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Three Cups of Tea

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Three Cups of Tea.jpg
Author: Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
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ISBN: 978-0143038252
Pages: 349
Running Time:
Price: 15.00
Publisher: Penguin
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Synopsis:

Although American Greg Mortenson grew up on a Lutheran mission field near Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, a different mountain would determine his future. In memory of his sister Christa, he set out to carry her amber necklace up the formidable Himalayan peak, K-2 in Asia, wanting to leave it on the top of the world. The attempt failed. Then he lost his way during the descent. What seemed a disaster began a dramatic detour for Greg's life. Helped by the hard-working Muslim people who live in Korphe, a remote village among the jagged heights, Mortenson decided to adopt a compelling new goal - build schools in order to educate the underprivileged Muslim children of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan, especially Muslim girls.

Later, while he was in the Zuudkhan region of far NW Pakistan visiting one of his many construction sites, Mortenson heard the tragic news of 9-11 on a Muslim friend's shortwave radio. Instead of destroying his dream, the attack on America urged him to press forward with his efforts. He was and remains convinced that providing a well-rounded education is the way to counter the radical madrassas that recruit and train naive, impoverished children for military jihad. Thus, the book's subtitle, "One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time."

Review:

Three Cups of Tea can be hard to find in public libraries because of its popularity with book clubs. It provides a compelling, personal glimpse of life in the war zones near the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan and in the Kashmir region of Pakistan and India. Along the way it airs the political strategies of each side and suggests that weapons are not the best way to ensure peace and security.

Mortenson is certain that "the only way we can defeat terrorism is if the people in this country where terrorists exist learn to respect and love Americans, and if we can respect and love these people here. What's the difference between them becoming a productive local citizen or a terrorist? I think the key is education."

His humanitarian organization, Central Asia Institute, is dedicated to that goal, and Mortenson's genuine, compassionate love for Muslims, which is met by genuine, compassionate love from Muslims, shows what is possible.

Mortenson's lack of conviction regarding spiritual matters is apparent in the book. He takes the pluralist approach to religion. The "one thing needed" by people everywhere is deliberately left out of his life's mission. But somewhat like Cyrus of Persia in the Bible, his compassion and generosity can contribute to God's purposes for the elect.
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