Stones into schools
Ratings6
Average rating3.8
Originally I had rather enjoyed this book. A while ago I learned that Mortenson had been quiet dishonest.
Here's a refresher for those who might need it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Mo...
Financial mismanagement
Dishonest accounts of events
Highly recommend this book. An account of an organization bringing literacy to some of the most remote places on Earth.
Highly recommend this book. An account of an organization bringing literacy to some of the most remote places on Earth.
I found Three Cups of Tea to be much more compelling, and this book to be more procedural. And I don't know what to think in light of questions that have come up about the veracity of Mortenson's stories. But I strongly support the idea of what he is trying to do, “promoting peace with books,” and specifically, educating girls. It is just disheartening that this mission is tainted.
Fully review posted to my blog http://bookwi.se/stones-to-schools-by-greg-mortenson/
Short review: This is an inspiring book that shows what one person can do with vision and drive. This is the second book (first was Three Cups of Tea that I reviewed at http://bookwi.se/summer-reading-club-update-week-3/ ). This book picks up right where the last one left off and takes us until Oct/Nov 2009. At the end of the book you don't know what really happened, even now because the story is in very rural Afghanistan where the roads are closed by snow six months a year and we don't know what the final result will be until around March or April this year (2010). This is mostly just story of how Central Asian Institute is growing, but some of the most interesting parts are the author, Greg Mortenson, dealing with the fact that he, as the face and author of the schools movement, has to spend his time speaking, writing and traveling in the US instead of in central Asia where he would like to be. He is clearly an introvert and the constant travel and speaking is very wearing on him. But he continues to do it because of the importance of the mission, not necessarily to himself, but to the 10s of thousands if not 100s of thousands that are affected by the schools that he helps to start.
(Note: since I read and wrote this, Mortensen's stories have largely been disproven.)