Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time

One man's campaign to build schools in the most dangerous, remote, and anti-American reaches of Asia: in 1993 Greg Mortenson was an American mountain-climbing bum wandering emaciated and lost through Pakistan's Karakoram. After he was taken in and nursed back to health by the people of a Pakistani village, he promised to return one day and build them a school. From that rash, earnest promise grew one of the most incredible humanitarian campaigns of our time--Mortenson's one-man mission to counteract extremism by building schools, especially for girls, throughout the breeding ground of the Taliban. In a region where Americans are often feared and hated, he has survived kidnapping, death threats, and wrenching separations from his wife and children. But his success speaks for itself--at last count, his Central Asia Institute had built fifty-five schools.--From publisher description.;In Mr. Mortenson's orbit -- Failure -- The wrong side of the river -- "Progress and perfection" -- Self-storage -- 580 letters, one check -- Rawalpindi's rooftops at dusk -- Hard way home -- Beaten by the braldu -- The people have spoken -- Building bridges -- Six days -- Haji Ali's lesson -- "A smile should be more than a memory" -- Equilibrium -- Mortenson in motion -- Red velvet box -- Cherry trees in the sand -- Shrouded figure -- A village called New York -- Tea with the Taliban -- Rumsfeld's shoes -- "The enemy is ignorance" -- Stones into schools. One Man's Campaign To Build Schools In The Most Dangerous, Remote, And Anti-american Reaches Of Asia: In 1993 Greg Mortenson Was An American Mountain-climbing Bum Wandering Emaciated And Lost Through Pakistan's Karakoram. After He Was Taken In And Nursed Back To Health By The People Of A Pakistani Village, He Promised To Return One Day And Build Them A School. From That Rash, Earnest Promise Grew One Of The Most Incredible Humanitarian Campaigns Of Our Time--mortenson's One-man Mission To Counteract Extremism By Building Schools, Especially For Girls, Throughout The Breeding Ground Of The Taliban. In A Region Where Americans Are Often Feared And Hated, He Has Survived Kidnapping, Fatwas Issued By Enraged Mullahs, Death Threats, And Wrenching Separations From His Wife And Children. But His Success Speaks For Itself--at Last Count, His Central Asia Institute Had Built Fifty-five Schools.--from Publisher Description. The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard Anyone who despairs of the individual’s power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan’s treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools—especially for girls—that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson’s quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, Three Cups of Tea combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.