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Marte's Reviews > Three Cups of Deceit: How Greg Mortenson, Humanitarian Hero, Lost His Way
Three Cups of Deceit: How Greg Mortenson, Humanitarian Hero, Lost His Way
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I saw Greg Mortenson speak in Miami in July last year and was captivated by his story. Each delegate at the conference were given a copy of Three Cups of Tea (the young adult version) and a hardback copy of Stones into Schools. I thought this was very generous of the publisher, but according to this exposé, Mortenson usually buys the books for such events using his charity's funds, so that (a) he can receive royalties (not his charity, mind!), which he wouldn't if the publisher donated the books or if they were bought at wholesale prices and (b) the books can stay in the bestseller lists. This is appalling and I would like to find out how the books I received were procured. I am going to write to the conference organisers and I'll update this review if I get a response.
This title is an excellent piece of investigative journalism and is divided into three sections: one section exposes a number of myths/lies in Mortenson's books, one section deals with the financial fraud and malpractice of his charity, and one section deals with the failures resulting from him trying to run everything as a one-man show. It's distressing reading and has made me feel angry and upset about being taken in so easily by Mortenson last July. Like Krakauer, I hope the charity itself can continue, but with proper management and accounting practises. I also hope something will be done about the financial fraud that has been going on for years.
Unlike Mortenson, who receives all the royalties from his books, whilst his charity funds his personal travel and buys the books being given away at events, 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.
This title is an excellent piece of investigative journalism and is divided into three sections: one section exposes a number of myths/lies in Mortenson's books, one section deals with the financial fraud and malpractice of his charity, and one section deals with the failures resulting from him trying to run everything as a one-man show. It's distressing reading and has made me feel angry and upset about being taken in so easily by Mortenson last July. Like Krakauer, I hope the charity itself can continue, but with proper management and accounting practises. I also hope something will be done about the financial fraud that has been going on for years.
Unlike Mortenson, who receives all the royalties from his books, whilst his charity funds his personal travel and buys the books being given away at events, 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.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
June 18, 2011
– Shelved
June 18, 2011
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kindle
June 18, 2011
– Shelved as:
non-fiction
June 18, 2011
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Uma
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Jun 21, 2011 08:06PM
I gather I really need to read this one, as I really enjoyed Three Cups of Tea... It's unfortunate that this is how his story has unfolded.
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Yes, unfortunately I think you need to read this, too. I took the time to read Greg's side of the story as well, but it's very woolly and vague, and reads very much like someone who doesn't want to give straight answers. Some of the questions he has been asked requires factual answers (dates, amounts) and he is so evasive.I don't even mind so much that Greg 'compressed' events into shorter time-spans etc. - but Krakauer list an uncomfortably long line of straight lies. For example Greg made up that he got to attend Mother Theresa's wake alone, but she died three years before he said he was there. The financial situation also looks really dodgy and this might put people off donating to charity. It all makes me very angry.
Mae, thanks for the review. I've just known of the scandal today and, as one of the people who bought Mortenson's book, I feel so upset and angry! And I was naive enough as to think money got from the book would help the org, not only Mortenson's bank account! Could you please tell me how to purchase Krakauer's book? I clicked on the link in your review but it just appears a "Not Found" message. Thanks
I bought Krakauer's book from Amazon's Kindle Store, but you can read about the various ways of getting it here: .Not sure why my link isn't working, but it wasn't meant to be a link to purchasing the book anyway, but rather to the charity project that Krakauer's royalty earnings are going to.
So crazy when you find yourself personally involved with such a massive fraud. It really makes you put things in perspective.
Yes, I'll read this, too, as I probably have Mortenson's book a good review (Three Cups of Tea). I liked the story; I like humanitarian stories, in general. But I trust Krakauer! I know he's been to Mt Everest and all those surrounding countries, and I'm glad he will call out bullsh*tters who tell tales about the region.Now if only Krakauer could write about the gut-wrenching fraud of USAID in Haiti! Millionaires making more millions of our tax money building worthless boxes while people starve to death and die of cholera because they have no clean water YEARS after the earthquake.
This man have done much more for these kids in a foreign country where all of you consider them to be terrorist who want to destroy your American way of life. Look in the mirror and ask yourself what have you done anything for anyone except for yourselves. This is the American way, build someone up just to tear them down. I believe you all do this because you are failures in your life and envy rears it's head. What have you done lately other than foster racism, Bigotry, hatred .
Leo: There is no doubt that Mortenson has done a lot of good and important work for children, but that does not mean that he and his charity should be shielded from constructive criticism. His charity would benefit from better management practices and the financial fraud must be stopped. Like I wrote in my review of Krakauer's book, I would very much like for the charity to go on with its important work, but the problems Krakauer exposes must be adressed.As for your other accusations: I am not American, I don't consider people from Pakistan and Afghanistan to be terrorists, I have love for others and I did not write a favourable review of Krakauer's book because I am envious of Mortenson. I don't see how my book review fosters racism, bigotry or hatred.
Leo wrote: "This man have done much more for these kids in a foreign country where all of you consider them to be terrorist who want to destroy your American way of life. Look in the mirror and ask yourself wh..."How about you stop with making Mortenson into some kind of saint! And if you think that those of us being critical of Mortenson are envious of him, it just shows how little you know. I was definitely ready to consider Mortenson as worthy and selfless, but if ANY of the the accusations are even remotely true, he most definitely deserves both criticism and investigation, no matter how much this might be anathema to uncritical supporters like you.
Leo wrote: "This man have done much more for these kids in a foreign country where all of you consider them to be terrorist who want to destroy your American way of life. Look in the mirror and ask yourself wh..."And I can only say that you probably are what you write, so I am pretty sure that you actually are someone who believes that people from Afghanistan and Pakistan are terrorists by their ethnicity.
And if that assessment bothers you, good, it is meant to.
Read the review fromLe Petite American
It explains things well
Now I'm confused a bit. Given there's a need to be critical, what rating would you give Mortensen on overall good still done in that area (1-10)? When I read words like fraud, I automatically think it has to be 1-3. But if it's more that "he still did great work but needs to be held accountable for gaps else where" that can still be a 7 or 8. Just curious. Thx
