Title: Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace, One School at a Time
Author: Greg Mortenson and David Relin
Publication date: 2006
Book's setting: 1993-2006
Random facts: The name is taken from a really cute proverb- "The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family."
Plot summary: Three Cups of Tea is the memoir of Greg Mortenson. Raised in Africa by his missionary parents, Mortenson was studying to be a doctor in California in the early 90's. He took a trip to Pakastain in order to try and climb K2. On his way he got separated from the group. Finally he wandered into the small village of Korphe. The people there nursed him back to health and helped him find his way home. Mortenson learned while there that Korphe did not have any schools for their children. Before leaving he promised the chief that he would return one day to pay them back for their kindness, and build a school. Three Cups of Tea is how Mortenson found the money, resources, support, and strength to build that school.
Favorite aspects: I'm a sucker for memoirs and I really loved this one. Ever since World History last semester and doing a little more reading about life in Afghanistan and Pakistan I've wanted to learn more. Three Cups of Tea was really excellent in educating me without making any sort of stupid political statement along the way. Actually, it wasn't ever over-baring politically or religiously. It was a true story about real people and it told the facts. I appreciate that because it's really hard to find anything straight-forward about the Middle East.
Least favorite aspects: The book, considering it was about a missionary's son building schools in a very Islamic region, skirted around religion. I don't know if they thought it would be more marketable if they just didn't talk about it, but it was a total elephant in the room. Part of me appreciated that they didn't get really preachy one way or the other... but it seemed unnatural.
Other works it reminded me of: My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay.
Sadie's merciless break-down: Oh man. This book really gave me an appreciation for education. I'm stuck in Senior Slump right now and I think that this book gave me a little push. After I finished it I studied really hard for a few days until the aftershock wore off. Often books that talk about "important things" get really annoying, but somehow this one was really convicting without being annoying. But then, as always, I got that pressing feeling to do something and save people and I considered becoming a doctor and joining one of those third-world-country-doctor-programs or selling everything I own and becoming a nun... and then I didn't.
I have a hero complex.
But I digress.
It was a good book. Read it.
Recommendation rate: If you are at all interested in philanthropy or educational philosophy in third-world areas then you should really read it. Or just read it. You should.
Author: Greg Mortenson and David Relin
Publication date: 2006
Book's setting: 1993-2006
Random facts: The name is taken from a really cute proverb- "The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family."
Plot summary: Three Cups of Tea is the memoir of Greg Mortenson. Raised in Africa by his missionary parents, Mortenson was studying to be a doctor in California in the early 90's. He took a trip to Pakastain in order to try and climb K2. On his way he got separated from the group. Finally he wandered into the small village of Korphe. The people there nursed him back to health and helped him find his way home. Mortenson learned while there that Korphe did not have any schools for their children. Before leaving he promised the chief that he would return one day to pay them back for their kindness, and build a school. Three Cups of Tea is how Mortenson found the money, resources, support, and strength to build that school.
Favorite aspects: I'm a sucker for memoirs and I really loved this one. Ever since World History last semester and doing a little more reading about life in Afghanistan and Pakistan I've wanted to learn more. Three Cups of Tea was really excellent in educating me without making any sort of stupid political statement along the way. Actually, it wasn't ever over-baring politically or religiously. It was a true story about real people and it told the facts. I appreciate that because it's really hard to find anything straight-forward about the Middle East.
Least favorite aspects: The book, considering it was about a missionary's son building schools in a very Islamic region, skirted around religion. I don't know if they thought it would be more marketable if they just didn't talk about it, but it was a total elephant in the room. Part of me appreciated that they didn't get really preachy one way or the other... but it seemed unnatural.
Other works it reminded me of: My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay.
Sadie's merciless break-down: Oh man. This book really gave me an appreciation for education. I'm stuck in Senior Slump right now and I think that this book gave me a little push. After I finished it I studied really hard for a few days until the aftershock wore off. Often books that talk about "important things" get really annoying, but somehow this one was really convicting without being annoying. But then, as always, I got that pressing feeling to do something and save people and I considered becoming a doctor and joining one of those third-world-country-doctor-programs or selling everything I own and becoming a nun... and then I didn't.
I have a hero complex.
But I digress.
It was a good book. Read it.
Recommendation rate: If you are at all interested in philanthropy or educational philosophy in third-world areas then you should really read it. Or just read it. You should.
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