World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Greg Mortenson

グレッグ・モーテンソン

Greg Mortenson

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
St. Cloud, Minnesota, U.S.
Nationality
United States
Languages
English, Swahili
Religion
Protestant (Lutheran)
Residence History
Usambara mountains, Tanganyika/Tanzania (early childhood and adolescence) → Minnesota, USA (adolescence/high school) → Bozeman, Montana, USA (residence)

Career

Occupations
professional speaker, writer, veteran, former mountaineer, humanitarian
Active Years
1975-
Affiliations
Central Asia Institute (founder; former executive director), Pennies for Peace (founder)

Education

Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota)
Athletics (football scholarship)
Period: 1977–1979
Country: United States
Attended on an athletic (football) scholarship; part of 1978 NAIA Division III championship team
University of South Dakota
Liberal Studies / Nursing (associate)
Degree: Bachelor's (liberal studies); Associate degree (nursing)
Period: 〜1983
Year of Graduation: 1983
Country: United States
Graduated in 1983 with a bachelor's degree; also holds an associate degree in nursing

Awards

Al Neuharth Free Spirit of the Year Award
2003
Result: 受賞
Sitara-e-Pakistan (Star of Pakistan)
2009
Organization: Government of Pakistan
Result: 受賞
S. Roger Horchow Award for Greatest Public Service by a Private Citizen (Jefferson Award)
2009
Organization: Jefferson Awards for Public Service
Result: 受賞
Academy of Achievement Award
2009
Organization: Academy of Achievement
Result: 受賞
The Christopher Award
2010
Work: Three Cups of Tea
Organization: The Christophers
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Three Cups of Tea

2006 Memoir / Non-fiction

A memoir recounting Mortenson's work building schools in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan and advocating for girls' education. It frames his humanitarian efforts around his K2 expedition and subsequent interactions with mountain communities.

girls' educationpeace-buildingcommunity engagement

Stones into Schools

2009 Memoir / Non-fiction

A follow-up to Three Cups of Tea documenting the Central Asia Institute's school-building projects and the broader impact of education in the region.

educational developmentcommunity supportinternational aid

Listen to the Wind

2009 Children's picture book 32 pages

A children's picture-book adaptation of Three Cups of Tea that introduces Mortenson's story and the value of education to young readers.

educationcross-cultural understanding

Bibliography

  • The Difference A Day Makes (co-author)
  • Three Cups of Tea (co-author)
  • Listen to the Wind (children's picturebook)
  • Stones into Schools

Adaptations

  • Documentary '3000 Cups of Tea'

Translations of Works

  • Three Cups of Tea (Japanese translation; editions vary)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
memoiristic narrationadvocacy-oriented, persuasive
Recurring Motifs
educationtea as symbolic motif ('three cups')mountains and journey

Health

  • Hypoxia
    2011（診断・治療）
    Diagnosed and treated in 2011; surgery and recovery coincided with major media controversies.
  • Aneurysm and atrial septal defect (surgery)
    2011（手術）
    Underwent surgery and recovered; timing overlapped with major media exposés.

Legacy

Known for promoting girls' education and building schools in mountainous regions, Mortenson's legacy is mixed: significant humanitarian achievements are recognized but challenged by controversies over book accuracy and nonprofit financial management.

In Popular Culture

  • Documentary film '3000 Cups of Tea'
  • Numerous TV and speaking appearances (C-SPAN, Today, etc.)

Quotes

  • I failed in many ways, and it's an important lesson. I let a lot of people down.
    Source: Today (interview) (2014)

Trivia

  • Spent early childhood in Tanzania and speaks fluent Swahili.
  • Co-founder of the Central Asia Institute (CAI) and founder of Pennies for Peace.
  • In 2012 agreed to a settlement with the Montana Attorney General and repaid $1 million to CAI.