Nan Timmons, a member of the Book in Common committee at Chico State University, sent me the following review, revised from when she first proposed the book as this year's selection:

I was “on fire” about previous books, but the fire over “Three Cups of Tea” is a bonfire, a virtual conflagration. I owe a lunch to my friend who recommended that I suggest it to the Book in Common committee with a one-line review: “If this isn’t a book in common, I don’t know what is.” I stayed up until 1:30 a.m. to finish reading it and I lay awake in bed until 5:00 a.m. thinking about it. Then I got up and wrote a check.

The authors, Mortenson and Relin, lay out a list on page 337, a simple list that offers nine imminently do-able things any individual can do to halt the spread of terrorism (not to mention ancillary beneficial outcomes). They have kindly provided us with a perfect springboard for developing dozens of meaningful class projects. And let me be bold enough to add a 10th item to the list: Have a class research what it takes to nominate or support a nomination of someone for a Nobel Peace Prize and then wage a campaign to do exactly that. Mortenson is an ideal candidate for the honor. The book inspires action in very simple tangible and accessible ways that feel empowering, so much so that upon completing the book I pledged to do seven of the nine things on that list within the next two weeks, and I’m well on my way to keeping that promise.

Although we should hold the bar high and expect students to read the book in its entirety, I think if students only read pg. 257 of Three Cups of Tea, it’s probably worth the price of the book - although what a loss for them not to devour the whole thing.

I found two over-arching themes:

The cheapest, most effective and long-lasting way to stop terrorism is through education.

The second theme is epitomized by Margaret Mead’s famous quote - “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” It is clearly illustrated here in spades by Mortenson and his supporters. So again we see the “oft visited” theme of someone having passion, commitment and perseverance making a difference.

There are plenty of other themes and questions that would make good discussion for classes or reading groups:

For example, Mortenson discovers that he can be his own worst enemy when trying to move his agenda forward without being sensitive to cultural imperatives – noble intentions and a good heart don’t always guarantee success. Hence, be sure to drink all three cups of tea.

Also, I hope it would resonate with Chico students as they read this compelling story that they are incredibly fortunate and blessed to be sitting in this “citadel of higher learning” receiving an elite university education instead of sitting on a rock in some cold, remote, windswept mountain village eager to learn without benefit of paper or pencil.

And …
What does building a small school in Pakistan have to do with terrorism?
How did a mountain climber end up having tea with a high ranking Taliban official in a Marriott Hotel?
Can a near homeless penniless guy who meets his wife at a formal gala and then marries her six days later end up living happily ever after?
How does a guy with a big dream and no money hook up with an eccentric billionaire to support his passionate mission?
How does it feel to wake up on the morning of 9/11 just miles from the Afghanistan border only to have your bodyguard (with his AK-47 in hand) tell you “a village called New York has been bombed.”
How does someone turn the biggest failure of his life into the greatest success of his life?
And the list goes on…..

Because I was so impressed with the message of the book, I nearly forgot to mention its plot. In a nutshell, an offbeat mountain climber yearns to conquer K2 and as he retreats in abject failure, a series of events lead him to pledge to build a school for the children of Korphe, Pakistan in honor of his deceased sister – a decision that forever changes the course of his life in ways that neither he nor we could ever imagine.