Trevor's Summer Reading List

This summer reading list is brought to us by faithful blogger and PPDC intern, Trevor.

Summer Reading List 7: Trevor Keck, Legislative Associate for Peaceful Prevention of Deadly Conflict

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time
By Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
I am highly skeptical of books on the New York Times Best Seller List. Yet, my conservative mother told me this book made her see U.S. foreign policy in a new light. Intrigued, I picked up this highly accessible story of a climber turned schoolbuilder in South Asia. Humbled by the hospitality of a Pakistani village after failing to climb K2, Greg Mortenson takes it upon himself to raise funds to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. This quick read provides a good example of the types of projects the U.S. governement could be funding to reduce support for terrorism and build bridges of understanding between the U.S. and the Middle East.

Good Muslim, Bad Muslim: America, The Cold War and The Roots of Terror
By Mahmood Mamdani
This book is an excellent history lesson in U.S. foreign policy during the end of the cold war. Mamdani provides numerous examples of how U.S. policies supported groups committing acts of terror when it suited U.S. goals: rolling back the Soviet Union's influence and power. Now that terrorist groups have turned their sights on the U.S., Mamdani says rather than military confrontation with terrorist groups, U.S. foreign policy should devote resources and attention to strategies that erode support for terrorism and recognize legitimate political grievances many have with U.S foreign policy.

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