Three Cups of Tea

One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations

By: Greg Mortenson, David Oliver Relin

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1993 Greg Mortenson was the exhausted survivor of a failed attempt to ascend K2, an American climbing bum wandering emaciated and lost through Pakistan's Karakoram Himalaya. After he was taken in and nursed back to health by the people of an impoverished Pakistani village, Mortenson promised to return one day and build them a school. From that rash, earnest promise grew one of the most incredible humanitarian campaigns of our time: Greg Mortenson's one-man mission to counteract extremism by building schools, especially for girls, throughout the breeding ground of the Taliban.

Award-winning journalist David Oliver Relin has collaborated on this spellbinding account of Mortenson's incredible accomplishments in a region where Americans are often feared and hated. In pursuit of his goal, Mortenson has survived kidnapping, fatwas issued by enraged mullahs, repeated death threats, and wrenching separations from his wife and children. But his success speaks for itself. At last count, his Central Asia Institute had built 55 schools. Three Cups of Tea is at once an unforgettable adventure and the inspiring true story of how one man really is changing the world, one school at a time.

©2006 Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (P)2006 Tantor Media Inc

Critic reviews

"Three Cups of Tea is one of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time....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)

This is a must read

This is an amazing story and the world would be a better place if every head of state were required to read it. It's educational and informative but reads like a novel. After hearing this book I will never look at Pakistan or Afghanistan in the same way.

I will say the book has a clear agenda. On some level it is an advertisement for Greg Mortenson and the Central Asia Institute, but that is fine with me. This is absolutely a story worth hearing.

Amazing - a real page-turner!

Experiencing "Three Cups of Tea" and the harrowing story of Greg Mortenson's passionate endeavors to build schools in remote parts of Northern Pakistan and Afghanistan, against all odds, is to share in the remarkable experiences of a modern-day hero. The obstacles are so extreme and dangerous, and the outcomes so extraordinary that the story becomes embued with almost mythical qualities - and yet it is all true! The writer, David Relin, is an unabashed fan of Mr. Mortenson's (as he openly confesses in the introduction) and the sparkling narrative reflects Mr. Relin's passion for his subject. Nevertheless, events in the story that seem almost beyond belief are carefully validated and cross-referenced by the author, making this a very satisfactory read. The reader, once he gets into a story-telling mode, does a fine job and is adept at applying different voices to characters as they emerge in a way that contributes to the listener experience.
An absolutely wonderful book!

I just couldn't get into it.

I'm giving it 3 stars because I really love what the book was ABOUT. I couldn't stick with it though.

Wonderful story... not well told/narrated

I thought that Greg Mortenson's story was both very inspiring but also very human, as Greg comes off as both a hero and flawed (this man has NO idea how to run an organization!) Given all that is going on in Afghanistan and Pakistan now, I found the information to be timely and educational. For that reason alone, I think the book is worth a listen. The reason I didn't give it a higher rating was because I found the writing a bit overwrought and there was just something quite annoying about the narration, though I can't quite put my finger on it...

Very Interesting

In the beginning I was not sure where it all was going, but I hung in there and was rewarded. It was very informative. I am thankful that the story of Greg and his help in Pakistan has been written up to share with the world so nicely.

Critical insider perspective in Pakistan

Thank you, for all you’ve done! This book captures my heart as a humanitarian! After serving in country after country I fight to gain even a little ground towards progress! I’m reading this book to study ways people have been successful before me! I love that it wasn’t a deterrent that you met another mountain climber turned school principal, assuming they’d take care of the job. The job is for all of us! Thank you!

education vs. bullets

Terrific story about one man's mission to help bring education to some of the most remote and challenged parts of planet earth. This story is an inspiration to all who want to help repair the world.

Inspirational and Frustrating

Inspirational and frustrating. Greg has been out building school for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan since 1993 and this is his story.

It is inspirational and surprising, but at times his frustration is palpable. He is a doer and as always goes with those that do, there is a large amount of criticism leveled against him. (Nothing bothers me more than the non-doer armchair quarterbacks but it's part of the culture we live in.)

This book is a great introduction to the outlying tribal cultures in Pakistan and Afghanistan and there is an excellent explanation and examples of Pashtunwali / Lokhay Warkawa as also described in Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell.

Having trekked in Nepal on my way to Everest Base Camp this really brought back memories.

Don't listen to "60 minutes"

This story and what Greg Mortenson is doing is amazing. Read it and make up your own mind.

Three More Cups, and then three more, and then

This is a must read if you want to know about the work Mortenson has done in Pakistan, and to understand the culture and people there. I found it fascinating, and the work was also well read by Patrick Lawlor, and well written, as well. However, listening to every detail of Mortenson's mission for 13 hours was really grueling. It might have been possible to edit slightly. Or maybe not? I loved getting to know Mortenson through the book; I have become a huge fan, even though I thought I wouldn't like it due to all the media hype it got originally. So terribly sad to think what is happening in Pakistan now. My heart goes out to the people there, who are so fierce, vital, and generous of heart. Only wish we had access to the photos in the book itself, and the spelling of the names, etc. Audio books really lose the power of the written word that way.