Stones into Schools

By: Greg Mortenson

Narrated by: Atossa Leoni

Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the author of the number-one national best seller Three Cups of Tea, the continuing story of this determined humanitarian and the schools he has established.

In this dramatic first-person narrative, Greg Mortenson picks up where Three Cups of Tea left off in 2003, recounting his relentless, ongoing efforts to establish schools for girls in Afghanistan; his extensive work in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan after a massive earthquake hit the region in 2005; and the unique ways he has built relationships with Islamic clerics, militia commanders, and tribal leaders, even as he was dodging shootouts with feuding Afghan warlords and surviving an eight-day armed abduction by the Taliban. He shares for the first time his broader vision to promote peace through education and literacy, as well as touching on military matters, Islam, and women - all woven together with the many rich personal stories of the people who have been involved in this remarkable two-decade humanitarian effort.

Since the 2006 publication of Three Cups of Tea, Mortenson has traveled across the U.S. and the world to share his vision with hundreds of thousands of people. He has met with heads of state, top military officials, and leading politicians, all of whom seek his advice and insight. The continued phenomenal success of Three Cups of Tea proves that there is an eager and committed audience for Mortenson's work and message.

©2009 Greg Mortenson (P)2009 Penguin

Better than Three Cups of Tea

Takes up where Three Cups of Tea ends. The quality of writing and the excellence of the reader mean this book is far better. I had been worrying about how the conditions in Pakistan and Afghanistan were affecting the work of the CAI and the answers have given me hope. Highly recommend A++++++

17 of 19 people found this review helpful

Just Read It

A great book and a great story. I have read Three Cups of Tea and this is a great continuation of the story bringing it up to mid 2009. As others have said, the female reader of a first person narrative is a very odd choice and somewhat distracting. Sometimes I got caught, but most of the time, I was able to look past it.

8 of 10 people found this review helpful

Best Book of the Year/Decade

I didn't want it to end. Greg's understanding of people and selflessness is admirable. We need more Greg Mortenson's in the world. Everybody should read this book after reading Three Cups of Tea.

7 of 9 people found this review helpful

Could not stay with this reading

I tried several times to listen to this. The reading and writing is very poor compared to the first book which I enjoyed very much,

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Mortenson is deceitful.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

To get a 5-star, the ficticious stories must be removed (afterall, this was supposed to be non-fiction), replaced with the real story of finances, schools built and people involved.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Sadly more story than fact

Investigations by 60 Minutes and Jon Krakauer have shown Mortenson lied about key parts of his stories, exaggerated the number and condition of schools he built, and runs his non-profit with no financial oversight or accounting. I enjoyed the book the first time through, but no I feel like I wasted my time and money.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

A Wonderful Adventure

I'd read Three Cups of Tea and enjoyed it immensely. Although I felt that the first few chapters of this sequel were slow, the book sure clicked into gear and began to build a momentum. By the last third of the book, it felt like a thriller! And it's all the more amazing because it's a true story. The final chapters were very, very moving and I'll say this: Greg Mortenson and the activities of his group remind us all of what is really important in life.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

A true American Hero

As one reviewer said, Greg Mortenson deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. This sequal to "Three Cups of Tea" portrays the human spirit that can be tapped in any situation. It takes you into the culture, tribes, and regions of Central Asia in an indepth way while telling a great story full of adventure and unbelievable circumstances. What Greg and his team have accomplished has made the world and, especially, Central Asia a better place.
Entertaining and very informative. a 5 star for sure.

5 of 7 people found this review helpful

Hard to listen to the narrator

I've enjoyed so many audiobooks through Audible over the years, but in both this one and Three Cups of Tea, the narrator is a detractor. I don't mind the female voice (despite that it's the autobio of a man) but I am having trouble getting past her awkward inflections. It is as though she's ending a sentence midway through - her delivery sounds like an unprepared first read-through instead of a finished product. The book is interesting but I think I'll have to finish the print version one day instead of listening on my commutes.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great book.

This is a great read. I highly recommend it after Three Cups of Tea. I also found the female reader very distracting since it was written by Greg in the first person. Odd choice of a narrator!! But it is well written, enthralling, inspiring and hard to put down. I didn't want it to end.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful