Bainbridge was abuzz about “Three Cups of Tea” in 2007.
The bestselling book about Greg Mortenson’s transformation from mountain climber to school builder in the isolated regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan was required reading at Bainbridge High that fall.
When Mortenson stopped by the island for a visit, hundreds flocked to his readings at the high school and Eagle Harbor Books. Attendees called Mortenson’s story uplifting and inspirational.
I wrote a story about Mortenson’s Bainbridge visit. You can read it here.
This week, the CBS show 60 Minutes and author Jon Krakauer (“Into Thin Air”) cast doubts on key parts of Mortenson’s story.
“It’s a beautiful story, and it’s a lie,” Krakauer said on 60 minutes.
60 Minutes also called into question the way funds are allocated by Mortenson’s charity, the Central Asia Institute, indicating that large sums have been used to promote Mortenson rather than build schools.
You can see the 60 Minutes piece below the jump.
Krakauer’s lengthy article is here.
Mortenson denies wrong-doing, although he does admit the truth was stretched a bit in the book. He gave his side of things to Outside magazine. You can read the interview here.
