"Three Cups of Tea" By Greg Moretnson and David Oliver Relin

I have to admit, I was slightly skeptical of this book before I even read it. In the world of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, books which make it on the the nytimes best seller list are often books that you don't want to read. "Infidel" by Ayaan Hiri Ali and "Because They Hate Us" by Brigitte Gabriel are just two examples of some of hate-filled tomes out there, books that actively seek to divide rather than unite, and spread fear rather than actual information.

I was in for a pleasant surprise. Despite being on the New York Times best selling list for over three years, Three Cups of Tea actually has a positive message about respecting cultural diversity, the power of education, and bringing people together.

The story is about Greg Mortenson, a professional climber who finds himself indebted to an isolated Balti community, after members of the community save his life after a near death experience in climbing K2. During his convalescence, Greg learns that this village in the rugged frontier of northwestern Pakistan is in dire need of a school, and our hero becomes determined to raise funds and provide the community with what they desperately need.

The book follows Greg as he struggles to raise money for the school--and many more to follow--while trying to keep his life together while shuttling between the United States and Pakistan. What I found to be most inspiring about his story was that it wasn't one of those tales of the super achiever who establishes an NGO by the age of 25 and wins the Nobel by the age of 32. Most of this story takes place after Greg is 35, and he doesn't really make a name for himself and his amazing work until his 40s. For the first half of the book, when he is struggling to raise money for the first school, he is working terrible hours as a nurse, sleeping out of his car, and barely scraping enough money together to eat a decent breakfast. This is the kind of hero that I can get behind. Throughout the story, you also get snippets of his imperfection. He clearly doesn't get the chance to spend much time with his family, he is notorious for being chronically late, and his preoccupation with his work gives him little time to take care of his own health. All of this, again, only reinforces my admiration for him. He is quite human, and his own story is a reminder of the great sacrifices that one has to make when one, quite literally, dedicates their life to a cause.

Most importantly, I can really get behind Greg's perspective on combating the demonization of Muslims in the post-9/11 climate. Greg was in Pakistan on September 11, 2001. On the Friday following the attacks, one of the new schools was meant to open. However, the weight of the attacks--and the global apprehension of what would happen next--hung heavily, dampening what should have been a celebratory atmosphere. During the inaugural speech, Syed Abbas--a Shia religious leaders who had become one of Greg's closest and most important allies in his campaign to build schools--spoke of great sorrow and paid his condolences to the American people.

"I request America to look into our hearts," Abbas continued, his voice straining with emotion, "and see that the great majority of us are not terrorists, but good and simple people. Our land is stricken with poverty because we are without education. But today, another candle of knowledge has been lit. In the name of Allah the Almighty, may it light our way out of the darkness we find ourselves in."

"It was an incredible speech," Mortenson says. "And by the time Syed Abbas had finished he had the entire crowd in tears. I wish all the Americans who think 'Muslim' is just another way of saying 'terrorist' could have been there that day. The true core tenants of Islam are justice, tolerance, and charity, and Syed Abbas represented the moderate center of Muslim faith eloquently."

I think this book is a great read for anyone looking for inspiration, adventure, or heartwarming moments of inter-faith collaboration. However, I can't recommend this book without giving this warning: the writing is terrible. I know it seems strange to give such a recommendation, and then admit that the writing would make some articles in playboy look like Pulitzer material. Lucky for Greg, his story is strong enough that I can overlook the horrific metaphors, cliche-ridden descriptions, and even orientalist descriptions of some of the characters. Even better for him, Greg didn't actually write it. It would be forgivable if writing was not his forte--he clearly has some other skills to offer. Whats incredible is that it looks like they hired David Oliver Relin, a professional writer, to write the bulk of the book. Here are a few choice lines that made me reach for the bag in the backseat of the plane:

When Greg encounters his ex-girlfriend: "He forced himself to look away from Marina's lips and let his gaze settle on her eyes, but thought better of that and jerked his own down. Those, too, were too dangerous."

On the Balti People: "The Balti had originally migrated southwest from Tibet...and their Buddhism had been scoured away as they traveled over the rocky passes and replaced by a religion more attuned to the severity of their new landscape--Shiite Islam."

Relin also uses the word "infidel" approximately 7,000 times to describe how Pakistanis and Afghanis must have viewed Greg. This really got under my skin, especially when one of the objectives of the book seemed to be to break American stereotypes of Muslims. One of the most prevalent stereotypes of Muslims is that they are fire-breathing theocrats, ready to condemn and persecute "infidels" at a moments notice. This, as Greg astutely points out, is not at all an accurate picture of Muslims, whose faith in fact preaches tolerance and acceptance of nonbelievers. The use of the term "infidel" over "nonbeliever" seemed to me a deliberate choice by Relin to "spice up" the narrative, attempting to add additional "Eastern Allure" to the already captivating story, which shouldn't have been dragged down by a cheap orientalist trick. It was not only offensive, but I think it is counterproductive to the overall purpose of the book which was to break these pernicious stereotypes of Muslims as "The Other."

Like I said, its a damn good thing the story is strong enough to shine through. Give it a read, you won't regret it. Just be prepared to roll your eyes a few times.