In the last couple of weeks, I’ve been reading. In part inspired by my trip to Switzerland, and in part feeling the need to suffuse my brain with some non-tech/business knowledge. I headed down to the library and borrowed “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson and “The Year of Living Biblically” by A.J. Jacobs.
Both offered rare insight into the human spirit, and while I would hesitate to say they changed my life, they’ve definitely given me a refreshing perspective on things.
I’ve already finished “Three Cups of Tea”, so I guess I can talk about that first. The basic premise of this non-fiction story revolves around this man named Greg Mortenson, a multi-hyphenate in that he is a trained nurse, a mountaineer, an educator, husband and father. He is an American who went to Pakistan first to scale its mountains in the Korphe region, but due to his physical limits, he failed to reach the summit. However, on his descent, he discovered that the region was so cut off from the world, and was painfully lacking schools. And so he embarked on a decade long mission to build schools for the children of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Although that wasn’t his original intent (which was purely to provide education for the kids), he realized that building schools that teach moderation, as opposed to extremism, was key to combating militant Islam and terrorism in a non-violent way.
The book chronicles his adventures in the Middle East as he befriends village mujahadeens, Taliban leaders, reporters, and normal civilians who live among the mountains he loves. His major relationships are all marked by a simple ritual – exchanging three cups of tea with the other person. The first cup signifies peace and goodwill, the second signifies friendship, the third, signifies a bond between family.
I’m currently reading “A Year of Living Bibically”, written by Esquire editor A.J. Jacobs. People might know Esquire as a lad’s mag, as secular a publication can be. So it was interesting that one of its editors would choose to take a year from his life and try to emulate the Bible’s laws, as literally as possible, all while living in New York City, and holding a job at a magazine that has a section called “Best Dirrtyy Talk”. (Fiiine, I don’t know if that section actually exists.)
It’s actually surprisingly funny. (I’m now more convinced that God has a kickass sense of humor.) I’m definitely recommending it to Jamison, reformed hippie turned campus paster :)
Friday, June 12, 2009
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