If you’re going to come away with anything from Three Cups of Tea, the story of Greg Mortenson’s mission to build schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan, let it be the value of perseverance. To consistently focus on accomplishing something, despite the obstacles of lack of money, knowledge or cultural understanding, great things can happen if one learns from mistakes and continues to go forward. This theme even is displayed by those he is trying to help, as the conservative mullahs of the region see that Mortenson isn’t in their land to convert them or over take them, but to sincerely help children, specifically girls.
The story starts slow, after Mortenson’s failed attempt to climb K2 and stumbles into a poor region without schools. We learn he is the son of a Lutheran missionary who grew up in Africa and is out of place when he returns to California. After coming back to the states, making a promise to return to Pakistan, Mortenson begins to raise money. He gains some traction from within the mountaineering world and receive a donation from Jan Hoerni, a wealthy scientist and climber, for his first school. The attempt to build the first school is fraught with errors, mostly with Mortenson expecting to return, buy supplies and build a school. The culture of Pakistan slows him down. And first a bridge must be built. Nearly two years later, the school does get built, but only after navigating his own ignorance and that of the Muslims in the region.
As Three Cups of Tea progresses, it bounces back and forth between Mortenson’s inability to generate funds as quick as he’d like and his three to four month sabbaticals in the mountains of Central Asia. A cast of supportive and not so supportive characters carry the story along. From the kidnappers in the remote province of Waziristan to village elders such as Hajj Ali in Asia or his eventual wife and board members stateside, each is portrayed in a respectful depth. Eventually, Mortenson’s cause explodes after September 11th. (He happened to be in Afghanistan during the attacks.) He’s vilified for wanting people to understand what it will take to make the region a safer place. The Pentagon calls him in for a presentation, to which he sees why progress won’t be made in a Rumsfeld led Pentagon. Finally, after a Parade magazine feature, he receive an outpouring of support.
The book is an inspiring piece to the adage that one person can make a difference. At times it’s slow and over written in sentimental prose, but it gives a picture that perseverance to foster understanding and education is fundamentally important to peace.