Greg Mortenson's 'Three Cups Of Tea'

In 1966, Truman Capote said that the “first essential of the nonfiction novel” is that “there is a timeless quality about the cause and events.” Greg Mortenson’s book Three Cups of Tea exhibits this “timeless quality.” The timelessness of the book helps the reader to make connections to his life and stirs him to action. In this book, the timeless qualities of service to others, overcoming obstacles, and learning by experience can be found and analyzed.

The action of serving others is a theme that has been repeated time and time again – in history and in literature. In Three Cups of Tea, Mortenson vows to build a school in Pakistan. In this vow, he is dedicating his life to serving others; this is his mission. In history, there are many stories

Life is filled with challenges that must be worked through. In the book, Mortenson faced low finances, a lack of support, a difficult mission, and challenges in getting the necessary supplies. Yet, his passion for the mission was greater than the force of the opposition. Throughout history, various countries and groups have overcome opposition in order to gain power. In 1991, small revolutionary Republican groups in the Soviet Union rose up in power, effectively dissolving the U.S.S.R. and creating separate countries. In the book, Swiss Family Robinson, the Robinson family overcame the obstacles of the elements, pirates, wild animals, and lack of food and shelter in order to live successfully on the island. In the infamous series by C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia, the Pevinsy children, with the help of Aslan, defeated the White Witch and effectively ended the season of

One can sit there and listen to a lecture on woodworking and still not understand how to carve a small figurine unless he actually practices with the wood and the knife. In the book, Mortenson promises to build a school, but he has never had experience in that area of work. It was a learning process for him. All of the books and lectures in the world could not have fully prepared him for the task. The early American government is an example of trial and error. The Articles of the Confederation was the earliest national document native to the United States. Shortly after it was put into effect, people began to realize that such a document was not strong enough to keep the nation together. In 1787, the Constitutional Convention was called and a new document, The Constitution, was drafted and put into effect. By experience, they learned and used this knowledge to create a better system of government. Literature is also filled with account of learning by experience and direct observation. In The Chronicles of Narnia, the Pevinsy children observed Aslan and learned his love and his patience for his people. They learned what it meant to be a leader from him. He assisted them as they found their footing. He taught them through experience. In Pride and Prejudice, one can see another form of learning by experience and observation; however, this form is unfavorable in that Lydia learned through direct observation of her mother how to