Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson, David Oliver Relin

A Mind-opening, Heart-opening Adventureby Atenz

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February 08, 2010: Going into this book, I had no knowledge of Greg Mortenson, the Central Asia Institute, or even the country of Pakistan; I had simply heard that it was a compelling read. Two days of complete engrossment and non-stop page turning later, I closed the back cover, emerging a more educated and inspired individual. Three Cups of Tea, written by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, follows the tribulations and achievements of Greg Mortenson, a mountain climber turned humanitarian, as he builds schools throughout the nation of Pakistan. Since the establishment of the Central Asia Institute (CAI) in 1996, which Mortenson co-founded, Mortenson and his crew have built 131 schools along with focusing on women's education and public health projects. Upon finishing this book, I felt that I had had a glimpse into the life of a genuine hero, and realized that one person truly can make a difference in the world.

Three Cups of Tea possessed several poignant themes throughout, which opened my mind to the often misunderstood country of Pakistan. Mortenson is inspired to spread education across the country when he encounters the extremely generous, compassionate people of Pakistan's mountainous villages. Despite the poverty-stricken, laborious lives that these people live, they find joy in the simplest things and have welcoming hearts for even American foreigners. Mortenson then realizes it is his duty to reciprocate the Pakistanis' kindness, which ultimately leads to thousands of Pakistani children receiving an education thanks to Mortenson's unprecedented efforts. The most imperative theme in the book is the importance of education. While America's army initiated its war on terror, trying to create peace by dropping bombs on the Middle East, Mortenson argued that the key to a peaceful world is education. Through education, the children of these third-world countries learn about other cultures, allowing their minds to open up to the world around them. An education helps promote bright futures with successful careers for these children who otherwise would resort to joining the Taliban or Al Queda to make ends meet.

I enjoyed this book very much, and actually felt sad when it was over, as I wanted to keep reading about Mortenson's incredible accomplishments. Yes, the plot seemed to be tedious at times, but not enough to deduct from the adventure of the book. I also would have preferred the book to be written solely by Greg Mortenson himself, and not reading the words of Relin as he regurgitated Mortenson's endeavors. But the novel is incredibly intriguing, with suspense, romance, failure, and success, and is one of the most inspiring works of literature I have ever read. It made me feel like I can accomplish any feat great or small. It also allowed me to see into the Pakistani culture, whose great kindness and devotion to its values differ greatly from the ruthless country that America media has painted it to be. This is a book that everyone should read, as it teaches the importance of cultural tolerance and how education can make the world a more peaceful place. If this book interested you, I would suggest the sequel, Stones into Schools, written by Greg Mortenson, which picks up where Three Cups of Tea left off, documenting the soaring success of the CAI and Mortenson. I adored this book, and would rate it a 9 out of 10.

The Common Man Turned Radicalby swysocki

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February 08, 2010: "Three Cups of Tea", by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, is an inspirational story of an ordinary man, Greg Mortenson, who had an extraordinary goal. While mountain climbing in Pakistan, Mortenson saw that many of the children in the tiny, high mountain villages did not have a school and he promised to build them a one. "Three Cups of Tea" documents the challenges and obstacles that Mortenson had to overcome to keep his word, and the rewards he gained from accomplishing his promise.

Mortenson writes his story with much detail. He not only documents his time and experiences while he was in Pakistan, but he also writes about his life back in the US. This gives us an insight into all the work and preparation he went through to fulfill his dream of building schools for these children. Mortenson's true character becomes evident when we read about the personal sacrifices he endured in his quest. The book also goes into detail about all the people who contributed to his cause. I think that these details are crucial to the book because it shows how miraculously the money appeared for Mortenson to achieve his goal.

There were parts, however, that went into too much detail. Some chapters would keep my attention by explaining the progress of his schools, but other chapters would lose my attention by going into detail of other people's stories. Mortenson would trail off on tangents of stories of other mountain climbers that did not necessarily have to do with his mission. Mortenson's accomplishments and determination were, however, very inspiring, and overshadowed the off topic tangents.

One of the prominent themes of "Three Cups of Tea" is the new hope for women in eastern cultures through education. Such themes are also touched in Khaled Hosseini's "A Thousand Splendid Suns", which I highly recommend.

I believe that this book is for everyone. It is important for students in affluent Western cultures to read it, because it makes the reader aware of what a gift the educational advantages of our society is. It shows how hard students of less developed countries have to work for the same educational experiences that come so easy to us. It is also good for adults to read and appreciate the political risks Mortenson took to boldly enter a country rich in culture, and introduce non-traditional ideas. Everyone can benefit from reading this inspirational story that reminds us that the "average Joe" can really make a difference in this world.

I Also Recommend: Stones into Schools, Stones into Schools, Mountains beyond Mountains, Banker to the Poor, A Thousand Splendid Suns.