Stones into Schools, by Greg Mortenson

I read "Stones into Schools" immediately after finishing "Three Cups of Tea," and while I enjoyed both books, I definitely liked "Stones into Schools" more.

While "Three Cups of Tea" was more about Mortenson's life and how he found his life's work building schools in remote villages in Pakistan and Afghanistan, "Stones into Schools" is bigger than Mortenson, and really shows how his work has taken on a life of its own. "Stones into Schools" is also told from the first person point of view, which I preferred, because I was able to really get into Mortenson's head and get a personal feel for everything described ("Three Cups of Tea" was written in third person POV).

Okay, enough comparison.

"Stones into Schools" is both a fun, informative, yet very touching book. I went through a lot of emotions while reading, from happiness to sadness, as Mortenson described his team (nicknamed the Dirty Dozen) and the difficulty in setting up a school in one of the most remote areas of the world, the Wakhan corridor. There's everything in between as well, particularly short accounts of children helped by the schools. The writing flows very well; I was hooked immediately and couldn't put the book down. I actually finished the book by flashlight, when my power went out for the weekend. At times there are huge amounts of information to digest, but the information really helped me understand the different politics and dynamics of the regions. The struggle to set up a school in the Wakhan is the main thread of the book, but along the way there are many detours.

"Stones into Schools" is both awe-inspiring and inspirational, and I learned an incredible amount about the politics, geography, and people of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and how something as simple as a school can affect the lives of hundreds of people. There is a saying, "When you educate a girl, you educate a community," and that is what Mortenson and his institute live by.

Something that really hit me is that in "Three Cups of Tea," bringing education to rural areas was Mortenson's personal journey, but in "Stones into Schools," his mission has become larger than him, as new schools are planned, relationships are created, and things happen without him.

4/5.