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Stones Into Schools |  | Author: Greg Mortenson
Publisher: Viking USA
Category: Book
List Price: CDN$ 33.50
Buy New: CDN$ 21.00
as of 9/3/2010 21:29 CDT details
You Save: CDN$ 12.50 (37%)
Seller: Amazon.ca
Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 6163
Media: Hardcover
Edition: First Edition
Pages: 448
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.6
ISBN: 0670021156
EAN: 9780670021154
ASIN: 0670021156
Publication Date: December 1, 2009
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Availability: Usually ships in 7 to 12 days
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| Also Available In:
| • | Paperback - Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan | | • | Paperback - Stones Into Schools | | • | Paperback - Stones into School | | • | Hardcover - Stones Into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan | | • | MP3 CD - Stones Into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan | | • | Audio CD - Stones Into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan | | • | Audio Cassette - Stones Into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan | | • | Audio CD - Stones Into Schools Unabridged Compact Disc |
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 11
`Adventure Humanitarian Work' in a region central to American Foreign Policy May 10, 2010
Suhail Zubaid AHMAD (Mississauga, ON, Canada)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The first book on Greg Mortenson's adventure humanitarian work was aptly titled `3 Cups of Tea' after an explanation of a local custom by his Mentor Haji Ali, the chief of Pakistan's northernmost village of Korphe, who had said, "The first time you share tea with a Balti villager you are a stranger; the second cup that you share is an offer of friendship; and the third cup of tea means that you are now part of the family and we can even die for you". This custom is loosely accurate for the rest of Pakistan too.
The second book has been very adequately titled `Stones into Schools' after a former Mujahideen Leader of the northeastern Afghanistan, Commander Sadhar Khan, who once pointing out to the grave stones scattered on a field in thousands explained, "These stones remind of thousands of Afghan children killed since late 70s. Now it is the time to turn the stones into schools". It offers even more of what I call adventure humanitarian work.
Both the books will appeal to readers interested in finding out root cause of the current problem of terrorism, the ways to fight this evil and the ways not to fight this evil. This book continues to be primarily about Greg Mortenson's humanitarian work with respect to girl education in the remotest, and may I add most adventurous and "the last best parts" of Pakistan (Karakorums, Himalayas, and Neelum Valley) and Afghanistan (Pamir). In the process however, it touches in a great educating and a graphical way on various topics that are at the center of American foreign policy as it walks the reader through Afghanistan - Pakistan border territories, Mujahideens and the Afghan-Soviet war (1980s), Talibans (1990s and up to now), war lords, a brief history of Afghanistan and of Wakhan territory, Indo-Pakistani affairs, Afghan and Pakistani quaint ethnicities; cultures; and religious groups.
The book also part drives and part hitch-hikes the readers through Pakistan's earthquake of 2005 that killed 600,000 people; majority of them school going students just opening up their books to study when the earthquake or "zalzala" as it is called in Urdu, but given a much deeper name of `Qiyamat' or Apocalypse came roaring down in the morning. Furthermore, you may have read all about the destruction of Afghanistan and its people since late 1970s, but this account is so graphical that you will visualize the tragedy unfolding as if you were living it.
I found the book written in a better way than the first one. It is written in a chronological account in the form of a biography that is a good thing to start with. In the process, the spadework for building schools and expansion of girl education program is explained. This is firstly a physical adventure in that, for example, our heroes had to hitchhike for 17 hours on one occasion to reach the farthest Pakistani village hit by earthquake, had to sleep under earthquake wrecked trucks and out on pavements, drive from Kabul to Wakhan under the threat of terrorist attacks, etc. It is a psychological adventure as well in that our heroes had major hurdles dealing with Government officials in Kabul for obtaining some basic permissions to get going in Wakhan territory, had to try convincing Pakistani orthodox parents into sending their high performing daughters for higher studies on CAI scholarships, debating whether they could do something for improving the life of an 11 years old Afghan boy working as a mechanic, etc.
I guarantee that even if you are an adventure traveller or a doctor who has experienced dying people around you, `Stones into Schools' is a book that will bring tears of sorrow and tears of joy in your eyes. In the end, you will be left with a feeling of success and of hope, yet an uncertainty glaring at you - whether the power that be will listen to the advice contained in this book by people from so many different areas of life on the best way to fight terrorism and extremism.
informative,entertaining and a great read! May 3, 2010
LisaJ
There is no bravado or ego in Greg Mortenson or the CAI organisation. The sacrifices and time associated with the mission to build schools and educate people who live in a land ripped by war and poverty is infinite in size. Humanitarian is to small a label for this man and his CAI team.
I have read Three Cups of Tea and loved it. Stones into Schools is even better. The writing in first person is better and the stories of the travels, tribulations and people are entertaining and very informative. Never depressing and forever optimistic makes this book a great read.
This book should be a mandatory read for any person over the age of 14. So much can be learned, history, work ethics, loyalty, war, peace, poverty and much more.
Stones into Schools April 23, 2010
Heather I. Shepherd (Saskatchewan, Canada)
Currently reading this book as part of a Book Study group. Our group is thoroughly enjoying this book as it is not only easy reading but inspirational. As must read for anyone wanting to clarify their ideas on what is happening in Afghanistan or the areas around.
`We must turn these stones into schools.' April 21, 2010
J. Cameron-Smith (ACT, Australia)
This book recounts Greg Mortenson's ongoing efforts to establish schools for girls in Afghanistan; his work in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan after a massive earthquake hit the region in 2005. I've not yet read `Three Cups of Tea', so can't compare the two.
This book is part vision: promoting peace through education and literacy; part cultural adventure: the realities of life in Afghanistan; and part collection of stories of those most involved in making a difference through their efforts in this troubled region. It is hard not to be inspired by the achievements of Mr Mortenson and his `Dirty Dozen': they believe in what they are doing and work very hard to anticipate and to overcome obstacles to success. The logistical challenges of building schools in such remote regions are clearly explained, as is the determination of those who want the schools seeing them as a step to a far brighter future. I especially like the way Mr Mortenson and his team describe working with people at a local level rather than imposing externally developed solutions on them.
But what does the future hold? Education and literacy are means to an end rather than an end in themselves. Certainly, those who are educated now can educate others. But for how long, and what will happen then? At some stage, there will need to be a new phase in this story. And, hopefully, it will be a phase that can be led from within.
Perhaps, though, the real value of Mr Mortenson's book is to provide a view of Afghanistan which is not entirely constrained by politics and war. Yes, we - individually and collectively - can make a difference.
`When you take the time to actually listen, with humility to what people have to say, it's amazing what you can learn.'
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Simply Inspiring April 7, 2010
Cheryl Howard (Toronto, Canada)
After reading Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time last year, I was super excited to read Stones into School. What had happened since the publication of his last book?
One of the main things I liked about this book was the fact that it was written by Greg himself. It made this one more special and personal.
I also enjoyed learning about how he has grown personally and adjusted to how CAI has matured into the larger entity it is today. The detailed stories of his newest staff members - their journeys and accomplishments are humorous and heartfelt. I don't know how he managed to do it but he found people as passionate and devoted to the cause of girl's education as he is himself.
Other special highlights include the incredible tale of building of a school in the most remote parts of Afghanistan, learning about the devastation caused by the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, and Greg's change of mind about the US military and their role in the countries.
If you liked Three Cups of Tea, you will be sure to love Stones into Schools. It will make you both laugh and cry.
Greg Mortenson is a man who truly makes a difference. His story needs to be told so more people can become of aware of what he is doing and help his cause.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 11
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