Since I got Amazon’s Kindle on my iPhone I’ve been reading tons and tons of books at the gym and waiting for trains. So I figured it might be good to share some of them on a Genki English Book Club!
Three Cups of Tea is climber Greg Mortenson’s story as he tries, and succeeds, in setting up a whole series of primary schools in the mountainous area between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It’s amazing how small he starts out and how quickly everything snowballs to come together.
It’s similar to another amazing book, Leaving Microsoft to Save the World, and it’s a very inspiring story about how much teachers, and teaching, is needed and valued amongst some of the poorest people in the world.
You’ll certainly come away from it with a whole new passion for what you do, and be wanting to do more with your talents!
Here’s an interview with the author, check out his reasoning on why it’s so important for girls to get educated!
So have a read, and tell us what you think of the book!
Thanks for including the interview with Greg Mortenson. I’ve read both of these books and recommend them highly, also. What else have you been reading? Please keep the suggestions coming.
Hi!
I have also read Three Cups of Tea a couple of years back and was so inspired by what this guy had accomplished, but… then read about his deceit and misuse of donated money. See…
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Cups-Deceit-Humanitarian-ebook/dp/B004XHVOW4 (www.Amazon.com)
Book Description
Publication Date: April 20, 2011
Greg Mortenson has built a global reputation as a selfless humanitarian and children’s crusader, and he’s been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He is also not what he appears to be. As acclaimed author Jon Krakauer discovered, Mortenson has not only fabricated substantial parts of his bestselling books Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools, but has also misused millions of dollars donated by unsuspecting admirers like Krakauer himself.
This is the tragic tale of good intentions gone very wrong.
100% of Jon Krakauer’s proceeds from the sale of Three Cups of Deceit will be donated to the “Stop Girl Trafficking” project at the American Himalayan Foundation.
Yes indeed. Although it’s not as bad as the critics say (it doesn’t seem to be malicious) it is very much a let down. Sort of like finding out that Kiyosaki’s “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” wasn’t a true story either! 🙁
Having said that, Three Cups of Tea along with “Leaving Microsoft to Change the World” have been hugely inspirational to many people in the development area who have gone on to do amazing things, and in that respect it has had a huge positive impact on the world.