The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyardAnyone 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 … 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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Very inspiring book, about a man who risked his life to those who need help, Amazing story!
An excellent, honest and emotional expression of how cultures can interact, help and understand each other without the interference of a military presence.
This book is awesome and shows how most people in the world want the best for their children, regardless of whether they are girls or boys, but there are some out there who want to keep others down even in their own communities.
This is the story of Greg Mortenson who has built over 100 schools in Pakistan. He was a climber who was climbing K2 and failed. He became very ill, and ended up in the village of Korphe where they cared for him until he was well. While he was there, he got to know the people and their need for a school. Inspired and outraged, he went home to figure out how he could raise the $12,000 needed to build a school. As a single, registered nurse, he didn’t have any money to do this himself. He wrote over 500 letters, but finally one person offered to fund the school in its entirety. He returned and built the school. When his generous giver died, he left Greg 1 million dollars to start a foundation to build more schools and help the people of Pakistan. The need for good schools – especially for girls – was large. So were bridges and running water. Great set out to do all of those things and succeeded. Girls are not going to school and going on to college because of what he did. He set out to prove that knowledge is power and it can change a society.
This was a great book. I was fascinated by the Pakistan culture and also by the kindness the people showed a white man from America. I learned more about the true meaning of what it means to be a Muslim (kindness and giving and brotherhood) and the different between those who are truly religious and those who are not. It was interesting to see how what we would consider cheaply built schools could change the lives of 1000s and 1000s of children and change their futures.
Great book. I encourage you to read it.
Even though THREE CUPS OF TEA was published in 2006, I didn’t start reading it until July, 2016. While consuming the powerful, inspiring story, I came across a term I wasn’t familiar with and looked it up on the internet. Little did I realize that was equivalent to opening Pandora’s Box.
As a result of that lookup, I learned that in 2011, “60 Minutes” and Jon Krakauer investigated misspent funds from a charity author Greg Mortensen (hero of the book and two-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee) helped create to help poor children in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
As I continued reading in wide-eyed astonishment, I learned that the co-author, David Oliver Relin—who suffered emotionally and financially as basic facts in the book were called into question—commit suicide in November of 2012. He was only 49.
In a 2014 interview with Tom Brokaw (who had innocently provided the endorsement quote on the book’s cover) on the “Today” program, Greg Mortensen admitted he failed to heed warning signs that led to his downfall. He said, “There were alarms, Tom. I didn’t listen to them.”
Though dismayed with my findings, I completed the book. This time, however, I read the pages through a different set of lenses. And though some of it is completely fabricated, it was still a fascinating, inspiring, story that was extraordinarily well written. It’s heartbreaking that it was penned in Relin’s blood.
Such idealism, except it truly was not. To dream to do good for the world and to have the chance to do it are amazing acts. To formulate that dream on top of a mountain is like a revelation, almost biblical, like Moses on Mount Sinai.
I am so glad he had a chance to realize that dream and build a school or schools. Such humanitarianism is rare. I was always fascinated by the title seeing how much I love tea. Here is the explanation.
“The book’s title was inspired by a saying Haji Ali shared with Mortenson: “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…” Obtained from Google.