Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Nov 18, 2009 Jeff Scott rated it really liked it

Shelves: non-fiction

I am on a bit of a poverty in third world countries kick. After reading Half the Sky, I thought I needed to read the book the started the publishing trend. It seems that this book generated other books focused on helping impoverished nations.

I actually wanted to read this book after perusing Stones into Schools. I found the process of school building fascinating. So much of what is in this book can be adapted anywhere. To accomplish something in any community, it takes sitting down with the lea I am on a bit of a poverty in third world countries kick. After reading Half the Sky, I thought I needed to read the book the started the publishing trend. It seems that this book generated other books focused on helping impoverished nations.

I actually wanted to read this book after perusing Stones into Schools. I found the process of school building fascinating. So much of what is in this book can be adapted anywhere. To accomplish something in any community, it takes sitting down with the leaders, showing them respect, and getting things done in a way that works for them, not you. I admired Morteson's approach in accomplishing this, even though much of it was learned the hard way. You have to sit down with the people who care about the community and the people who have the power in the community.

The strange part of the book is that the writing seems to be uneven. Mortenson seems to be better writer than the author (as evidenced by his section in the back and that Stones into Schools was written entirely by Mortenson). The back story of Mortenson seemed to be caricature in a way instead of something heartfelt. I am more fascinated with the good work he is going and the region. Even though his personal story is a key component to the book, it isn't told very well and I found it to be a distraction. It lessened as the book progressed, but I am more excited about Stones into Schools.

If you want to thrive in Balistan, you must respect our ways...The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second tme you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third tme you share a cup of tea, you become family, and fr our family, we are prepared to do anything, even die...Dr. Greg, you must take time to share three cups of tea. We may be uneducated. But we are not stupid. We have lived and survived here for a long time." p 150

They admired war because it was the only occupation they could possibly adapt to. Their simple belief in a messianic, Puritan Islam which had been drummed into them by simple village mullahs was the only prop they could hold on to and which gave their lives some meaning.

The work Mortenson is doing building schools is giving thousands of students what they need most--a balanced education and the tools to pull themselves out of poverty, but we need many more like them. His schools are just a drop in the bucket when you look at the scale of the problem in Pakistan. Essentially the state is failing on such a massive scale and making them far too easy for the extremist who run many of the madrassas to recruit. P 244 ...more

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May 15, 2008 Tara rated it it was amazing

Shelves: loved-it, personalgrowth, mybookclub

Loved, loved, loved this book! I just don't even know if there is anything else I can say about it other than I LOVED IT!

The difficulties that Greg Mortenson had to go through to get schools built in remoter areas of Pakistan were so fascinating and yet so heartbreaking. Greg is definitely a man with a heart too big for his body, too big for the planet.

Three Cups of Tea covers the 10 years that Greg Mortenson worked to raise money to build schools in areas near K2. The story follows his work in ...more

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Feb 06, 2009 Ellen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: book-group-selection

Absolutely amazing story---inspiring and thought-provoking. I am happy to hear that General Petraeus is working with Mortenson to solve problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Education can creat peace and understanding. HIGHLY recommended.

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Feb 01, 2010 Stacy rated it it was ok

So slow...so tedious....Great man,great idea but the process of building the schools was sooooo slow..as was the pace of the book! I didn't finish it. ...more

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Jun 29, 2008 Nicole rated it liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, middle-east, 2009

This actually a really great, inspiring book, but I often struggle with the slow speed of non-fiction so I kept putting it up and putting it down. The story of how a failed attempt at K2 turned a mountain climber into an activist to build schools for girls in Pakistan.

With the continued struggle in that area of the world it was nice to get an understanding of the culture other than just as a harbor for terrorist. It is also a wonderful example of both what a single person can do as well as proo ...more

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