VANCOUVER – The best seller, “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace,” by Greg Mortenson and Portland’s David Oliver Relinwas, has been selected as this year’s required freshman reading project at WSU Vancouver.
Each year, a book is chosen at WSU Vancouver to go with the general education theme, which is currently “Global change in a local context.” This year’s freshmen have already received their complementary copies of the book. They are expected to show up for their first General Education class Aug. 25 ready to answer several discussion questions about the book, such as: In what ways has “Three Cups of Tea” challenged your perspectives of Islam or the Muslim world? Why does Mortenson focus on or emphasize providing education to girls?
In a July 13 column, New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristoff said of this book, “Mr. Mortenson has become a legend in the region, his picture sometimes dangling like a talisman from rearview mirrors, and his work has struck a chord in America as well.”
(Full op-ed http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/opinion/13kristof.htm)
“This book was chosen because it focuses on the difference that ordinary people can make in their communities and in the lives of people all over the world,” said Karen Diller, WSU Vancouver assistant vice chancellor of academic affairs. “It is inspirational, very readable, and provides a perspective on ordinary people living in Pakistan that is not widely seen in the United States.”
Numerous events relating to the book are in the works for the coming academic year, including a Southeast Asian Bazaar Sept. 10, and a visit and discussion with the book’s writer, David Oliver Relin, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m., free and open to the public.
WSU Vancouver “Three Cups of Tea” project information: http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/gen_ed/readingproject.html.
“Three Cups of Tea” Web site: http://www.threecupsoftea.com .
