Rainer Maria Rilke

"Live a while in these books, learn from them what seems to you worth learning, but above all love them. This love will be repaid you a thousand and a thousand times, and however your life may turn,-it will, I am certain of it, run through the fabric of your growth as one of the most important threads among all the threads of your experiences, disappointments, and joys."--Rainer Maia Rilke


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Friday, December 28, 2012

A Tempest in a Tea Cup

Three Cups of Deceit: How Greg Mortenson, Humanitarian Hero, Lost His Way by Jon Krakauer

Nonfiction

This Kindle short, or short expose, is a reaction to the phenomena caused by Greg Mortenson and his book, Three Cups of Tea:  One Man's Mission to Promote Peace.....One School at a Time.

In this selection, Krakauer highlights what he sees as a gross misuse of funds by the famed humanitarian Mortenson.  He more than hints that Mortenson isn't much of a humanitarian and is little more than a common swindler. 

The evidence fell a bit flat for me, though.  Krakauer's research just doesn't show that Mortenson is a monster of greed.  Bad at money management and full of himself, sure.  But evil?  Krakauer just couldn't make that case.  Clearly, Krakauer dislikes the guy and I do get slight feelings of mistrust but I just wasn't swayed.

In all, though, it was a fascinating look at the topic and certainly gives balance to Mortenson's various books, all of which I very much enjoyed.  Krakauer is always master of the writing game and while his style is very interesting and gripping, this book just isn't as dramatic as some of his others.

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