Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan |  | Author: Greg Mortenson
Brand: Viking
Category: Book
List Price: $26.95
Buy New: $13.39
as of 3/16/2010 16:58 CDT details
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Seller: KnightSeller24
Rating:  188 reviews
Sales Rank: 213
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
Pages: 448
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.4 x 1.6
ISBN: 0670021156
Dewey Decimal Number: 371.8234209581
EAN: 9780670021154
ASIN: 0670021156
Publication Date: December 1, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | ISBN13: 9780670021154 | | • | Condition: NEW | | • | Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark. |
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Product Description
115099 Features: Follow Greg Mortenson as provides aid in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan after a 2005 earthquake Read about the Central Asia Institute's (CAI) efforts in Afghanistan which place Mortenson in the way of harm from Afghan warlords, militia commanders, tribal leaders, and Islamic clerics Learn how Mortenson survived a an 8-day armed abduction by the Taliban to all as he continues to further the progress of his 2-decade humanitarian effort Get a first-person account of Mortenson's work with his manager, Sarfraz Khan as they staked out the first schools in Badakhshan Province in the far northeast of Afghanistan Specifications: Pages: 448 Edition: first Jacket: hard cover ISBN-10: 0670021156 Publisher: Viking Adult
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 188
 Gift book for my son's b-day March 16, 2010
Michael P. Westendorf (SW Florida coast)
2nd hand info: book was packaged properly, NOT beat up upon arrival, and my son enjoyed reading Greg Mortenson's 2nd book.
Essential reading for the world March 16, 2010
Daanish A (New York)
There's nothing really to say about this book, as Greg Mortenson's story just speaks for itself. I can't think of another book (except Three Cups of Tea) that I can confidently say that any reader will not be disappointed. I think everyone should read this book, if not just for a true epic the likes of which we only think exists in Hollywood. These amazing stories CAN happen, and there are too many to count in this book.
Stohnes for Schools March 15, 2010
Patricia Deritis (Santa Clara, CA United States)
A wonderful story promoting peace. Also read Two cups of Tea...Greg Mortenson risked his life to build schools so that girls and boy can attend school. Something we take for granted in America.
Uplifting, Inspirational and Impossible to Put Down March 15, 2010
Joseph D. Collins (Phoenix, AZ, USA)
My title says it all. What this country and the world need is more people like Greg Mortenson. Why must we tolerate the military that insists that bombing a country will make them willing to let us take them over? The world knows we're the most powerful country in the world. Why can't we just leave it at that?
This book will reveal why our attack on Afghanistan and Pakistan will not work. Think as you read if this were the United States how would Americans react to outside forces trying to bomb our towns. And you better believe you're right as you contemplate such a horrible concept.
This book inspires. How many books today do just that???
Yes, I bought it through Amazon. That's the ONLY place to look for books you want to buy in a hurry.
Thoughts on "Stones into Schools" March 14, 2010
E. Cabrera
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I just finished reading "Stones into Schools," the follow up book to "Three Cups of Tea," and I highly recommend it to anyone who has read "The Cups of Tea" by David Orlin and Greg Mortenson. Relative to "Three Cups of Tea," "Stones into Schools" takes on a more personal and gripping tone, as Greg Mortenson himself picks up the pen and continues the story from where "Three Cups of Tea" ended. In "Stones into Schools," the reader gets a glimpse of the many, at times ridiculous, challenges faced by the CAI and Greg Mortenson in growing their operations in Afghanistan while fundraising in the United States (and elsewhere) and continuing their mission in Pakistan. The stories recounted in the book really show how the Central Asia Institute is not your run of the mill NGO. Rather, the CAI shines in providing a vital service to the people at "the end of the road," where not even the local federal governments venture, let alone foreign NGO's.
That said, the book is only partly about the CAI and Greg Mortenson. Always inclined to focus the attention on others, rather than himself, Greg Mortenson spends much of the book detailing stories of admirable determination and sacrifice demonstrated by his motley staff of local Pakistanis and Afghans. There were several moments when reading this book that I found myself truly touched and inspired by the valor and nobility of these men, who Greg Mortenson affectionately refers to as the "Dirty Dozen." At the very least, anyone who reads the book, should gain some perspective and inspiration for dealing with the challenges in his or her life.
A big criticism of the CAI, which was explicitly highlighted in "Three Cups of Tea," was that without Greg Mortenson, everything the CAI has done would unravel. However, after reading "Stones into School," one is left with the distinct impression that it is now the local Afghan and Pakistani administrators and directors of CAI who are making the greatest contributions to the mission of female literacy. Despite Mr. Mortenson having to spend the majority of his time these days raising money and awareness in the United States for CAI's mission, the CAI has managed to push forward. The CAI has built and currently support over 130 schools in the region. They achieved this success despite unforgiving climates and terrain, limited resources and infrastructure, a complicated political landscape, natural disasters, federal corruption and bureaucracy, Taliban reprisals, pervasive drug trafficking, and widely publicized civilian deaths from U.S./NATO military attacks.
Perhaps the greatest personal appeal of Greg Mortenson, and why I think "Three Cups of Tea" has been so successful, is his fundamentally human imperfection. Far from trying to justify everything he is doing, Mr. Mortenson candidly expresses his doubts, guilt, and physical inabilities. He spends some time questioning whether he has lost some level of commitment to the communities he has helped by now spending most of his time in the West. Then again, who is perfect? Who doesn't have doubts? This is reality. This magnetic appeal extends to many characters in the book. The title of the book, "Stones into Schools," is coined from a speech made by a former mujahideen commander who has spent the majority of his life in vicious combat, and who has probably had to be complicit in opium trafficking in order to provide and protect his community. The story of the CAI and the people of the region is not a fictional novel or fairy tale about uncompromising superhumans moving mountains with sheer force of will. Rather, it is about ordinary, flawed people who have to pick up each stone one by one in order to build a better future. It is fitting that Mr. Mortenson describes the "Dirty Dozen" as "underqualified overachievers," because to me, that description would fit him as well. It only seems natural that he would find some kindred spirits during his noble campaign in Central Asia.
Finally, as someone in America who will probably never have the courage and stamina to do the good work that the CAI does in Afghanistan and Pakistan, I feel that the least I can do is give some financial support for a mission that ultimately benefits us all. Despite all the problems in this world, I become hopeful and thankful when I see people like Greg Mortenson and his staff and organizations like the CAI. In summary, I highly recommend this book. It is essentially a story of regular people doing what they can, which in combination amounts to a great sea of change in the middle of what had been a barren dessert.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 188
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