Common Read

The common read for 2009-2010 is Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea. Participants in the common read discussion should feel free to generate a list of their own questions about Mortenson's text. They may also use this website to access a set of discussion questions that might help guide their reading and subsequent conversation. Students should bring their own copy of Three Cups of Tea and the discussion questions to orientation. 

Three Cups of Tea
Questions to think about when reading


1. Who is Jean Hoerni, and what is his contribution to Greg’s Project?
2. How is Greg’s training as a nurse helpful to him in Pakistan?
3. Greg helps a Pakistani woman suffering from complications of birth. What is significant about this event, and how is Greg’s interaction with this woman’s husband significant?
4. What is the symbolic meaning of mountains in this story?
5. What barriers does Greg face in building his first school?
6. What does Greg learn from his experience building the bridge?
7. After building several schools, Greg becomes swarmed with proposals for schools and other community projects. How does Greg prioritize his projects, and how does he decide whom to help?
8. Who is the first graduate from Greg’s first school, and what did she do after graduation?
9. What lesson does Greg learn after returning from his experience in Waziristan?
10. What is the significance of the name, Three Cups of Tea?
11. How does Greg’s experience with Haji Alli influence his view about building schools?
12. What does Greg’s decaying health suggest about the value of working with others?
13. Where is Greg during 9/11?
14. What is Greg’s experience with the Taliban?
15. What is Greg’s experience at the pentagon, and why was it significant?
16. Why does Greg focus his efforts on educating girls?
17. Why do religious leaders issue a fatwa against Greg?
18. Greg argues that Pakistani children should be given a well-rounded education. What does Greg say about the Mudrasass, and how does education help fight terrorism?
19. Greg develops many relationships with people in Pakistan, who help him with his mission? Who are some of these key people and how do they help Greg along the way?
20. How are the difficulties of Greg’s mountain climbing experience similar to the difficulties of building schools?
21. Compare Greg’s experience in Afghanistan and Pakistan?
22. What is Greg’s critique of the US approach to fighting terrorism?
23. Greg spends a lot of time fundraising in the United States. What are some of his challenges and how are they overcome?
24. How does building schools fight terrorism?
25. When Greg goes back to Korphe the first time with all the materials to build a school, Haji Ali states “before it is possible to build a school, we must build a bridge.” How can you compare this statement to the journey of coming to college?
26. How did Greg’s experiences in Tanzania as a child impact his views of the world and life? How do your experiences as a child impact your view of the world and life?
27. Identify the people in Greg’s life that proved that ‘one person can make a difference’.