Three Cups of Tea

Three Cups of Tea is a New York Times bestselling book by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin published by Penguin in 2006.^[1] The book describes Mortenson's transition from a mountain-climber to a humanitarian committed to reducing poverty and educating girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He did this by co-founding the Central Asia Institute, which has built over 131 schools in the most remote areas of the countries, educating over 58,000 students.^[2][3]

The book's title comes from a Balti proverb: "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..."^[4]

Summary

In 1993, Greg Mortenson attempted to climb K2, the world's second highest mountain, in the Karakoram range of northern Pakistan, as a way of honoring the memory of his deceased sister Christa. He was planning to lay her beautiful amber necklace on the summit of K2.^[5] After more than 70 days on the mountain, Greg and three other climbers had their ascent interrupted by the need to complete a 75-hour life-saving rescue of a fifth climber. After getting lost during his descent, he became weak and exhausted, and by chance alone, instead of arriving in Askole, where his porters awaited, he came across Korphe, a small village built on a shelf jutting out from a canyon. He was greeted and taken in by the chief elder of Korphe, Haji Ali.^[6]

To repay the remote community for its hospitality, Mortenson promised to build a school for the village. After difficulties in raising capital, Mortenson was introduced to Jean Hoerni, a Silicon Valley pioneer who donated the money that Mortenson needed for his school. In the last months of Hoerni's life (Hoerni was dying from leukemia), he co-founded the Central Asia Institute, endowing the CAI to build schools in rural Pakistan and Afghanistan.^[7]

Mortenson faced many daunting challenges in his quest to raise funds for the building of more than 55 schools in Taliban territory, including death threats from Islamic mullahs, long periods of separation from his family, and being kidnapped by Taliban sympathizers.^[8]

Reflecting on the state of the post-9/11 world, Mortenson argues that extremism in the region can be deterred through collaborative efforts to alleviate poverty and improve access to education, especially for girls. Formerly, schooling focused on the boys, but educated boys tend to move to the cities to find jobs, and seldom return. By contrast, educated girls tend to remain in the community and pass their enhanced knowledge to the next generation. Thus, Mortenson suggests, educating girls has more of a lasting benefit for the community.^[9]

Publication

The original hardback book was released in 2006 with the subtitle, "One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism One School at a Time." Mortenson fought against the subtitle, and the edition sold only 20,000 copies. Mortenson prevailed upon the publishers to change the subtitle for the 2007 paperback edition to his first choice, "One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time." His publisher relented, and the re-titled book made the New York Times nonfiction paperback bestseller list. Mortenson explained his reasoning for the subtitle in a talk given in Fairfield, Connecticut: "If you just fight terrorism, it's based in fear. If you promote peace, it's based in hope." ^[10]

The book remained a number one New York Times bestseller for "three years" ^[11] after its release.

Wikipedia template - basic info about the book: {{Infobox Book | name = Three Cups of Tea | title_orig = | translator = | image = [[Image:ThreeCupsOfTea BookCover.jpg|250px]] | image_caption = | author = [[Greg Mortenson]] and David Oliver Relin | illustrator = | cover_artist = | country = [[US]] | language = [[English language|English]] | series = | subject = | genre =[[Non-Fiction]]/[[Memoir]] | publisher = [[Penguin Group]] | release_date = 2006, 2007, 2008 | english_release_date = | media_type = Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD | pages = 368 | isbn = 978-0143038252 | oclc= 83299454 | preceded_by = | followed_by = Stones into Schools }}

Wikipedia template for young adult version: {{Infobox Book | name = Three Cups of Tea – Young Adult Book | title_orig = | translator = | image =<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:3CT YA.jpg|200px]] --> | image_caption = | author = [[Greg Mortenson]], Adapted by Sarah Thomson | publisher = Puffin | release_date = January 22, 2009 | pages = 240 | isbn = 978-0142414125 | preceded_by = Introduction by: Dr. Jane Goodall and 20 page Q&A interview with Amira Mortenson, Mortenson's daughter | media_type = Audio Version by: Actress [[Atossa Leoni]] (starred in Kite Runner), and intro by Vanessa Redgrave }}

Sequel

A sequel to Three Cups of Tea, titled Stones Into Schools: Promoting Peace With Books, Not Bombs, In Afghanistan and Pakistan [1], was released on December 1, 2009 by Viking Press. Stones Into Schools, is a follow-up to Three Cups of Tea and follows the progress of Mortenson's seventeen year effort to promote female literacy and education, with an emphasis on the expansion of his efforts into Afghanistan, and his expressed admiration to help the U.S. military to promote peace and build relationships with the Afghan shura (leaders).

References

Template:Reflist

External links

• Three Cups of Tea – official site
• Three Cups of Tea at Google Books
• Greg Mortenson
• David Oliver Relin
• Central Asia Institute
• Pennies for Peace

Template:Attrib wikipedia