Book review: Three Cups of Tea

Book Review: Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

Three Cups of Tea puts you directly in the shoes of Greg Mortenson, a real American hero. After a failed attempt to climb one of the second highest mountains in the world, he stumbles upon a small village in Northwest Pakistan. Disappointed and shocked by the village’s lack of a proper school for the children, Mortenson embarks on an incredible and inspiring journey which takes him all over Pakistan and Afghanistan to build much needed schools.

I want to point out five great things about this book:

[1] You will be in awe of Greg Mortenson. He is the epitome of generosity. While trying to raise funds for the first school, Mortenson scrounges on necessities, such as proper living arrangements. For months, he sleeps inside his car while parked on the streets of Berkeley. He is open-minded, humble, and empathetic which allows him to build strong friendships with diverse groups of people. His sincerity allows him to gain the affection of even the most hardened of personalities. Mortenson’s ability to transcend so many different cultural boundaries is simply amazing and a privilege to witness.

[2] You will see recent history through the eyes of a sympathetic and knowledgeable American. His journey of building schools in Pakistan begins in the mid-90’s. Through Mortenson, you are privy to the Pakistani side of the Taliban regime, Kargil conflict, the murder of Ahmad Shah Massoud, rebuilding of Afghanistan after the Taliban, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the invasion of Iraq. As Americans, we only saw what was reported on the television. But Mortenson goes through the impact of these events on the Pakistani and Afghan civilians.

[3] He will challenge your understanding of the “War on Terrorism.”

[4] There are so many endearing and memorable people that Mortenson befriends such as his avuncular mentor, Haji Ali, the leader of Korphe.

[5] Building schools in Pakistan is not easy. But his perseverance and the determination of the Pakistani friends he meets along the way is infinitely inspiring.

This is one of my favorite non-fiction books. I especially admire how Mortenson recognizes the importance of young girls as strong agents of change. Many thanks to Joan for the awesome gift.

Go read it!

Suggested Links:

Central Asia Institute (Find out more about Mortenson's work)

Three Cups of Tea website

Amazon.com: Three Cups of Tea