s love with the skill of a scientist and the finesse of a diplomatic ambassador, Christina Adams glides through international and cultural barriers with the realization that we are all part of a global village. In tirelessly striving to resolve her son’s challenges, Adams expertly fits together several pieces of the puzzle in making fulfilling and productive lives for people on the autism spectrum more the rule rather than the exception.”
— Stephen M. Shore, EdD, person with autism, author of Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome, professor of special education at Adelphi University, and board member of Autism Speaks
April 11, 2020
Camel Crazy is not only a detailed account of entirely new dietary information (to the general public anyway) that health conscious readers like myself will find invaluable and fascinating (thanks in part to copious scientific input and a helpful resource section), it's also a fun adventure tale about people & places I, for one, knew nothing about. Lastly it is in small part a personal story of the author's son's experience with camel milk's healing properties. I found all three aspects utterly fascinating, reading the book in 2 short spurts over a 24hr period, stopping only to sleep.
I don't know the author and wasn't asked for a review. I am definitely a health nut continually on the lookout for scientifically backed research about specific issues and overall general health. I'm highly discerning in this regard, as one has to be, with so many baseless fads and made up information to sort through, so I was heartened by the author's level of knowledge, conscientiousness, and professional background, as well as her medical and scientific sources and connections.
Lastly, I have to say how delighted I was by the descriptions of camels themselves, which are astonishing animals in a myriad of ways. As a kid I found them oddly beautiful and intriguing, but as an adult hadn't given them a thought in decades. I've already placed my first order for raw camel milk with hopes it might help a lifelong skin condition. Regardless there's ample evidence for its health benefits so hopefully the information continues to get out. Adams style is infinitely readable and she lays it out in such a way as to be both highly engaging and scientifically credible.
I don't know the author and wasn't asked for a review. I am definitely a health nut continually on the lookout for scientifically backed research about specific issues and overall general health. I'm highly discerning in this regard, as one has to be, with so many baseless fads and made up information to sort through, so I was heartened by the author's level of knowledge, conscientiousness, and professional background, as well as her medical and scientific sources and connections.
Lastly, I have to say how delighted I was by the descriptions of camels themselves, which are astonishing animals in a myriad of ways. As a kid I found them oddly beautiful and intriguing, but as an adult hadn't given them a thought in decades. I've already placed my first order for raw camel milk with hopes it might help a lifelong skin condition. Regardless there's ample evidence for its health benefits so hopefully the information continues to get out. Adams style is infinitely readable and she lays it out in such a way as to be both highly engaging and scientifically credible.
Read
February 14, 2020What can I say about the book, "Camel Crazy?" It's everything and anything about camels. It is also a poignant story with a mission from the author. She's on a quest to help her son who has autism. Research and science suggests that camel's milk has special healing qualities, which acts as a therapeutic calming effect in autistic people, along with a host of health positives for the body. I was amazed at the author's steadfast determination and going at all lengths to help her son, a true act of motherhood and resilient courage to do right by him, amidst her struggles and challenges going on in her life. It was truly an incredible story!
While pursuing my level 2 medical library certification, I was taking an online nutrition resources class. The instructor asked that we write about a topic that we found interesting and worth researching. After having just finished "Camel Crazy", I wrote about the subject of camel's milk and the information and stories I read about. One student was amazed and it generated discussion. I learned that day that the perfect ice breaker is camel's milk!
Medical science and more research is definitely needed and perhaps this book will spearhead a major conversation starter on this subject, not to mention, highlighting this beautiful animal who might somehow be helping human lives as we speak.
While pursuing my level 2 medical library certification, I was taking an online nutrition resources class. The instructor asked that we write about a topic that we found interesting and worth researching. After having just finished "Camel Crazy", I wrote about the subject of camel's milk and the information and stories I read about. One student was amazed and it generated discussion. I learned that day that the perfect ice breaker is camel's milk!
Medical science and more research is definitely needed and perhaps this book will spearhead a major conversation starter on this subject, not to mention, highlighting this beautiful animal who might somehow be helping human lives as we speak.
December 25, 2020
Quite an interesting book, recommended by a book group member. The author searched for anything that could help her autistic son, some of which worked a bit, and some that did not work at all. Camel Milk was a godsend. This book chronicles her issues with her son, what she tried, the efforts she undertook to get camel milk (including importing it from other countries), and her support of the few local camel farms (benefiting from Facebook to find them).
In her search, she became fascinated by camels and what makes them special, so you will learn a lot of odd facts about camels. As a bonus there are photos that accompany her journey.
Recommended.
In her search, she became fascinated by camels and what makes them special, so you will learn a lot of odd facts about camels. As a bonus there are photos that accompany her journey.
Recommended.
May 21, 2025
Eat Pray Love with camels. She’s dramatic/corny/overly romantic in a way I find cringey but others might find endearing. I’m embarrassed by the storybook projections she assumes on the people she meets…and describes one too many of the Indian men as “handsome” -to the point where second spouse Tony should show a little concern.
This is a book for white women/mothers- the tone is very sentimental - as one I enjoyed it but couldn’t help but cringe at the thought of a Somali/Amish/Indian woman reading her descriptions of their culture and finding them insipid.
This is a book for white women/mothers- the tone is very sentimental - as one I enjoyed it but couldn’t help but cringe at the thought of a Somali/Amish/Indian woman reading her descriptions of their culture and finding them insipid.
January 10, 2020
Mildly interesting about the use of raw camel milk to treat children with autism. Author heard about it, started using it with her autistic son and saw dramatic improvements. Book goes into the "science" of why it works and examines all aspects of camels. She is not a scientist, not a lot of scientific study has gone into why raw camel milk is so wonderful for treating autisim and several other conditions (arthritis is the only other one I remember). It was an OK book.
March 18, 2020
I love camels and when I saw the cover and title of this book I just had to buy it. It is a book about camels and you can learn a lot about them but it also about their milk and its medicinal qualities. It is an interesting story as the author discovers camel milk, gives it to her autistic son, and starts learning more about this product and camels. The travels all over the world, visiting different cultures and their camels. All very interesting.
September 15, 2022
I loved this book and learned many surprising things about camels. Did you know for instance that there is a growing interest in camel milk as a help with some forms of autism and adhd symptoms in children? Did you know that there are now camel dairies in Pennsylvania and other parts of the United States and that there is a growing demand for products made from camel milk, and other things? I read this book for research about camels for a book, but could not put it down.
October 21, 2023
I'm actually leaning to 3.5 stars. This was a interesting story of one women's quest to initially find camel milk in order to help her son with autism, then to get information out to the masses. She also shares her travels to various camel farms, some in Amish country, all the way to nomadic tribes in the Middle East. Throughout the book we are given tidbits of camel history, camel farming, camel breeding, and the lifestyle/culture of the people she meets along the way.
March 25, 2021
good book for camel lovers, i found this on https://aadvikfoods.com
May 7, 2021
It was not as interesting as I thought it would be. The flow could have been better.
She’s definitely a passionate person and devoted mom
She’s definitely a passionate person and devoted mom
August 28, 2022
I wanted more science. Less travelog. Otherwise not bad.
November 12, 2019
Camel Crazy is an excellent book to read especially if you, your children, or grandchildren have health issues. It talks about the healing properties of camel milk. Christina Adams also talks about camels and people’s relationships with their camels. I loved this book and highly recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews