The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard

Anyone who despairs of the individual’s power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan’s treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools—especially for girls—that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson’s quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, Three Cups of Tea combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.

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Summary: Three Cups of Tea: One man's mission to promote peace
Comment: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this account of Greg Mortenson's journey through Pakistan to establish schools for girls who otherwise would not receive an education. I feel so much compassion for these innocent children who are victims of their existence. I would recommend this book to anyone living in the U.S. where we have education readily available. I also would recommend this book to those children in the U.S. who choose not to attend school. The Pakistan children are so eager to learn anything and read any books available to them. Greg's family should be extremely proud of his lifetime accomplishments to better the lives of children.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Three Cups of Tea
Comment: I loved this book! It was very easy to read, and quite an eye-opener for me. I have only heard negative things about Pakistan and Afghanistan, mainly from the news media, and I now have quite a different view of the people that Mr. Mortenson has grown to love. Now when I hear reports coming about that part of the world I think of all the innocent people who are caught in the violence, and I hope that we can some how help them.
Greg Mortenson and his Central Asia Institute offer each of us an opportunity to help in the fight against terrorism.
I hope that many people will read this and better understand how the majority of the people over there live!

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Summary: A Cup of Humanity
Comment: While a failed climb on Pakistan's majestic K2 appeared to be a disappointment, in actuality it became a life-changing mission for one American and the impoverished villages he was set on helping.

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time (Penguin Books, 2006, 349 pgs.), so eloquently written by David Oliver Relin and in collaboration with Greg Mortenson, details the true story of Mortenson's quest to help disadvantaged communities of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Relin, an editor with Parade magazine, played an important role in publicizing Mortenson's journey prior to writing Three Cups of Tea.

Relin's interpretation of Mortenson's heroic adventures to introduce schools to Balti children is both riveting and heartwarming. With the combination of Relin's flowing style and Mortenson's captivating narrations, the reader is mesmerized by the trials and tribulations of what is needed to develop schools in a country so engrained in terrorism and mistrust of Americans (The America's Intelligence Wire). Greg Mortenson, born in Minnesota in 1957, was raised within range of Tanzania's Mt. Kilimanjaro. His father, an accomplished climber, introduced Mortenson to the thrills of mountaineering (Kauffman). His passion for climbing took over his life (U. Oregon).

To honor his deceased and beloved sister's memory, Mortenson undertook a planned climb in 1993 on Pakistan's K2, the world's second highest mountain. The climb failed. Icy, cold conditions forced Mortenson to turn back from the mountain, only to become lost from his climbing partners. He became stranded from civilization with supplies to last no longer than a couple of days. According to Mortenson, he was fortunate that one of the climb's porters, a Balti man named Mouzafer Ali, stumbled across him and helped to lead him off the mountain to the small village of Korphe (Mortenson and Relin). It was there in Korphe that Mortenson had an epiphany about his life and what he could do for others. After watching young students work multiplication tables in the dirt with sticks, Mortenson said, "I felt like my heart was being torn out....I knew I had to do something" (Mortenson and Relin). An ambitious idea was hatched to build a school for the children.

Back in the United States, Mortenson worked hard to garner financial support for his idea, but mostly came across opposition. It wasn't until he obtained financial backing from Swiss philanthropist Jean Hoerni that Mortenson was able to begin the financial realization of his dream. With the help of Relin, who published an article about Mortenson and his humanitarian efforts in Parade in 2003, publicity and subsequent offers to help grew.

Three Cups of Tea introduces the concept of the building of bridges not just physically, but also spiritually. Not only did Mortenson need to physically erect a bridge to carry the supplies to begin construction, he needed to first build an emotional bridge to the residents of the country he was attempting to help. The book carries this thought throughout, bringing to the reader the struggles necessary for Mortenson to convince the villagers that he, the American infidel, was not trying to sway their religious ways, and had no political influence in his efforts. Mortenson was tested time and time again, both by the locals, with Taliban leaders, and within himself. As reflected in the book, Mortenson never gives up. At one point he endures a frightening kidnapping for eight days and later a fight between Afghan warlords (The America's Intelligence Wire). After September 11 he is also confronted by hate mail and threats from Americans because of his misunderstood association with the "enemy" (The America's Intelligence Wire).

Throughout the book the significance of drinking tea, otherwise known as paiyu cha, represents the development of friendship between the villagers and Mortenson. Haji Ali, who was an insightful and respected village elder of Korphe, explained that, "The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family, and for our family, we are prepared to do anything, even die" (Mortenson and Relin). The significance of drinking tea follows Mortenson throughout his efforts to build the schools. He becomes able to readily assess the safeness of a situation by whether tea is offered. The tea becomes the thread that holds the story together. The tea becomes trust, compassion, and inspiration.

