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

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Summary: Recipes for Countering Extremism
Comment: Rare book that combines fascinating and eccentric characters with a diagnosis and cure for combating the intolerance and violence of Islamic fundamentalism. Greg Mortenson and his Afghan / Pakistan schools for girls are an effective and cheap solution for making a real difference in the lives of people in regions of the world that are increasingly important to us.

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Summary: This One a Must Read
Comment: Do you believe that a personal story built on facts can persuade you to view the world differently? If your answer is `maybe' or `what do you mean?' or `yes' then I invite you to consider Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time. If you live in America, and do not yet know of Greg Mortenson, you need to hear his story and his larger-than-life dream.

Prepare to be entertained. Prepare to be wowed. Prepare to ask yourself, `is this guy breathing the same air I breathe?'

This is an adventure story way beyond "adventure." If you know a serious mountain climber, for example, you probably recognize his or her capacity to subordinate their basic human fears; don't know about you; in a world of X-games, that kind of adventure doesn't impress me so much anymore. However, that's where Greg Mortenson's story begins, climbing K2 in the Himalayas, and that's where Mortenson fails. It's in his failure and the resulting debilitating weakness that he resolves to go after a dream that requires more courage and grit and heart than any mountain climb.

What he discovers is the beauty and kindness and generosity of a people that we in America would instinctively (1) mistrust - they're Muslims, (2) minimalize - they're poor and uneducated, and (3) not connect with - they are very different from us Westerners - most of the folks Greg comes to know and work with have ancient customs they live by in making decisions that seem to ignore time or efficiency or modern advantages.

The political landscape of the mountain regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan and other parts of central Asia can fairly be described as unfriendly and unwelcoming to an American with a northern European heritage. In fact, it seems to be THE source of our `terrorist problem' today. And yet, Mortenson figures it out. He goes where military operatives have tried and failed. How? Well, that's why you need to read Three Cups of Tea.

Greg Mortenson's determination to realize a dream of schools for girls in the rural mountain communities of central Asia is a living breathing bigger view of life, a deeper, more compassionate understanding of human nature, and a clearer picture of what we all can do to make this world a better place and a safer place for our grandchildren.

If you read (or listen) to one book or 30 books in the next twelve months, make sure you read Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...one School At a Time [Mp3] [Audio Disc] [Unabridged] [Audiobook].

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Summary: Profoundly Written - An Inspired Journey and Book
Comment: One of the best books I've ever read. It is beautifully written - a door is opened to you on a precious culture, a way of life, and a people that face their many challenges bravely. We are welcomed in and inspired by this story. One cannot read this book and harbor narrow views of the people of Pakistan, Afganistan or the Islamic world. One cannot read this book and not want to make a contribution to the ongoing development of schools and other necessities to reach the peoples of these lands.

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Summary: 3 cups = 5 stars
Comment: The book three cups of tea, is a story of monumental dedication and superhuman efforts to build schools for people who had no hope of education. An inspiring story for any age.

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Summary: Please read it. Based on true story but can't be further than fiction
Comment: This is one of the best books I have ever read. In retrospect, it is difficult to imagine the difference a single person can make. Dr. Greg Mortenson is building schools in the most hostile situations and is the real hero for America and people world wide.
This book is a must read because it truly gives a glimpse of the world we are mostly unaware of.
Greg fought against all adversaries - fatwa, kidnapping and being caught between a free for all shootout. These are extraordinary situations and require extraordinary character to work under those circumstances.
Some readers complained that the book went back and forth between US and Pakistan quite often and the reading is not clean. I disagree. The book is very well written and the back & forth is not much different from hos own life. He is living in two parallel worlds, working under bullets half a world away away from his family to make a difference.

His is the right way to fight evil - through education. I wish there were more like him.

I think the least we can do is read the book and educate ourselves about the real problems and real solutions to the current menace (terrorism, poverty, depravity) around the world.

Third cup of tea is a gesture in certain cultures to accept another person as part of the extended family.

This is such a great book that I do not want to (and cannot) write a feedback about the book and will only encourage you to read it.