Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time is a great adventure travel book, sure to delight the hearty adventurer as well as the arm chair traveler.  The title of the book comes from a Baltistan proverb:  The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger.  The second time, you are an honored guest.  The third time you become family.

The book is the story of Greg Mortenson, and what occurs in his life after he unsuccessful attempts to scale K2.  Out of every failure can come great success, and Greg’s story proves that point in conveying both a motivational and inspirational message, as well as being a fascinating guide to a part of the world that most of us will never explore.

After Greg attempted K2, he fell ill and was sheltered and cared for by people in the small, primitive village of Korphe in Pakistan.  Believing that the care he received in the village saved his life, he promised to return and build a school for the village.

The book then chronicles the struggles to make the school a reality, touching on the story of the everyday life of an ordinary adventure traveler trying to make a difference in the world, and the politics and culture of a country so removed from our own.

I was intrigued with the personal stories of not only Greg, but the other people involved with the project and the people living in villages in rural Pakistan and Afghanistan, had me eager to turn the pages.  (Actually, I purchased the Kindle edition of this book, so I was eager to electronically turn the pages.)  This part of the world fascinates  me — the people, the culture, even the politics.  I’m not a “tough” enough traveler to ever tackle visiting there, so the book provided a window through which I could take a look at the world.

A school was built in Korphe, and the project has become a foundation called the Central Asia Institute.  It’s mission is to promote and support community- based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.  .  It is responsible for building over 50 schools in the area, thereby bringing education and hope for a future to children in remote and desolate parts of the world.

While you may find some technical issues with the writing, focus on the story and enjoy the read.  A sequel, Stones into Schools:  Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan will be released on December 1st, 2009.

Where to buy:  You can purchase both books at your local bookstore or online.  Three Cups of Tea (aff. link) is available in paperback from Amazon for $9.47.  Stones into Schools (aff. link) is available from Amazon in hardback for $17.79.

This gift is perfect for:  Adventure travelers who have spent time in this part of the world; readers interested in reading personal travel stories, but who only experience adventure travel vicariously (that would be me!), anyone interested in the human side to politics and religion in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Photo credit:  Central Asia Institute

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