This book was recommended by a friend. It was a little diffult to read at first because all the names and places were so foreign to me. I am so glad I did read the book and really feel enlightened. Now, when I read news stories about that area of the world, I am looking at it through new eyes. I am looking past the terrorists and seeing the children and good people in that part of the world. I will recommend this to my friends.

This book was a great read, and opened my eyes to the many good this that happen in Afghanistan

This book will change the way I live for the rest of my life! What an example of true love for humanity! Please read this book, and then encourage everyone you know to read it too!

I am a Christian, and Greg has not made the claim of Jesus being his Lord. However Greg's life shows God's amazing love for others, better than my own life has! Greg refers to himself as an infidel among the Muslim world (so he is not a Muslim either.)

Greg's peaceful work in Afghanistan and Pakistan are shining examples to us of how we as American's need to address the war we are still mired in. Each and every dollar our military has spent would have been better used the way Dr. Greg has been using it. THAT would've put an end to the Taliban's terrorism already! Love is more powerful than hate, any day!

It was a requested gift for my daughter, a law professor at SMU, Dallas, Texas

PLEASE read this book and pass it on. Tell everyone you meet to read this book. It is the most inspiring book I have ever read. If you are frustrated or just plane tired of the American Empire, READ THIS BOOK. We can change things if we want too. george

This book was one of the finest pieces of literature I have read. The subject matter was timely and very educational. The author is a very good story teller which is unusual for non fiction. I sat down and read it in two sitting. It was compelling. I have not read many books that have moved me as much as "Three Cups of Tea".

The story has resounded in my mind months after I read it. His theory is so profound yet so simple in concept. If our leaders would only listen to what he is trying to tell us. The story is so current I sent it to my granddaughters to read. One is a school teacher and hopefully she will use it in her classround.

I'm in my 40's and haven't read a non-fiction book in years. I prefer FBI thrillers and the like. This book was so inspiring - it was simply incredible. I have told so many people about this story - I'm going to buy additional copies because I want others to read it and I can't borrow my copy to everyone. Not only have I read this book but I have also read much about Greg Mortenson online. I've also found various videos - they were wonderful and gave a glimse at the humble man behind this awe-inspiring story. I can't believe I hadn't heard of Three Cups of Tea" earlier - now that I have I will do my part in making it known to as many friends, family and acquantenaces as possible. I consider this story a "must read" for all people of all creeds.

I am not sure if it is true, but I heard that the black baseball player Satchel Paige once stated "It's not what you don't know that can hurt you, it's what you know that just aint so"
This is one these book that you just cannot put down.
If you thought you understood what the problems are in Afghanistan and Pakistan, you will gain a very different understanding after reading about Greg Mortenson's experiences.
I am going to pass this book on for others to read.
J

this is an inspiring tale of a someone exceeding all reasonable expectations. a very enjoyable and worthwhile read.

This book has rocketed to the top of my very long list of favorites. Well written and easy to read, this is one of the most compelling true stories I have ever read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

This account of Greg Mortenson's project is the most significant book of our time in my opinion. I strongly recommend it to all. There is a children's version for young readers.Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan

A great book to help anyone understand what life is like in today's Afganistan. The author demonstates how one man or for that matter a country can really help these people return to normal and produictive lives for themselves and future generations. Three Cheers for a great book. I am going to put his follow up book on my reading list.

I loved this book. The story is incredibly inpiring and I found it to be easy to read. Some of the reviewers have complained about the verbose writing style of the author. I can understand that criticism, as there were parts of the book that I read through quickly because I was anxious to get on with the story. But I think that is more a testament to how great the story of Mr. Mortenson's work is than anything. Overall, I didn't think the writing style detracted from the book.

In addition to beimg inspirational, I found the book to be educational as well. Afghanistan and Pakistan are areas of the world we often only mention or think about in the context of terrorism. This book does a great job of highlighting what life is like for the many rual poor in those countries. It's nice to put humn faces and names to a prt of the world that seems so foreign.

Highly recommended!

I found this book wonderfully compassionate and also culturally insightful

Thanks!!!!

