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

I didn't know much about this book when I picked it up off of the shelf in rush. Only when I opened the pages did I learn that it is about a wonderful man giving aid to those who truly need it in Pakistan. Truly, if you spend any time at all in that great country you will learn to love it as I do. I visited Karachi in 2003 and it made one of the greatest impacts on my life that I think I will ever have. In 2005 I was in UAE and tried desperately to get a Humanitarian mission back to Pakistan in the wake of the awful earthquake that had just happened. I often wondered how my friends I met there were doing; especially Apu and his dear brother who was my tailor while I was there. I never knew how to help my friends there. Then I read this book and discovered that there was someone else out there who loved these hospitable and loving people so much more than I ever thought possible. Greg Mortenson is now a hero I will hold dear to my heart for the rest of my life. It only got better with every page that I read as I wondered how he could possibly fit any more giving into the pages. It made it even sweeter when I discovered how he loved Mother Theresa as she is my other hero along with my husband and mother; of course. I know that he has made a great positive impact on the world with his presence and I feel blessed to have had a small part in it by reading Three Cups of Tea. I have recommended it to several people I know though I don't know how well it has been accepted with it's supposed, "Anti-American rhetoric." But with some people all you have to do is say the word peace and you must not be a patriot which you can see with Greg is not the case at all. I wish Greg Luck and hope that his mission of peace comes to fruition. Thank you so much for tending to the people of Pakistan. This book gave me comfort in knowing you are there.

I gave this book five stars but if I could have I would have given it 100. It is the best book I have read in years and that is saying a lot since I always have my nose into one book or another.

Sincerely,

Rachel

11/5/08 The 1st Black American President is elected showing that if you believe something can be done and ask for help to get it done and surround yourself with people who complement you, it will be done, if it is suppose to be done...200,000+ supporters in Grant Park Chicago to applaude Mr. Obama and not ONE arrest...I believe peace is in our future...I was told a long time ago by a Rabbi that the world will get better but it will probably get worse first...Is this the Turning Point...Peace will enhance every aspect of all our lives...We have one thing in common with everyone else in the world and that is our future...As Dr. Greg did, he believed, asked for help and help came in all shapes and forms and he continues to succeed in believing that education can create peace.......God Bless You Mr. Obama and Dr. Greg and your families...
If someone would like to read this book and can't afford to buy it I will send it to you...emtprn1@msn.com

Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, was a journey to read. This book falls into the category of non-fiction, which is my favorite. Greg Mortenson is the head of the Central Asia Institute (CAI) and was born in Tanzania. Relin is an investigative journalist, and edits for Skiing magazine and Parade. Both authors truly believe that the best way to promote peace and stop terrorism is to educate children from leading such a life, rather than just using military force. After a failed attempt at K2, Mortenson was lost high in the Kakoram and stumbled upon the village of Korphe, an isolated mountain town where he was nursed back to health. One day during his stay, Greg asked to see the school and found it was just boys scratching multiplication tables in the dirt. Moved by the compassion of the tribesman, and appalled at the standard of education, Greg swore to the people of Korphe he would return to build them a school. Over the course of a decade, Greg spurs on one of the most effective humanitarian campaigns of our lifetime, building over 71 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Greg's theory on fighting terrorism with books not bombs is a tactic that is greatly overlooked by our military. It has actually brought good results, making it another option we should think about. Three cups of tea was a journey, as said before, to read. It more than once kept me awake. Mortenson has a way of changing peoples lives, and he does, in many ways. One criticism i have to the book is that Relin never talks about how Greg's Family deals with his absence. Relin states that they completely support him, "...so when she met Greg she knew what he was about and loved him unabashedly for it. His heart was in the tiny Baltistan village of Korphe."(Read Around the World), but i doubt that with the man of the house gone for the majority of the year in a hostile country, everybody's mind was at ease. Another criticism i have is that Relin ends the book before Mortenson's journey is over. I would have loved to know more about his conquests in Afghanistan, but the book stops it right as he meets his contact in Afghanistan and starts to think about the school about to be built. "now we must make their sacrifices worthwhile. Kahn said turning to face Mortenson. We must turn these stones into schools." The information n the book is all accurate, although Relin does make things seem a bit melodramatic at times. I thoroughly recommend this book to anybody who is in need of a touching and motivating experience that will not be forgotten any time soon.

My reading of the Koran a year ago did not diminish my fear of and prejudice against Islam. But this book showed me countless examples of peaceful and loving Muslims and in doing do built for me a very believable bridge to a more trusting and hopeful view. For this reason alone, I count the time reading Three Cups of Tea well spent.

I agree with the many reviewers who wrote that the book is overwritten. (My own personal gripe is the writer's use of the word "snuck.") But I strongly disagree with several rather narrow criticisms of Mortenson himself. True, "Dr. Greg" is not like most of us; but, good lord, give the man credit for outstanding achievement in the face of incredible odds.

Personal eccentricity is often found in men and women who achieve great things: Ghandi, Jesus, Siddartha, Moses, Lincoln. Give the guy a break!

This book really opened my eyes to what one person can do to help the world. Greg was doing his own thing when his heart got in the way, he fell in love with a culture, made a promise that turned out almost impossible to keep but he kept it and years later is still keeping it. What an exciting and fulfilling life he leads by doing what any one of us could do but don't. This book was my stocking stuffer for 30 people last Christmas - they all loved it as well!