Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin, Three Cups of Tea (2007)

Three Cups of Tea is the account of Greg Mortenson's efforts to educate the uneducated in Pakistan & Afghanistan by constructing schools in the very poorest of areas. I have a few issues with the book, but nonetheless, it's an interesting story. Even more interesting is that his daughter, mentioned throughout the book, has recorded a song to go with the book. Enterprising to say the least.

This book has been passed on to Roxanne Doty.

I was discussing the book with my friend Debra over coffee this morning. She mentioned another organization that also aims to educate those in third world countries, Room to Read, headed by John Woods, formerly of Microsoft. Apparently this guy has even been on Oprah.

I wonder if they're hiring.

Polly Evans, It's Not About the Tapas (2006)

Interesting because of the descriptions of the places that she visited & the bit of history thrown in. But Evans is too cynical for my tastes. Her account was sprinkled with negative, often self-centered observations.

She did mention a pilgrimage through the Pyrenees that I'd like to try one day.

This book was returned to the Tempe Public Library.

Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods (1998)

Bill Bryson is great! Funny, observant, very entertaining to read.

Several years ago I dated a guy who really liked the idea of hiking the Appalachian Trail in one push. I wasn't a backpacker then, & was barely even a day hiker, so the idea of walking through mountains & valleys for six months without contact with civilization did not appeal to me in the least.

Years passed & I became an avid Camelbacker, as well as a dabbler in backpacking. I began to see the appeal of hiking over 2000 miles in the back country. I started to seriously consider doing the Arizona Trail, which bisects Arizona from Mexico to Utah (or from Utah to Mexico if you prefer), for a total of 800 miles. At a leisurely pace of 10 miles per day, this would take almost three months to complete. That sounded like fun.

Then I started reading "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson. He makes months of communing with nature sound utterly insupportable, questionably unhealthy, & at times downright dangerous. Perhaps I'll have to revise my plan.

This book was traded at Bookmans.

Augusten Burroughs, Running With Scissors (2006)

Could all that he says in this book be true? If so, I'm surprised that Augusten Burroughs has it together enough to write just one book, let alone several. Even if half of it is true, I feel blessed to have grown up in a crazy-free home.

This book was traded at Bookmans.