Chaplain McCain (US ARMY)

Greg Mortenson is an inspiration and this book is a must-read by everyone! I am looking forward to reading Stones into Schools, though, because I understand it is written in the first-person narrative of Greg, unlike the parallel writing of Relin in Three Cups of Tea. I am eager to read more about his ongoing mission in his own words. You are missing out if you don't allow yourself to be introduced to the hero that is Greg Mortenson.

This is a great book. It gives the reader a much clearer picture of the vast majority of people in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Gret Mortenson is amazing.

Greg Mortensen's story is inspiring. He should be awarded the Nobel Prize for peace.

I ordered this from Amazon and was pleased with the quick shipment and the book it's self is a inlightning story that opens the eyes of the reader.

Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David O. Relin.

I have never read such an enthralling account of any individual's simple efforts to make this world a better place for all -- and succeeding! If you haven't heard of this book, you need at least to read one of the many articles or hear some of the podcasts that are referenced and available at [...]. If ever there was or is a knight in shining armor winning the hearts and minds of the people of Central Asia (Northern Pakistan and Afghanistan in particular), it would have to be Mr. Greg Mortenson. His effort has been going on since the early 1990s where as a mountain climbing junkie, Mortenson's failed attempt to climb the infamous K2 inadvertently brought him to the remote village and yet not-on-the-map permanent Baltistan settlement, Korphe, Pakistan. Lost and exhausted from his failed K2 adventure, he had become separated from his guide while descending a massive glacier by taking a wrong turn ending up in Korphe. Here he was taken in by the village and accepted by the reigning elder, a tribal leader for the village. In short, Mortenson promised the village he'd return and build a school for the village after having seen an 8-year old boy in a school: the boy was learning his multiplication tables and used a stick in the dirt to write his lessons. As a way to thank his host for taking him in Mortenson vowed to come back and build a proper school for the people of Korphe, Pakistan.

Mortenson was hardly a wealthy person. He'd become a emergency room nurse on the GI Bill and had been accepted into medical school. However, with the climbing bug deeply engrained in his soul, he opted instead to work just enough to finance his life focus at the time, mountain climbing. He accustomed himself to Spartan living as a means to achieve his climbing goals. Again, the story is in the book.

The title derives from a bit of wisdom given to him by Haji Ali, Korphe's Shia leader. Pretty much ignorant of customs and folkways of the region, Haji Ali tells Mortenson, "If you want to thrive in Baltistan, you must respect our ways. 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, and for our family, we are prepared to do anything, even die." Continuing on, Haji Ali says, "Doctor Greg, you must make time to share three cups of tea. We may be uneducated. But we are not stupid. We have lived and survived here for a long time."

If ever there was a miracle-man for our times, it would have to be Greg Mortenson. He was a man of his word. His mission in Central Asia is on-going and the lesson he teaches us in a war torn world is pretty basic: peace begins at the grassroots level, from the bottom up with open trustful dialogue and compassion.

Check out the aforementioned website for more information on Mortenson's life mission. The book, Three Cups of Tea is an illuminating read in these troubled times with our elevating involvement in Afghanistan.

Bill Bacon, Seattle, Washington

Mortenson is a great person with great personality, who is a great role model for Americans. I am grateful that he listened to his heart to help promote education, especially for girls, in a country like Pakistan, which prohibits girls from attending school. He truly used his heart and intelligence to bring peace worldwide.

After reading the entire book from front to back, I thought of Mortenson as a living legend of the legends. He is a true hero. The book is very alive; the minute I started reading the book, I could not put it down or leave it. I just had to keep reading it. This made me recommend it to everyone, including schools here and overseas. In fact, I have already passed on my book to one of my friends. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time

A book I would recommend to the President of the United States and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. What we need to do to win in Afghanistan or anywhere else.

A wonderful account of how a man is working to change the world through education. Greg Mortensen, a climber, comes to understand the needs of a remote village in Pakistan. He makes a commitment to help them build a school and this one project becomes a mission to bring education in to people with little chance for improving their lives otherwise. I found it impressive that he was committed to bringing education to both boys and girls, even when it would have been easier to cave into pressure and not help the girls. I find it enlightening that education is the key to bringing about understanding and peace as it gives people hope of a better future. Truly inspiring.

