The story was addictive. It was a fast read and I put the book down several times because I didn't want the story to end. The author is a very unique woman who is an incredible risk taker. SHe travels to Alice Springs, Australia, with no resources. She decides she wants to learn about camels and travel from Alice Springs to the western coast of Australia alone but she finds it is challenging to be taken seriously. Finally to fund her adventure she takes a small amount of money from National Geographic and then laments about 'selling out'. She has insightful commentary about the Aborigines and the way they have been treated by the white people. An Aboriginal man accompanies her for part of her trek. She gets in touch with the oneness of nature and the desert and at times her sanity is challenged with the isolation and the endless heat. Against major odds she completes the trek and she and her camels celebrate their journey, It made me want to go into the outback but only as a fantasy.