Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Three Cups of Tea
one man’s mission to fight terror and build nations – one school at a time
by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
review by L. Hower
You’d think it would be hard to change the world, especially the way it is today. As it turns out it is not as hard as climbing K2, as the mountain climbing/ER nurse demonstrates in this special book. It just took determination, a lot of it. I first saw Greg Mortenson interviewed on a television program this year. I was impressed by his quiet yet intense manner and his obvious dedication to improving life in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mortenson was born in the US, raised in Africa by his missionary parents until he returned to a much different world back in the States He discovered his passion for rock climbing and here is where the story really begins as he sets out to climb one of the highest mountains in the world - K2. In his failed attempt and subsequent rescue, he learned much about the impoverished yet culturally rich way of life of the Himalayans who have saved so many mountain climbers yet lacked health care and education themselves. Mortenson set out to improve their quality of life. In the process he learned what one person can do beginning with little else but determination and a dream to build a school. Best of all he found a way to understand their real needs and help them to help themselves. This is a thrilling, inspiring important story of a unique individual who has risked everything for larger purpose and is continuing to change part of the world through peace and goodwill.
by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
review by L. Hower
You’d think it would be hard to change the world, especially the way it is today. As it turns out it is not as hard as climbing K2, as the mountain climbing/ER nurse demonstrates in this special book. It just took determination, a lot of it. I first saw Greg Mortenson interviewed on a television program this year. I was impressed by his quiet yet intense manner and his obvious dedication to improving life in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mortenson was born in the US, raised in Africa by his missionary parents until he returned to a much different world back in the States He discovered his passion for rock climbing and here is where the story really begins as he sets out to climb one of the highest mountains in the world - K2. In his failed attempt and subsequent rescue, he learned much about the impoverished yet culturally rich way of life of the Himalayans who have saved so many mountain climbers yet lacked health care and education themselves. Mortenson set out to improve their quality of life. In the process he learned what one person can do beginning with little else but determination and a dream to build a school. Best of all he found a way to understand their real needs and help them to help themselves. This is a thrilling, inspiring important story of a unique individual who has risked everything for larger purpose and is continuing to change part of the world through peace and goodwill.
