Book Title:   Three Cups of Tea
Author:        Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
Year Published: 2006
Reviewed By:    Doug Moore
Date:          2008-06-25

Review:

This book was recommended to me by Mom, who described it as a mountaineer who was climbing K2 and while doing so, got lost, found a village and built the children of the village a school.

Greg Mortenson is that mountaineer, and he indeed made his pilgrimage to Pakistan to try for the second highest peak on earth.  But he failed. And in doing so, stumbled upon something that would overcome him, and eventually become his life's work.

Stumbling down after his failed attempt at the summit, he got separated from his guide and wandered down the wrong side of a huge glacier.  Lost, tired, starving, he came to a very primitive Pakistan village.  With open arms, and incredible generosity, they fed him, made him tea, and brought him back to strength over the course of a few days.

He noticed some of the village girls using sticks to draw in the dirt, and asked about what they were doing.  The village elder was embarrassed to admit that the girls where doing their homework in the dirt, the village not having enough funds for proper pencils or paper or even a full time teacher. The village had no school, but needed one badly.

On a lark, Mortenson swore he'd be back to build them a school in return for saving his life while lost on the way back from his K2 trek. 55 schools later, he continues to this day to build schools for the children of poor villages in Pakistan and Afghanistan. 

Following Mortenson's journey through cultural, political and physical barriers - you are slowly exposed to the truth of how these people live,  what they think of America, and what they think of terrorists.  Their views will surprise you and you'll wonder how the heck our own government could botch relations so badly with the citizens of this region. And why they aren't supporting Mortenson and his mission more fully.

This is a very touching story involving struggle, adventure and tenacity of Greg Mortenson, the village elders and the students.  I highly recommend this book to educators!

More information at www.threecupsoftea.com.