An Amazing Book...An Even More Amazing Man

I just wanted to take a minute to bring a book that I have just finished reading to the attention of those who sometimes frequent, or just stumble upon, my blog.

The book is "Three Cups of Tea", a bestseller by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. It outlines the accomplishments of mountaineer, Greg Mortenson and his quest to improve the lives of the people, especially the girls, living in the impoverished highlands of Pakistan and Afghanistan through education and building schools.

This guy is the most amazing person I have ever read about and I think this book should be mandatory reading for all! His philosophy of spreading peace through education is truly remarkable and the way he has been able to garner the respect of people who in general "hate" the western world is nothing short of a miracle.

This is the story of how one person truly can change the world. I was shocked that I didn't know about the accomplishments of Mr Mortenson before I stumbled inadvertently upon this book.

I too am only one person and I know that I cold never hope to change the world like this man....however, if I can do one small thing and encourage people to read this book, then I feel like have done a good deed.

From the back cover:

"Here (in Pakistan and Afghanistan), we drink three cups of tea to do business; the first you are a stranger, the second you become a friend and the third, you join our family and for family we are prepared to do anything - even die."

- Haji Ali, Korphe Village Chief, Karakoram Mountains, Pakistan

In 1993 a mountaineer named Greg Mortenson drifted into an impoverished Pakistan village in the Karakoram mountains after a failed attempt to climb K2. Moved by the inhabitants' kindness, he promised to return and build a school. Three Cups of Tea is the story of that promise and its extraordinary outcome. Over the next decade Mortenson built not just one but fifty-five schools - especially for girls - in the forbidding terrain that gave birth to the Taliban. His story is at once a riveting adventure and a testament to the power of the humanitarian spirit.

I don't really like to promote too many things on my blog, but this is seriously the best book I have ever read and I don't think you can read it without it touching your heart and changing how you see the world!!