Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission To Promote Peace...One School At A Time

Overview

The inspiring account of one man's campaign to build schools in the most dangerous, remote, and anti-American reaches of Asia

In 1993 Greg Mortenson was the exhausted survivor of a failed attempt to ascend K2, an American climbing bum wandering emaciated and lost through Pakistan's Karakoram Himalaya. After he was taken in and nursed back to health by the people of an impoverished Pakistani village, Mortenson promised to return one day and build them a school. From that rash, earnest promise grew one of the most incredible humanitarian campaigns of our time--Greg Mortenson's one-man mission to counteract extremism by building schools, especially for girls, throughout the breeding ground of the Taliban.

Award-winning journalist David Oliver Relin has collaborated on this spellbinding account of Mortenson's incredible accomplishments in a region where Americans are often feared and hated. In pursuit of his goal, Mortenson has survived kidnapping, fatwas issued by enraged mullahs, repeated death threats, and wrenching separations from his wife and children. But his success speaks for itself. At last count, his Central Asia Institute had built fifty-five schools. Three Cups of Tea is at once an unforgettable adventure and the inspiring true story of how one man really is changing the world--one school at a time.

Editorial Reviews

Starred Review. Some failures lead to phenomenal successes, and this American nurse's unsuccessful attempt to climb K2, the world's second tallest mountain, is one of them. Dangerously ill when he finished his climb in 1993, Mortenson was sheltered for seven weeks by the small Pakistani village of Korphe; in return, he promised to build the impoverished town's first school, a project that grew into the Central Asia Institute, which has since constructed more than 50 schools across rural Pakistan and Afghanistan. Coauthor Relin recounts Mortenson's efforts in fascinating detail, presenting compelling portraits of the village elders, con artists, philanthropists, mujahideen, Taliban officials, ambitious school girls and upright Muslims Mortenson met along the way. As the book moves into the post-9/11 world, Mortenson and Relin argue that the United States must fight Islamic extremism in the region through collaborative efforts to alleviate poverty and improve access to education, especially for girls. Captivating and suspenseful, with engrossing accounts of both hostilities and unlikely friendships, this book will win many readers' hearts. (Mar.)
Copyright (c) Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
-- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY.

Author Information

Bio of Greg Mortenson

Greg Mortenson is the director of the Central Asia Institute. A resident of Montana, he spends several months of the year in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Bio of David Oliver Relin

David Oliver Relin is a contributing editor for Parade magazine and Skiing magazine. He has won more than forty national awards for his work as a writer and editor.

Customer Reviews

• Three Cups of Tea

  Posted June 17, 2008 by Shoechick, Vancouver

  Everyone should read this book. Gives a much greater understanding of the Middle East and how not everyone "Hates" Americans. Greg deserves a medal for what he's accomplished.

• Incredible

  Posted February 10, 2009 by Kira, Toronto

  I read a lot of books - both fiction and non-fiction. This is one of the best books that I have ever read. The story is well-written and engaging, and it is a real page-turner.
  I stayed up all night to finish it - and that is just the story. But, this book is more that just a great story - it is the triumph of love and of the human spirit, and a great testament to the law of attraction.
  
  This book will open your heart to what is possible, and inspire you to keep going, especially when it seems like your task is not possible. This book elegantly shows that the power of caring and kindness do in fact win in the face of impossible odds.
  
  Read it - you will love it!

• Quite and excellent Read

  Posted March 29, 2009 by RJF, Mesa, AZ

  This was just an excellent, enjoyable book. I love reading about folks and real life stories. This one was a factual history, political science book, as well as a well read story. Recommend it highly.

• Astonishing

  Posted March 31, 2009 by Hazel, Denver, CO

  It's really amazing how Greg fought to keep a promise and what that one little promise has become. After spending 4 years teaching English in China and Ukraine, I know what he's talking about when it comes to poverty, but add a war to the equation and I'm lost. I give Greg some mad props for what he's done for our "enemies" and hope that he wins his war for education!

• Excellent, Inspiring

  Posted June 24, 2009 by Sharon, Hagerstown, MD

  This was a wonderfully inspiring story for such a troubled time in our lives. I have recommended to all my friends and family!

• So informative

  Posted September 25, 2009 by Louise Colvin, La Junta, Colorado

  After reading this book I want to help those people and Greg Mortensen.

Additional Info

Imprint

Penguin Group, Inc.

Filesize

2.52 MB

Number of Pages

338

eBook ISBN

9781429509909