Three Cups of Deceit: How Greg Mortenson, Humanitarian Hero, Lost His Way
Greg Mortenson, the bestselling author of Three Cups of Tea, is a man who has built a global reputation as a selfless humanitarian and children's crusader, and he's been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. But, as bestselling author Jon Krakauer demonstrates in this extensively researched and penetrating book, he is not all that he appears to be. Based on wide-ranging interviews with former employees, board members, and others who have intimate knowledge of Mortenson and his charity, the Central Asia Institute, Three Cups of Deceit uncovers multiple layers of deception behind Mortenson's public image. Was his crusade really inspired by a desire to repay the kindness of villagers who nursed him back to health when he became lost on his descent down K2? Was he abducted and held for eight days by the Taliban? Has his charity built all of the schools that he has claimed? This book is a passionately argued plea for the truth, and a tragic tale of good intentions gone very wrong. 100% of Jon Krakauer's proceeds from the sale of Three Cups of Deceit will be donated to the "Stop Girl Trafficking" project at the American Himalayan Foundation (himalayan-foundation.org/live/project/stopgirltrafficking).
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Community Reviews
How sad. This whole book was depressing from beginning to end. First and foremost, people who need schools, understanding, and kindness are being cheated. Young girls in remote and poverty-stricken pockets of the globe are unable to go to school because of broken promises. Greg Mortenson is not spreading knowledge, he's misconstruing a people and deviously seeding fear with the facade of promoting peace. That is the real crime here. Money is ultimately immaterial, and I think it would do Jon Krakauer a world of good to remember that at the end of the day. I also think it would've made this book more enjoyable. Mostly, to me, it seemed less like a real crime against humanity (which it is) and more like a personal vendetta. Mortenson tackled the wrong boyo. Krakauer frequently mentions how he donated large sums of money which he felt were frittered away irresponsibly or mismanaged or pocketed by Dr. Greg. Part of me wants to say, "Boo hoo. Corporations do this every day to millions of average Americans who aren't giving their money to what they think will be helping others, but who are hoping to reinvest their own money in their future and are subsequently denied it." So much has been dedicated to corporate swindling and yet it is still not enough. Is it really worth getting so much more worked up over a purported non-profit skimming off the top than scads of for-profits doing it at the cost of so much more, not only to their employees and customers, but to the global community, as well? So I say to Mr. Krakauer, this should have stayed an article. It is a clever expose, well done, now we'll all put our charity money someplace else. Maybe Oprah has something nice to donate to (I bet she does). But why don't you take this scathing journalistic indictment and turn it on someone who is systematically destroying whole countries and ways of life instead of taking schoolchildren's pennies? Oh wait, I forgot. That doesn't have enough pathos to it and wouldn't be as much of a sentimental kick in the gut. But wait again -- isn't that one of the main criticism which you brought against Greg Mortenson?
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