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

January 27, 2009 · Filed Under Book Reviews, Forums 

A review of Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time by Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Relin

Review by Rabbi Ana Bonnheim

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Greg Mortenson was just an average mountain climber looking for the next adventure.  In 1993, he went out to scale K2, the world’s second tallest peak.  After a failed attempt to reach the summit, he lost his group on the descent.  He ended up high in the mountains of northern Pakistan, in a village called Korphe.  Moved by the inhabitants’ kindness, Mortenson promised Haji Ali, a village elder, that he would return and build a school for the impoverished inhabitants of Korphe. 

Ever since that first promise, Mortenson hasn’t stayed away from Pakistan for too long.  In fourteen years, he built 58 schools and expanded to parts of Afghanistan.  Mortenson’s schools take special care in educating girls, who would otherwise receive no education, and these schools counter the Taliban’s school networks.  Mortenson believes that education is the key to freedom and to escaping poverty.  Mortenson says that the kinds of people that he admires most, and indeed the religious leaders he admires most, are like Sayed Abbas, a Muslim cleric in rural Pakistan, who “is about compassion in action, not talk.  He doesn’t just lock himself up with his books.  Sayed believes in rolling up his sleeves and making the world a better place.”

Mortenson tells the story of his incredible journey in Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace… One School at a Time.  In a humble and simple voice, Mortenson tells his own story, a story that moves from a despairing, lost man to one with purpose, one who is changing the world.  Mortenson’s interactions and adventures in Pakistan and Afganistan certainly make for exciting reading, but it is the larger messages of the book that are more inspiring. 

First, Mortenson demonstrates the capacity of one person to make a tangible difference in the world.  For all of us cynics for whom it can be easier to deny the possibility of change rather than strive for it, Mortenson’s story is evidence that each individual matters.  But Mortenson doesn’t promote traveling to rural villages in war-torn countries as the only way to make a difference.  It is one way to change the world, but it is not the only one.  What is relevant about Mortenson’s journey is that he saw the potential for helping others and chose to help.  He didn’t go out seeking to help rural Afghani and Pakistani villages but when confronted with kind, impoverished individuals, he saw that he could substantially help the villages.  We can follow Mortenson’s example: we needn’t feel compelled to search the world for problems to solve (though this is perfectly fine) but simply must keep our eyes open to the opportunities and possibilities for change that come our way.

Second, Mortenson did not set out to change the landscape of village schools in an isolated, mountainous region.  He set out to build one school for one village.  The powerful message here is that when Mortenson began this project, he did not see it as it exists today.  He saw one part of a problem and saw concrete action that he could take.  An action led to another action which led to another action, which led to a realization of bigger picture change.  Mortenson demonstrates how it is small, individual change which leads to global change.  As Saul Alinsky, the founder of community organizing in America taught, acting locally leads to thinking globally. 

Third, Mortenson believed in his dreams and didn’t get discouraged by his own limitations.  For years, Mortenson had so little money that sometimes he lived out of his car.  He put every penny he had towards his dream of building schools and dismayed that it was not enough.  He put his heart and soul into raising money, not knowing if he could succeed to raise enough.  He knew that what he was doing was important and affected others’ lives.  He also knew that he would do his best to make it happen, even if immediate change was not possible. 

Mortenson’s story is inspiring and thought-provoking for all ages.  It is a great book for a family discussion or a teen book group.  The lessons to be learned are many, but it would also be a shame to focus too much on lessons and ignore the beauty and wonder of Mortenson’s journey itself. 

Questions to consider:

  1. What do you think drives Mortenson to do this work?
  2. What are the implications of his projects?
  3. Where do you see problems around you that are begging for action? What could you contribute?
  4. What do you think you learn most from Mortenson? What are his powerful messages to you?

 

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