The authors movingly detail one particular instance that proved to be one of the most humbling moments in Three Cups of Tea. After the building of the school was nearing completion, a gang of strangers armed with clubs made their way into Korphe to demand stoppage of the building because of the American infidel, and the supposed plot to move the children to Christianity. Ali stood firm, although to get rid of the intruders and continue with the school the village had to relinquish 12 of their prized and sacred rams. The effect was devastating to the community. It wasn't until later that evening that Mortenson fully understood how Ali could have given up such wealth (Mortenson and Relin).

Sitting around an evening fire, Ali confided to Mortenson that he could not read. As he explained, "This is the greatest sadness in my life. I'll do anything so the children of my village never have to know this feeling. I'll pay any price so they have the education they deserve" (Mortenson and Relin).

Mortenson realized at that point that while all his efforts to build the school had been a struggle, the sacrifices that Ali was making were so much greater. As Mortenson states, "Here was an illiterate man, who'd hardly ever left his little village...yet he was the wisest man I've ever met" (Mortenson and Relin).

It is with powerfully poignant moments such as this that Three Cups of Tea helps to open the reader's eyes to what was truly important to the villagers. The highly sacred rams were not the prize. The education of the young children was the true reward. Mortenson and Relin beautifully pull the reader into the eye-opening awareness of what in today's society should be considered of highest value, whether abroad or here in the United States.

Since Three Cups of Tea has been published, the word of Mortenson's efforts has spread, allowing him to continue to build within other villages. In all his heroic kindness Mortenson has accepted the challenge, and today has built over 58 schools in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, including in areas controlled by the Taliban. As a matter of fact, as the schools were being built within these controlled areas, the schooling of young boys in Islamic militant standards was taking place (Mortenson and Relin). Mortenson saw beyond this training, realizing that the schooling of children, particularly of young girls, would help to provide a future in areas where there wasn't hope previously. While others may feel that Three Cups of Tea is a politically motivated piece, the political arena is not the underlying concept. Giving, compassion and social responsibility are the motivators. As Entertainment Weekly's Timothy Gunatilaka so correctly states, Three Cups of Tea is "largely a testament to a generosity that transcends politics and religion".

As the number of schools grew, the formation of the Central Asia Institute took place. Jean Hoerni, whose gracious original donation allowed Mortenson to build the first school, continued to support the humanitarian efforts by helping to establish the CAI. Today, the CAI will educate over 24,000 children, as indicated by M. J. Prest of the Chronicle of Philanthropy. This is an amazing accomplish undertaken by one man destined to help others.

Three Cups of Tea is a beautiful narrative of one man's attempt to give back. Clearly Mortenson could not have dreamed that his singular action of helping a handful of children would start a movement that would later encompass the lives of so many people far and wide. The effect of one man stepping out of his box and never giving up is a true inspiration to others. If any lesson is learned by Three Cups of Tea, it is that undertaking such a magnificent adventure to "cross the bridge" does not have to have political implications, but rather is gathered from the goodness of the heart. Certainly the children who are now receiving an education when one was not previously provided can attest to that.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A window into life in the frontier regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan
Comment: Greg Mortenson and David Relin weave a fascinating tale of an adventurer turned advocate for rural education in Pakistan and Afghanistan. In some of the most remote and inhospitable areas of the world, Greg Mortensen succeeds in building schools where the government had failed. As a woman who lived in the region, I found Greg's story not only captivating, but also pin point accurate.
This true to life story of humanitarianism is one of my top ten favorite reads.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: 3 Cups of Tea
Comment: Since 1997, after a long stint in the military, I have been travelling the world promoting the cause of Open Source software as a means of accelerating the development of nations less fortunate than the one I am lucky enough to live in. During the course of this journey, I came to understand an integral portion of this mission was that of education, ie, making knowledge available to all who wished to seek it. Greg Mortensen, the central true-life character of "3 Cups of Tea", makes my efforts seem trivial. I view him as my role model and a true life hero. Through my various activities I continue to exhort those, who have the power, to adopt the central tenet of this story which is that the long term means of ensuring we have a future is to make a future for others.

A long time friend of mine in California, knowing of my passion for the advancement of mankind, suggested I should read this book. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. It is very well written and would make the stuff of a great film; for it is full of adventure with the added spice of being a true story. To top it off, the story is inspiring and leaves you feeling good at the end of it. I am now buying copies as Christmas presents for my closest friends and family.

A really great read and about something I would recommend to all. Its about something to which we should all aspire. I hope one day to have the pleasure of meeting and possibly, in some small way, helping Greg Mortenson

Kevin Loughrey (LTCOL retd)
CEO
Non Volatile Technologies

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