Did you read Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson? I did. Were you inspired by his work in Afghanistan and Pakistan? I was. Mortenson wrote that he was inspired by Mother Teresa and inferred that he should be thought of in such saintly terms. Jon Krakauer, no stranger to controversy (Into Thin Air, Into the Wild, Under the Banner of Heaven, etc.), presents impressive, exhaustive, and compelling evidence that Mortenson is far less of a saint than he would have us believe. While Mortenson has done some good things in terms of building schools and especially providing education to girls and young women in places where that had never occurred, he was also an out-of-control megalomaniac who lied about enriching himself in the process. Mortenson sounds like an impressive and charismatic speaker, but unfortunately, someone who is too good to be true. How disappointing! Perhaps this book, a short and quick read, is best summed up in the last two sentences: “With one hand, Greg has created something potentially beautiful and caring (regardless of his motives). With the other he has murdered his creation by his duplicity.”
Wow, i knew all the controversy about Three Cups of Tea has been in the news lately but i didnt know this was John Krakauer's new book. I have read all his books so I must read this one. I think he picks his topics so carefully so this must be something he felt passionately about. Adam read Three Cups of Tea last year and he called it, he said it seemed all too easy and unbelievable. I guess after working in development work himself in a corrupt country he realized where the pieces in that book did not fit together. I read the book a year before I joined the Peace Corps and I was only impressed and inspired by Greg Mortenson. I didnt question a thing. I do remember the authoer constantly mentioning how Mortenson was sketchy on the timing of critical details and how things did not always seems to fall on a consistent time line. That would be the first clue.
ReplyDeleteDespite Mortenson's false claims in Three Cups of Tea I still believe that one charismatic person can do a lot in development work if they have enough energy, time and passion for the job.
Finally, a book I have read!! So disappointing!!
ReplyDeleteI hope this is not true of Little Princes.
I agree with Jenna that passion can do a lot. I don't think Mortenson was evil, just one of those big idea people who doesn't think rules apply to him and his mission. What concerned me most was that he refused to have a manager do the paperwork for him.
Krakauer is one pissed off investor! I don't think he would risk his reputation if it weren't true.