Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time

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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All Customer Reviews
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An authentic life, 2008-07-04
Today is the fourth of July, 2008. What we aspire to, what we celebrate, what we fear -- are so far removed from the reality of one man attending to the basic needs of all humans on earth. There is no terrorism, there is no war that does not find its roots in the two children who clung to the robes of "Christmas Present," so many years ago. These two plagues of "ignorance and want" - the children of humankind - are what cause war and fuel terrorism. Put your minds and hearts to that simple fact. Read this book and turn all the energy, wealth and good intentions of this country to affecting a real solution. This book and its lessons are a must for making ourselves and our leaders truly authentic and of value to the world and to our own county.


0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

If you only read one book this year, make it this one!, 2008-07-04
In a time when the words `Middle East' can bring up such anger, why would you want to read a book about that area? Well for starters this book isn't about anything to do with the ongoing war you hear about every night on the news.

3 Cups of Tea is a more 'behind the scenes' look at many of the areas that never make headlines on any of our news stations. What this book is about is one man, Greg Mortenson, who puts his life on the line to try to end the war, the way it should be ended, with books, not bombs.

The Taliban believes that keeping the population ignorant is the best way to keep them following the same ways they've been following for the past few hundred years. When the Taliban comes into an area, they burn every book except for the Koran. They know if their population was to become educated, they'd know that war will never solve anything.

What Greg Mortenson is doing is amazing. Never before have I felt so utterly useless when comparing myself to what he's done. Never before have I finished reading a book and wanted to do something to make a difference for others. Why isn't our government going at it like Greg Mortenson is? To read this book just makes so much sense.

This book should be required reading for everyone who thinks they have an opinion on the Middle East. If there is one book you read this year, make it this one, you won't be disappointed. [...]


0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Support This Mission, 2008-07-04
This is an incredible story and it makes so much sense. Who can argue with the root cause of the rise of radical fundamentalists being directly related to ignorance. The book also will help dissipate the generalized negative image of muslims as all being the same. We've abandoned Afghanistan again and have mixed relations with Pakistan and don't understand how the Taliban and other radical groups continue to grow. Greg Mortenson is an amazing man who certainly deserves a Nobel award for his efforts. At the very least his organization, The Central Asia Institute, deserves a contribution from any of us wanting to see a real reduction in the threat to this country.


0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

support this project, 2008-07-03
In this book there are such apt descriptions of the stunning land and the people...My family and I have had the good fortune to travel in northern parts of Pakistan twice, once in the Hunza Valley and once to a base camp on Nanga Parbat. We'll never forget the hospitality we experienced. I really appreciate Mr. Mortenson's sensitivity and efforts in working with the various peoples. My husband and I have taught abroad for the past eleven years in three different countries (including Lahore in Pakistan for four of those) and have a real appreciation for the inherent challenges. Keep it up. The book struck an in-tune chord.
Deirdre Roberts


1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

A life-changer, pure and simple., 2008-07-03
I don't have anything profound to say about the book, only that it literally changed my life - that one man could be both so driven, and so completely humble and gentle with the cultures he was servicing...
...a truly amazing man, one I desperately wish the US government would study carefully and start modelling their foreign policy after - around a philosophy of genuine 'aid' where it is most needed, thus eliminating the allure of terrorism for the young.
On a nice side-note, it not only an account of an amazing man, its an AMAZING account of an amazing man - his time in Pakistan, as you can imagine, has been pretty bumpy, and the result is nothing short of a one-in-a-million read: a 'Charitable Page-Turner', a soul-satisfying action epic!
Read it - it'll correct your vision.

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