Three Cups Of Deceit: How Greg Mortenson, Humanitarian Hero, Lost His Way (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
Wholly upsetting. I am completely disgusted to find out about how Greg Mortenson has used Afghanistan and Pakistan to turn himself into a white knight, and to make millions and millions of dollars. His deceitfulness to his company and to the world make me sick.This was a quick read, and I'm glad that the truth is out there, but it makes me sad to think that someone who I thought was bringing so much hope to the world is really deceiving it and misusing millions of dollars of donations. Years ago, Greg Mortenson's "Three Cups of Tea" caught my eye at a local bookstore. For whatever reason, I didn't pick it up despite the premise being thoroughly intriguing. How could I not love a book about a guy who spent a big chunk of his adult life building schools in Afghanistan in the hope that education would counter the tendency to become a militant terrorist? Many subsequent visits to the store had me wanting to but never pulling the trigger and buying it. Mortenson himself came to town to speak about his experiences as part of a book reading challenge. But I still never read it. A few years later, the proverbial "fit hit the shan" when it was discovered that Mortenson wasn't entirely honest in his book. I was happy I didn't read it as a result. What I didn't know was that the battle cry was being lead by author Jon Krakauer, an author I love. This year, I discovered this 100-page exposé and it's very damning. Usually scandal regarding books doesn't bother me. I can still find something to appreciate about the source material. James Frey's "A Million Little Pieces" is still incredibly inspiring even if fabricated. But the difference between Frey and Mortenson is that Frey's lie doesn't hurt anyone but himself by my estimation. Mortenson's lie has financial, educational, ethical, moral, and cultural implications and so many others. He misappropriated money, he lied about his treatment in Afghanistan leading to dishonor amongst those who took care of him with nothing but his health and safety in mind, he mistreated employees, he misled fans and the media, and he did it all for personal gain. Despicable. This quick read lays it all bare and even though I know how it all turned out (the charges came out in 2011 and all was worked out last year), it's still incredibly fascinating to read as Krakauer picks apart the lies piece by piece. With how poorly so many reporters and authors write in this day and age, I really respect the artistry of well-written, researched, and documented reports, articles, and books. This is my third Krakauer read and far from the last. HIGHLY recommended.
What do You think about Three Cups Of Deceit: How Greg Mortenson, Humanitarian Hero, Lost His Way (2011)?
I had Greg Mortenson's books on my to read list when it was first brought to light that it had false accounts and lots of questions regarding the validity of the books. I enjoy Jon Krakauer's books and this was a short book, so thought I would see what he found out. I wish that there were some way that the publisher's or someone could check some facts before publishing these type of supposedly non-fiction. It is sad to know that it took this long to find out some of the truths and how many dollars given to people under false pretenses. Wonder if there is some sort of lawsuit or changes that have been made since the publication date.
—high
I prefer not to look into fraud and the greedier side of human nature. I know it exists and yet I still believe in humanity. I wish this book contained a statement from the accused. Maybe to remove the mystery or so I could understand or maybe just judge what is a complex matter and make it simple. The other part thinks there is nothing to be gained from an explanation and that with the ambiguity we can imagine redemption.
—mamie
This story has a very clear moral: don't f*** with John Krakauer.
—usha