Three Cups of Tea: One Mans Mission to Promote Peace is a well executed read. It has all the elements: suspense, intrigue, compassion, and hope. In the harsh environments of Pakistan and Afghanistan,in regions most of the world has all but forgotten, Greg Mortensen is able to build friendships and trust in order to provide a basic education for all children----especially women. However, this is not simply about an education, it is about learning to accept, and beleive in others. In a time when most Westerner's beleive that all people of Islamic nations are the same, the story of the founding of CAI, along with the strength, support and determination of not only Greg Mortensen, but the faith and support that village elders place in him, truly enlightens. These people are simply people, and they need to be recognized.

A truly fantastic book---I have already suggested this read to many of my friends, and family.

Truly an inspiring book! Opens your eyes to how others live outside the insulated bubble of our world. Everyone should read this book -- made me appreicate all the fortunes I have in my life.

I listened to this audiobook for my book club. This is a book that everyone should read in order to better understand Northern Pakistan and the problems in that region. What Greg M. is doing there is a wonderful thing. He is truly a man to admire.

The reader for this book was not exactly a polished reader, but I thought he did an excellent job. Highly recommended.

This book is very excellent. It gives an example of a way to work with people of different cultures without using violence. I am so very impressed with the book. The service was also excellent. I received the book very promptly and it was in mint new condition even though it was a used book. I gave it as a gift to a friend and was so pleased with its condition. Thank you!

This book tells Greg Mortenson's amazing story. After he stumbled into a Pakistani village, disoriented and lost, he was moved by the kindness of the villagers and promised to return to help them build a school. And so began his life's mission to spread peace through education. After reading this book, I can say that Greg Mortenson is one of my heroes. His perseverance and dedication to his cause is unwavering, even through an 8 day detainment by the Taliban. What makes him so incredible is that, unlike so-called missionaries who travel through the poorest regions of the world to promote religion, Greg promotes education without demeaning the locals' way of life. He is completely accepting that he is the foreigner, and adapts to his surroundings rather than trying to change them. In doing so he has gained the respect of the people he helps, and it is the basis of work. This is a wonderfully, touching book that sends a powerful message to anyone who reads it. I highly recommend this book!

This book will give you a new vision of the world. What Mortensen is doing in Pakistan and Afghanistan is more powerful than all the armies of the world. He gives hope that there is a solution to terrorism by a minority of Muslims. Everyone should read this book.

This is the most compelling book I've read in decades.

I'm ordering five copies to share with my family.

I met Greg Mortenson at a Barnes & Noble book signing event before I had read his book and before he became popular. My friends, who had read his book, took me along because they knew I would find him and his book interesting. Since then, I have met him a few times at fundraisers and most recently saw him on the Bill Moyers show. What always strikes me the most about him is his humility! He doesn't seek praise for his work. He doesn't care about accolades. All he wants to do is help and he wants to educate the rest of the world so that they too can help these communities. Rarely will you find someone who totally and completely puts the needs of himself and his family aside for complete strangers. This man has dedicated his life to it. Greg Mortenson deserves to win the Nobel Peace Prize for his work. I have bought copies of his book and given it as gifts because I find him inspiring and want others to know about this amazing man. I have also donated to his humanitarian efforts because I want to help his cause.

Everyone wants to learn. By helping this process, especially for the women, there will be hope for democracy in the future. This is the best way to fight terrorism. I've passed it on to my grandsons and am now reading Stones into Schools.

The book was in great condition, shipped quickly, and was a really good price! I was happy with the purchase overall!

Excellent account of the endeavors of a once mountaineer. Necessary reading for any (all) wanting a clearer understanding of the Muslim world.

Recommended for anyone who wants to understand the cure for Islamic Extremism and for anyone who wants to understand its roots. As a Pakistani, this book highlights how human-kind is united on the objective of promoting education, peace and understanding. Greg Mortenson and his team stand up to oppressive governments and oppressive religious groups to respond to the needs to children and people in the villages of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

This book was recommended to me by my sister in law..who got it from her dad... It was a little slow to start with, but in short time had me hooked. It is a book that you read a bit, think a bit and are drawn back to again and again... thought provoking and inspiring.

