Reading a book off the bestseller lists always feels to me a little like hiking up a long and arduous trail, only to find a parking lot and a busload of tourists at the top. The sense of discovery’s not quite the same.

But, I am happy to announce the exception to the rule. I loved Three Cups of Tea, which arrived under my tree this Christmas.

It’s the story of a mountain-climber-turned-school-builder who dedicates his life to providing secular education for both boys and girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan — an amazing example of how drastically one person can change the world. Plus, I loved what he had to say about Donald Rumsfeld’s expensive shoes.