3. Three Cups of Tea

I read Three Cups of Tea as the third book on my list in the 100+ Reading Challenge (check in on my progress here) on the strong recommendation of a family member who found Greg Mortenson's efforts to be absolutely fascinating.

The story starts long before a failed attempt on K-2, but that's where the Central Asia Institute got its footing. Mortenson was a mountaineer and, in this, Three Cups of Tea has much in common with the spirit of Krauker's Into Thin Air (Krauker eventually finds his way into Three Cups of Tea at about page 275 of my copy of the book). But a history as a climber and R.N. did give Mortenson the administrative skills he needed to build and oversee a nonprofit organization. Progress was slow, but progress was made. By now, the Central Asia Institute--which proclaims a mission to promote and support community education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan--has made significant progress. Three Cups of Tea reads like Mortenson's biography, but I think the real story here is about the CAI.

On one hand, this is a story about the birth, growth, failures and successes of a fledgling nonprofit organization and that, I think, would make this an interesting read for fellow students passionate about making a difference in the world. Mortenson is a great example of the fact that rolling up your sleeves and doing the hard work can count for a lot more than a MBA. This guy has lived an exceptional, incredible life.

On the other hand, this is a story about the perception of America abroad and the way that we can use nonprofits to improve that perception. Three Cups of Tea sings Mortenson's praises and tells us of all that he has accomplished, namely, of the villagers of remote Pakistan and Afghanistan that he has won over. But the book sometimes reminds me of the commercials that run on late night TV, presenting us with an image of a pitiful child and asking us to call and make a donation. There's certainly nothing wrong with that and I found the book to be educational but, as always when I read a biographic account that is one-sided, I would like to know what Mortenson's critics have to say (by Three Cups of Tea, we would think that there are no naysayers, except for one or two religious fanatics).