A friend spoke of this book and peaked my curiosity. I purchased it for myself and also as Christmas gifts for my adult children. We have each said the same thing- we couldn't put it down after we started reading it AND that everyone needs to read it. Greg Mortenson is truly an amazing person. All I can say is- God bless him, those working with him, and the work they do. I now intend to purchase his next book and can't wait to read about his new adventures. The world would definitely be a better place if there were more people like him.

What Greg Mortenson has done to promote what a true heart gives is so motivating. When I think about the missions in the United States, Australia and other parts of the world, and how the missions were set up to teach, it makes me very sad to know how much culture was lost. Dr. Greg is doing the work the right way, empowering the people in their own ways. This book teaches so much more than just one man's vision and mission; it really teaches us to look beyond our walls and see how it is we can make a difference in our world, close to home to far away. It excites me to know that our military is reading and learning from Dr. Greg. May we all.

This is one of the most inspiring books I've ever read. The courage & steadfastness of Greg's mission to use Education to help end the war on terror instead of Guns gives us a shining example of what one man/woman can accomplish when you put your whole heart into something- An example we should all try to immulate and aspire to!

In the book Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, the authors describe how one can look beyond the world's more developed nations to lesser developed nations in order to find answers. Because of his experiences, his vision, and the financial backing of his supporters, he is able to effectively demonstrate the importance of building relationships to an audience which may otherwise forget that there is more to happiness than achieving quarterly profit goals and focusing on the "bottom line." His first person interaction with Pakistanis and hands on approach to business management in the US has enabled him to influence positive changes that reinforce cross-cultural relationships and bring stabilization and security to areas that are often neglected or misunderstood by politicians, military forces, and corporate executives.

Mortenson asserts that it is as important to build relationships as it is to build corporations. This might be implied as a jab of sorts, against the more developed nations who enjoy a perceived air of superiority over other nations by projecting fantastic technological capabilities into every possible corner of the world, achieving near real time results, often with little consideration or sense of responsibility for unintended consequences (i.e. collateral damage) which may occur in the process. But his claims are not without merit, and the results of his efforts are well documented.

Using $623 donated from American school children (Pennies for Peace), selling his personal possessions and some family heirlooms for about $2600, and using $12,000 donated by an American businessman, he returned to the Pakistan to build the school he had promised the villagers who had been so kind to him after a failed mountaineering expedition. This is essentially where Mortenson began building social capital. Prior to this moment, he was simply a tourist, or worse an "infidel," and his word meant nothing to the people he had given it to. However, upon his return, he began building relationships with people who supported his efforts and before he arrived to the village to build the school he had already built social capital with businessmen, tribal leaders, and sympathetic supporters in Pakistan. The day he arrived in Korphe, he had unknowingly linked the members of the village with the people who supported him along his journey, some of which reached back all the way to the United States. Mortenson had established a network, crudely and unknowingly, but a network no less, which was reinforced by his integrity, courage, and respectful nature.

Mortenson realized the impact his efforts were having on the people of Korphe and it was in his nature to continue working to identify how he could help the people in this region whose government had so grievously failed them. Pictures taken from his first school building expedition all the way up until recent missions portray scores of people hard at work and smiling who otherwise might be marginalized, exploited or otherwise victimized. For every smiling face, there is cooperation, collaboration and reciprocation, bridging and bonding, and strengthening links and nodes of an international network. However, the network depends heavily upon Mortenson as he is seen as a sort of "rare bird" who is able to transcend cultural or political differences and garner support in the US and abroad based on his personality and work ethic.

Mortenson's network has facilitated his ability to communicate, corroborate and coordinate with people and communities that would otherwise go unnoticed by the western world. Unfortunately, according to the text, Mortenson does not utilize multiple hubs and has not decentralized decision-making, making him over-extended by obligations to his family, the recipients of his work in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the Central Asia Institute. Therefore, his network, although very effective at building social capital, cannot be considered a traditional light network because it is obvious where the central hub is, and it may not be considered a dark network because of his open and legal relationship with the Pakistanis, although much care is taken to ensure his safety.

