Book Reviews: Listen to the Wind, by Greg Mortenson

Have you ever wondered how simple it is to change the world?

The inspirational story of "Listen to the Wind" by Greg Mortenson is a story full of love, kindness and peace. Evoking the magnitude of hospitality and praising the differences in religion and culture, Mortenson encourages readers to forget about politics and prejudices and he remind us that there are - still - many good people around.

The story is a personal experience.

Dr. Greg Mortenson, a strong-minded mountain climber, has decided to climb K2, one of the world's highest and most dangerous peaks in the Himalayas, when he got lost in the wild Pakistani mountains. Exhausted and discouraged, Mortenson found himself in the small Balti village of Korphe. There, he got help from the villagers, who took care of his health and gave him food, tea and a shelter. Mortenson has recovered slowly and, little by little, he begun to understand the Balti culture and ethics.

"The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger."

"The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest."

"The third time you share tea, you are family, and for our family, we are prepared to do anything, even die."

The hospitality of Korphe people has amazed Mortenson. Those poor and forgotten people have brought him back to life with their mental strength and philosophy of life. They didn't care about religious differences or nationality. All they have cared about was to help a stranger regaining his health.

Mortenson felt that he had to return the villager's hospitality, but in a way that it would be truly valuable for them. Getting the advice of Haji Ali, Korphe's wise man, Mortenson let himself guided by the voices of the wind. Closing his eyes, he heard the children's voices studying. He, then, vowed to build a school for Korphe's children.

The doctor returned to California and raised $12,000. He, then, flew back to Pakistan and started buying supplies for building the school. However, as there was no bridge to transfer the supplies to the building site, Mortenson headed back to California and raised additional funds for the bridge.

Mortenson's efforts have developed into the Central Asia Institute. Having suffered from armed kidnapping, having endured CIA investigations and having received numerous hate mails and death threats from Americans after 9/11 for helping Muslims with education, did not discourage Mortenson from establishing more than 78 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan providing education to more than 28,000 children. Also, his top priority was to educate girls in order to promote economic development, peace, and prosperity.

"You can drop bombs, build roads, or put in electricity, but until the girls are educated a society won't change."

On March 23, 2009, the Pakistani government honored Greg Mortenson with Sitara-e-Pakistan, Pakistan's highest civil award, for the courage he exposed and his humanitarian effort to promote education and literacy in Pakistan for the last fifteen years.

"Listen to the Wind" has excellent illustrations by Susan L. Roth. Using colorful fabrics and a variety of pierced scraps of paper, Roth has constructed unique works of art to express the connection between people and cultures. Bright, textural collages call to mind the roughness of the ground and the primitive life in the Pakistani mountains. Getting inspired from actual artifacts of Baltistan, Roth brings alive the freezing immensity of the mountains and the warm charm of Korphe's children.

Illustrations offer a warm, tactile dimension to the book to such an extent that readers may almost touch and feel the headscarves of the children of Korphe. "A Korphe Scrapbook" included in the picture book displays photographs of the events, maps of the Baltistan area and additional information about Korphe's villagers.

No matter what religion we believe in and what are the norms and rules of our society, there are times that answers fly on the wind, revealing miracles to those in need. "Listen to the Wind" is the true spirit of Mortenson's experience and mission anchored by Pakistan's background and history.

Share this inspirational story with your children.

http://www.amazon.com/Listen-Wind-Greg-Mortenson/dp/0803730586
http://www.papertigers.org/reviews/USA/papertigers/ListenToTheWind.html