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.

Introduction. In Mr. Mortenson's Orbit
Chapter 1. Failure
Chapter 2. The Wrong Side of the River
Chapter 3. "Progress and Perfection"
Chapter 4. Self-Storage
Chapter 5. 580 Letters, One Check
Chapter 6. Rawalpindi's Rooftops at Dusk
Chapter 7. Hard Way Home
Chapter 8. Beaten by the Braldu
Chapter 9. The People Have Spoken
Chapter 10. Building Bridges
Chapter 11. Six Days
Chapter 12. Haji Ali's Lesson
Chapter 13. "A Smile Should Be More Than a Memory"
Chapter 14. Equilibrium
Chapter 15. Mortension in Motion
Chapter 16. Red Velvet Box
Chapter 17. Cherry Trees in the Sand
Chapter 18. Shrouded Figure
Chapter 19. A Village Called New York
Chapter 20. Tea with the Taliban
Chapter 21. Rumsfeld's Shoes
Chapter 22. "The Enemy Is Ignorance"
Chapter 23. Stones into Schools
Acknowledgments
"Greg Mortenson’s dangerous and difficult quest . . . is not only a thrilling read, it’s proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world."-Tom Brokaw

"An inspiring chronicle . . . this is one protagonist who clearly deserves to be called a hero."-People

"Mortenson’s mission is admirable, his conviction unassailable, his territory exotic."-The Washington Post

Kiriyama Prize Nonfiction Award
Time Magazine Asia Book of The Year
Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association - Nonfiction Award
Montana Honor Book Award
Borders Bookstore Original Voices Selection
Banff Mountain Festival Book Award Finalist
Dayton Literary Prize Nonfiction Award - Runner-up

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