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This book is the story of what a single person can accomplish with dedication and passion. There are stories all the time that demonstrate how a single person has changed the lives of many, but this story is an easy read, adventurous and educational at the same time. It gives you a different perspective on a part of the world many Americans think is dangerous. While there may be dangerous people, it demonstrates that even in hostile places, there are many people who care and respect others deeply.
This is story of what just one person can do, can you imagine if people worked together what could be achieved. A real amazing story - and I so admire the dedication to put up schools in an area that has little of the world's interest other to bomb it.
So this guy's climbing back down K2 after an unsuccessful attempt at the summit, Greg Mortenson. He gets lost and separated from his Sherpa who has his food and other essentials and winds up in a remote town where no white man has ever been. They save his life; he stays for awhile to recuperate and acclimatize; he notices that the kids of town do their schoolwork in the dirt, no building, paper or pencils. He decides to come back in a year and build them a school and after MANY difficulties, gets it done in more than one year. Since then he's helped build 55 schools in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Mongolia and another 'stan or two despite battling endemic corruption, getting kidnapped and having a fatwa put on his head.
Exciting, well-written and inspiring. Enough people in my small mountain town read the book and were inspired enough to start the process of sponsoring a school ourselves through the Central Asia Institute (the non-profit started by the Author) and Pennies For Peace.
PS This is my first post in Zaadz. I've read and enjoyed many of your words, thank you. I hope to return the favor.
the way this writer penetrated the culture caused me to reassess my own very different experience. i found a lot of anti woman negativity spiced with anti american hate. but there were those moments in between that gave me a glimpse of something more. mortenson found it regularly and even enhanced it.
this is a great story of committment and passion and inspired me to ask the question about my own ideas and dreams, am i ready to give this hard to make them real?