Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations...One School at a Time

by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. After reading starred reviews and taking peeks in airport bookstores, I was able to get this book via Paperback Swap! This is Greg Mortenson's story: for many years he lived to conquer the highest mountain peaks. In 1993, when he fell just short of the summit of K2 and fell dangerously ill, he was sheltered for two months by the Balti leader of Korphe, a tiny remote Pakistani village. "The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger," a villager tells Greg Mortenson. "The second time, you are an honored guest. The third time you become family." In gratitude, Mortenson promised to return and help the villagers build their first school. He surprised the villagers by keeping his promise. Mortenson's Central Asia Institute now works with villagers in rural Pakistan and Afganistan to construct schools with the hope that alleviating poverty and improving access to education, especially for girls, will promote understanding and peace. Could use some editing, but it's a great read. I highly recommend it. For more info: http://www.threecupsoftea.com/Intro.php