The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share tea, you are family, and for our family, we are prepared to do anything, even die.

(Haji Ali)

And so the unsung hero of this multi-award-winning book, Dr. Greg Mortenson, became an integral part of the Balti people's family. In essence, looking back at all the trials and tribulations endured by Mortenson during his 13 year triumphant journey across continents, this man did what many never attempt to do - he got to know the 'enemy' in a whole new light. 

Right from the first pages of the book, we see Mortenson's humble nature as he begins Three Cups of Tea with his unsuccessful attempt at conquering the K2. I gotta admit, the first chapters were a little anti-climactic to read, with way too many technical mountaineering details and very little indication of the heroic tales to follow. And so, perseverence, as it did with Mortenson, paid off in the end.

Post-unsuccessful K2-climb, Mornteson was sheltered by the Balti people in the little village of Korphe. During his stay there, Mortenson learnt a great deal about the simple villagers and their many grievances - the most prominent one being the fact that there was no school for the children. Mortenson took a leap of faith and promised the people of this remote village a school; and guess what? without a substantial income, and no help in sight, he delivered.

Mortenson made several trips to Pakistan and back, each time trying to build support for his noble cause. It wasn't all smooth sailing of course; the humble nurse got his share of rejections and hate mail along the way. And yet, he envisioned an objective, and he persevered to see it all the way though. Haji Ali, the Korphe village elder became and integral part of Mortenson's journey, providing him with guidance and courage at every step. Three years down the line, the Balti people were blessed with a school.

For an American mountain climber to randomly step up and promote secular education in villages where people's life purpose is to defeat 'the enemy' using the pretext of religion, and on the flip side, for him to ask his fellow Americans to fund the education of 'the enemy', Mortenson sure has guts. Perhaps it was really his good fortune and fate to find a wife who shared the very same vision.

Mortenson's efforts grew in to the Central Asia Institute, a non profit organization supporting education in villages of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Do checkout the website to get a better idea of the scale and nature of Mortenson's work.

What started off as a promise proliferated into a fulfilled dream of educating over 20,000 children in the most remote villages of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Dr. Greg Mortenson is a true hero. If this book isn't an example of the peaceful path to a brighter future, and of the steps that should be taken to save youth from the endless cycle of poverty,  I really don't know what is.