To be fair, one cannot expect it easy to find others interested in traveling to some of the most dangerous, impoverished, and misunderstood places in the world and live amongst the population as Mortenson does. He has effectively tapped into the media to promote his work, has clear communication with his CAI board of directors, and established trust and mutual respect in and around the areas where he must travel and work. Even if he had an adequately educated partner with whom he could alternate project responsibilities, it is doubtful that he would. Mortenson takes his work personally and has made his work his life's purpose. This may explain why his network is so dependant upon his personal involvement.

Greg Mortenson has spearheaded efforts to build 58 schools, over 24 potable water projects, provide salaries for over 520 teachers, establish libraries, workshops, camps and vocational training, and create scholarships. He has also successfully enlisted the aid of physicians from around the world sympathetic to his cause. His efforts have resulted in over 24,000 current students including 14,300 girls in various schools around the region, and over 3,000 recipients of cataract surgery.# As Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world." Greg Mortenson believes likewise and has dedicated his life to educating Muslim children, both boys and girls, and improving the living conditions of impoverished communities across the Middle East. This will, he hopes, help bring stabilization to the region and improve the quality of life for everyone involved.

Since so many people have given an in-depth review of this book and Greg Mortenson's accomplishment, these things need not be repeated. What is an important take away from this book is that there is another way to bring peace to this region without the use of force. This is the fundamental principle of the book, the education of girls. Mortenson builds his premise on an old saying that "if you teach a boy, you educate an individual, but if you teach a girl you educate a community."

Education is so undervalued in our own country based on its funding at the Federal, State, and local levels one has to pause for a moment and think about how much we need to redirect our own resources and efforts to bring down the violence in our own cities and provide our children with a bright future. Someone said to me that despite these altruistic beliefs about the need for more funding towards education and if only we could give our children a good education they would become our great future inventors, scientist, poets, artists, is a fallacy as far too many of our own children have a sense of entitlement and are not that interest in learning. Yet in these far away impoverished places at the end of the end of the world are millions of children that want nothing more than to lean and improve their condition for themselves and their families.

If for no other reason read "3 cups of tea" to see that there is still a desire by many to be educated and not seduced by the next shinny electronic device to carry them into a fantasy world. It is harder to stay grounded in this reality than to escape through the electronic veil into a fantasy reality. We are losing a whole generation of young people in America to shinny objects instead of the pursuit of knowledge. This is sad. The desire for children in these impoverished remote areas of the world to want to read and write and serve their communities is uplifting and brings hope for a brighter future for themselves and their country.

I just finished Three Cups of Tea and it was absolutely inspiring. Greg Mortenson's story really makes you want to become more aware and educated about the issues that are really going on in the world. He pretty much helps build schools, especially for girls, to educate children of Pakistan and Afghanistan. His passion,focus, drive, and crazy experiences (aka getting captured by the Taliban and then getting released with a bunch of rupes in his pockets from the Taliban to help build schools) during his journey ultimately helps a society that has been neglected and forgotten. He captures the essence of what true problem solving is for terrorism and war; helping a society grow, becoming educated and embracing their culture rather than bombing it. Truely Truely Truely an inspiring book and it will give you a prospective no other book can. Go to [...] for more info.

I work every day beside American military men and women and federal employees who have deployed or are being deployed to Afghanistan. Today I ordered more copies of Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools to donate to the library in our workplace. I have also suggested that these books be added to the recommended reading for deploying Soldiers. The message in these books of girls education can change the world, one girl, one family, one village at a time. I challenge those who read this review to read these books and PASS THEM ON!

This is an amazing story of one extraordinary man who is making a real difference in Pakistan and Afghanistan by building schools in the poorest, most remote areas. The one string that he attaches is that girls must be allowed to attend the schools. His schools have been tremendously successful and the people embrace the schools and "Dr. Greg" as their own. I found this book very engaging and, if it isn't the highest of the high of literature, it doesn't need to be. It's the story and the message that are important. If you care enough, if you persist enough, if you devote yourself, and if you LOVE enough, you can succeed in the face of seemingly impossible odds! Buy several, you'll want to share with the people you care about.

