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Discussion Questions for Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
What personal qualities and skills enable Greg Mortenson to carry out his promise to build schools in Pakistan? What specific events or scenes in the book highlight some of these traits?
Other people constantly impact Mortenson’s ability to carry out his plans. What role does “community” (other people, relationships, etc.) play in his experience? What specific events or scenes in the book demonstrate how others help (or hinder) his work?
How is Mortenson challenged and changed (in bigger or smaller ways) through his encounter with this “other” culture?
In what ways does Mortenson adapt to Muslim culture? What’s your reaction to this? What different reactions did (or might) his adaptations provoke within the Muslim community?
What information about the Central Asian region and culture in this book did you find most interesting or surprising or useful?
Mortenson claims that building schools in this region is a more practical response to terrorism than war. Do you think the book makes a solid case for that claim, and why or why not?
Do you think Mortenson is simply an exceptional person, or can anyone make a difference like this with enough commitment?
What critical questions should we ask about philanthropic projects such as those described in this book?
Does reading this book make you want to do anything different (bigger or smaller) in your own life?
What two questions would you ask Mortenson in a face-to-face conversation?
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