- ISBN13: 9780670021154
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
From the author of the #1 bestseller Three Cups of Tea, the continuing story of this determined humanitarian’s efforts to promote peace through education
In this dramatic first-person narrative, Greg Mortenson picks up where Three Cups of Tea left off in 2003, recounting his relentless, ongoing efforts to establish schools for girls in Afghanistan; his extensive work in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan after a massive earthquake hit the region in 2005; and th… More >>
Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan
While I greatly appreciated the focus of the Central Asia Institute, I was disappointed by Mr. Mortenson’s uncritical acceptance of folks in the military with their jargon-inspired reasoning (COIN – counterinsurgency operations equating to Afghani “style”), and his fleeting but flattering references to Thomas Friedman – the NY Times writer who thinks that market-controlled globalization is good for what ails the developing world. There are a whole lot of folks who think Mr. Friedman is full of it and his ideas have contributed to a lot of pain and instability for people who are working out their destiny, not to mention providing a rationale for US imperialism.
On the subject of imperialism, I was surprised that Mr. Mortenson didn’t have more insight into why things were the way they were in places where the US was waging its own terrorist activities. Al Qaeda was a reaction to an existing situation – the wasting of Iraqi lives in the Gulf War by denying the rebuilding of infrastructure for the health of Iraqi citizens mainly women and children) and the desecration of Islam’s holy places in Saudi Arabia by US forces.
I like Mr. Mortenson’s goals and educational philosophy, but sure wasn’t impressed by his critical thought: Admiral Mullen wasn’t bringing in a bunch of reporters for totally altruistic motives – it was a photo op to show how much the military cared about the civilians even as they indiscriminately bombed them.
I wish the CAI good luck with their efforts to help all the regular folks in that area of the world, but wonder about their blithe acceptance of a US military that is making American assumptions about different cultures which they show little or no understanding of and prefer to shoot first rather than sit and have tea with.
Rating: 3 / 5
Great book. Just beware the maps on the Kindle version are unreadable. I would have preferred the paper version of the book to constantly refer back to the maps/locations Mortenson discusses throughout the book.
Rating: 2 / 5
We loved the CD’s of Three Cups of Tea and hoping for another winner with From Stones to Schools. However, we found the impact of the narrative dramatically reduced and compromised by having a woman’s voice speak in the first person as Greg Mortenson while attempting to replicate other male voices in the story as well.
As a woman, I feel the narrator does an excellent job of reading the story, but we just found it confusing and not nearly as compelling as when we were listening to Greg Mortenson himself tell his own personal story.
Rating: 2 / 5
Mortenson is a prime example of what one person can do to make a difference in the lives of many people. Networking with others and empowering more people to help with a specific task seemed to be something others could do in their lives as well.
Rating: 4 / 5
Not great literature, but one of the few positive things coming out of this part of the world. Arrived promptly and in good shape.
Rating: 4 / 5