Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at… (original 2006; edição 2007)

I'd been meaning to read this for a long time before I heard it was more fiction than non-fiction. I was sorry I hadn't read it before because you can't unhear that type of accusation as you read it. So I guess I need to review it with that in mind. The story at times seems both improbable and impossible in places, and has Mortenson as a non-stop force of goodness, which reads as a bit of glossy, shiny hyperbole. That he should be in the running Nobel Peace Prize must have been brought up at least 4 times in the narrative.

I have not read/heard the specific accusations against him and the book, but I thought that it was a well-meant effort, and what he did or purported to have done in the book as a wonderful thing. The part I found so hard to believe after having traveled to similar parts of the world, is that anyone could accomplish even half of what is written in this book. With all the bureaucracy and inconveniences that would arise.

But if he did accomplish even half of it (and I think he prob has) hats off to him and thanks for making the world a slightly better place.
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3.5*
This was and interested viewpoint on what things are like in the Middle East for those who are less fortunate than first world countries. I'm in awe of what Greg Mortenson has done and continues to do for the villages of people throughout Pakistan. I had a difficult time following who certain people were due to the cultural and language differences but otherwise I found the story interesting and inspiring. ( )

Good, but I later heard that Greg was a real slime bag, and didn't do what he said he did.

I rated this book 3 stars purely for its content--not great writing here. ( )

I ended up liking this a whole lot more than I expected. Definitely had some problems (a bit disjointed at times, some superfluous anecdotes and story lines) but I was so impressed with the subject of the book and all he's doing in the world that I could easily overlook the negative. I really didn't know much about Pakistan going into this and now feel that I have at least a slightly better grasp on the world, which is really the whole point of reading any type of non-fiction. I'm usually not won over so easily but I was ready to write Mortenson a check once i got to the end of the book. Highly recommended. ( )