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This book should be required reading for U.S. Citizens and you should not be allowed into a voting booth if you haven't read it. If you read only one book on foreign policy in the next five years. This is it!!!
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Three Cups of Tea recounts Greg Mortenson's failure to climb K2, the world's second tallest and deadliest mountain, and how that disappointment led to his endeavors to plant schools throughout remote areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. After his failed attempt to climb K2, Mortenson became lost in the mountains of northeastern Pakistan. He eventually found himself in a remote village called Korphe. There, villagers nursed him to health, and in return, Mortenson made a promise that was to change his life forever. He promised to someday return and build a school for the children of Korphe. From that point on, Mortenson's aspiration was to provide education to boys and girls throughout Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, Mortenson faced many hardships in his work--the physical difficulty of reaching locations of school building projects was often daunting, and personal conflicts with village leaders and other people sometimes occurred. Mortenson persevered through these and other difficulties, and through this perseverance, he was able to plant over 100 schools throughout Afghanistan and Pakistan.
I found Three Cups of Tea an enjoyable read for several reasons. First, I was impressed by the way that Mortenson continued building schools despite overwhelming odds, and his determination to help each person he came in contact with achieve their personal goals. It made me realize that one person really is capable of accomplishing so much simply through determination and perseverance. Second, I acquired a new understanding of the suffering and hardship that many Middle Eastern people have gone through since 9/11. The author discussed the Wahhabi madrassas in Pakistan, schools which offer free room and board to students and often teach and encourage religious extremism. The book showed the often detrimental effects that the madrassas have had on the people in Pakistan, and also claimed that the work Mortenson is doing in Pakistan is just what Pakistani children need in order to have a good education and not be influenced by religious extremism. This was an interesting viewpoint to me, and as I read more of the information backing this belief, I agreed with many of the points made. Finally, I enjoyed the clear, expressive way that Relin described Middle Eastern history and culture. I recommend Three Cups of Tea as a well-written, descriptive book which teens or adults will find informative and engaging.
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I loved this book. Greg Mortenson is a truly admirable person whose passion and commitment have resulted in so much goodness. Small things can do incredible things in people lives, and we have to pay as much attention to them as we do to sweeping political changes and military action.
The other people in the book - people such as Haji Ali, Sadhar Khan, Faisal Baig, and all the others who opened their hearts to Greg - were impressive as well. They reveal the hospitality and magnanimity that exist in Middle Eastern culture.
In the beginning of the book, you read about his commitment to his little sister, Christa. This is a foretaste of the purity and humanity of this man. Perhaps his desire to educate girls arose from his love for his sister and his desire for her to live a full life despite her disability.
We should all live as Greg does, pouring out the best of ourselves to make life better for others. Then we can die knowing that we gave everything we had and didn't waste anything at all.
A toast to you, Greg!
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I loved this book. I have made countless gifts of this book to family and friends. Its just one of those special books that grabs you and stays with you forever.
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Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin is Mortenson's journey throughout Pakistan. He begins his journey in hopes of reaching the peak of K2. He does not reach his goal and has to be helped down the mountain. As he is healing up in a little village in Pakistan, he is overcome by the kindness of the people there. He makes a promise to them that he will build a school for their children in return for their kindness. After several struggles and setbacks, he finally is able to keep his promise and completes his first school. He began to have a passion for building schools for the children and eventually build over 100 schools. He felt one way to fight terrorism was to educate the children.
I really enjoyed the book and was inspired by Mortenson's hard work and determination. He faced so many setbacks and struggles, but never gave up. Mortenson was in Pakistan during 9/11 and I was able to have a different impression on the people. Before, I stereotyped most people in Pakistan because of what happened on 9/11, however after reading this book, my views changed. Mortenson stressed how wonderful the people there were and then only a few of them had anything to do with 9/11. Most of the people in Pakistan were wonderful people who were also angry about what happened. This book was very interesting and I did not want to put it down. I recommend everyone to read this book.
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