Whether you know Stones into Schools because of the phenomenon that was Three Cups of Tea or because Stones into Schools became a best seller in its own right, there is no denying its impact. The fast paced we-must-build-schools story picks up right where Three Cups of Tea left off. Mortenson has established himself as humanitarian extraordinaire, but he wants to do more, more, more. He makes a solemn promise to a band of Kirghiz horsemen to build schools in a remote area of Afghanistan called Bozai Gumbaz. This is the dramatic retelling (and lots of humble bragging) of how he barely kept that promise.
If you read beyond the endless list of accomplishments and focus on the efforts of the people around Mortenson, inspiration can be easily found. Especially after the events of October 8th, 2005 in northern Pakistan when an earthquake rocked the landscape into rubble.
Confessional: I got a little weary of all of the "I talk" Mortenson did throughout both Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools. I did this, I did that. I am this. I am all that. I couldn't get the image of him riding around on a camel wearing a cape and mask out of my head. But, for all of his avarice I appreciated the exposure to the culture, operations, and obsessions of the Taliban. When you are held hostage by American news organizations you only get one side of the story and as they always say, there are three sides: your, mine, and the truth. ( )

This story was enjoyable, educational, and inspirational, but not quite as much so as Three Cups of Tea. ( )

some truly great and inspiring stories in this book, and I can only imagine the difficulties faced in building all these schools "at the end of the road", especially seeing how difficult it is to make a change here in Afghanistan the accomplishments are certainly commendable. Also I think the concept as a whole, of education being the answer is spot on.

However, a large majority of the book felt like "look at me, look at me", "x number of meetings in less than x number of days", only 3 hours of sleep, working to the point of collapse... Could of done without all that.

I found this book a little anti-climatic after reading "Three Cups of Tea". I believe if I hadn't already read that book, I would have found this book more engrossing. It isn't that this book wasn't good enough on its own, but more that I found it hard to top the 1st book.

Worse was finding out about a follow-up book by Jon Krakauer, "Three Cups of Deceit", in which Krakauer details financial improprieties by Mortenson, as well as explaining that many of the most dramatic stories in "Three Cups of Tea", those which make the story so compelling, were totally fabricated. Those invented stories make for a compelling book, however it becomes a letdown to find out that Mortenson diverts so much of the donated money to his personal use rather than for the students he purports to support. ( )

I have a friend in Pakistan...thinking about making more of a contribution...it has really made me ponder. ( )