About this item
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.
About the Author
photo (c) 2009 Khyber Mortenson
Greg Mortenson is the co-founder and director of the nonprofit Central Asia Institute www.ikat.org and founder of Pennies For Peace www.penniesforpeace.org.
He is the co-author of Three Cups of Tea www.threecupsoftea.com, which has been a New York Times nonfiction paperback bestseller for overfour years, and published in 49 countries, and also the author of Stones Into Schools, Promoting Peace With Books, Not Bombs in Afghanistan and Pakistan www.stonesintoschools.com.
Since a 1993 climb of Pakistan's K2, Mortenson has worked in rural Afghanistan and Pakistan to promote education and literacy, to establish 178 schools, especially for girls, which provide education to over 68,000 students, including 54,000 females.
Three Cups of Tea is required reading for senior U.S. military commanders, and U.S. Special Forces deploying to Afghanistan, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committe. The book has been a freshman or common book read in over 160 universities and colleges, and a 'One Book' read in over 400 communities.
His second book, Stones Into Schools: Promoting Peace With Books Not Bombs in Pakistan and Afghanistan debuted at # 2 on the New York Times hardcover bestseller list.
In 2009, Mortenson received the Sitara-e-Pakistan, which is Pakistan's highest civil award for his humanitarian efforts, While not overseas, Mortenson is a prolific reader, and enjoys being home in Montana with his wife and two children in Montana.
More detailed biography on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Mortenson
Mortenson is on Twitter gregmortenson.