A few months ago, I started this book; only got a couple of chapters, and thought, "how boring," and put it aside. Then, I saw it hanging around, and thought I'd give it another try. I'm so glad I did! I won't bore you with the usual stuff about "how one man . . ." yada-yada, etc. You must know by now the story. But I'm still amazed that someone actually did what Greg did.

I will only say that this is a very compelling story that turned me upside-down about what I feel about Muslims in general. This man has shown us what we need to do in countries so different than "us:" Respect the local customs, religion, and practices, and someone can do so much, so easily! It's so simple, so basic, and so much better than bombs.

I agree with the many people who have complained about the poor quality of the writing. I agree that there should have been a better ghost-writer, with better editting. I don't agree that the whole story was in "the third person;" there were many instances where the writer told the story from either Greg's point of view, or the direct point of view of another. But it was not enough. There should have been a lot more of "I wanted to do this, this is what I wanted the outcome to be, this actually happened to me . . . " Much of the writing was a bit confusing as far as syntax or logic. I found myself reading certain paragraphs over & over to make sure I got it right. Maybe this was an insidious plot on the part of the author/publisher to make sure us readers also read it & read it to get the readings right? I don't think so!

In any case, I'm looking forward to reading the next chapter in this continuing saga. I hope it goes on for a good, long time. I'm also opening up my check-book for a modest contribution to CAI; I hope others will follow, inshallah.

I heard a review of Greg Mortenson'd latest book "Stones into Schools" Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan and heard the author being interviewed by the Christian Science Monitor. The interview certainly piqued my interest and I determined to read "Three Cups of Tea". At last it has just been released as a Kindle edition here in Australia and I have been able to download and read it.
I was hardly able to put this book down. It has given me a whole new perspective on the Muslim culture and the lives that these people live, in such barren looking parts of the world as seen from the air. This should be a "must read" for anyone interested in world affairs, religion and cultural background.
I can't wait until the Kindle version of "Stones into Schools" is released here and I can download it.

This book has never been delivered to me!!!! Yet, my credit card has been charged. Please credit my card with the $10.+ that it was charged.

Every American should read this book! This is how we should work to promote peace and help others!

This is the story of Greg Mortenson, a brave and kind-hearted American, and his quest to begin building schools for girls in war-torn Afghanistan. It starts out as a promise to his deceased sister that slowly grows into what is now knows as the Central Asia Institute, responsible for countless schools throughout the region. Mortenson is the chief one responsible for this, and this his story is an incredible one of high danger, resilience, hope, and peace.

If only this book did it justice.

I bought the book knowing it was a world-wide hit, and was eager to learn more about Mortenson's story and the journey he had to take through such a perilous part of the world to build his schools. All of that is detailed here, but is hidden in a ton of chunky, awkward prose with no rhythm or style to it. We learn about Mortenson's myriad of accomplishments, but it's emotional heft is downplayed by Relin's voice, with is oftentimes as dry as the sands of the Margow Desert. The different people in the book are lumped together without any distinctive characteristics, and the plotting of the book is off (the first half of the book is spent on him trying to build a single school, then afterwards other classrooms seem to pop up hither and yon). There was also a subplot in the first half of the book featuring Mortenson's first girlfriend which had nothing to do with the story. On the plus side, however, there are moments here and there of stunning bravery, esp. when Mortenson was kidnapped and the sea change Mortenson felt after 9/11. His voice calling for aid to Afghanistan's children, when America's jingoism only wanted revengerevengerevenge, is noble indeed and an important lesson to always remember in these difficult times. I would recommend learning more about Dr. Greg and his institute, but not through this clunker.

After reading the reviews on Amazon and perusing its pages in my local bookstore, I wanted to read this book. As an advocate for education and a person who loves travel and learning about new places, this book was an awesome read. Mortenson's dedication to his mission of educating some of the most impoverished people in a remote part of the world was astounding, and the honest, down-to-earth retelling of his story captivates the reader's interest from the time you open the cover. Especially "fun" was the retelling of the innumerable lessons that Mortenson learned from the people he strived to help. If you want to read a book that will make you feel good about someone successfully helping others - one school at a time - in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, then you need to read THREE CUPS OF TEA. Greg Mortenson, a humble man with a huge story, has earned my deepest respect and admiration.