Analysis Of Three Cups Of Tea By Greg Mortenson

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Greg Mortenson’s story of survival, hope, education, and charity in his memoir Three Cups of Tea has captured the hearts of millions of readers across the globe. In 2011, book’s authenticity was challenged and Mortenson’s falsehoods were pointed out. Although some try to defend the author, the severity of the lies and exaggerations told by Greg Mortenson in Three Cups of Tea and other speaking engagements outweigh the few good acts he actually did.
The lies start right from the first chapter. Through co-author David Oliver Relin, Mortenson depicts the horrors of his failed ascent to the peak of K2 and how he got lost from his climbing group and stumbled across Korphe village. Upon arrival in Korphe, he claims to have been taken in by the village chieftain, Haji Ali, and nursed back to health as a guest of honor. Once partially recovered, Mortenson talks about his visit to the village’s school - or lack thereof - and …show more content…

This shows that Mortenson will not admit to his dishonesties and will continue to lie to support his ever-growing ego. Another account in which he lies is when he claims to have been captured by the Taliban while visiting the Wazirstan region with native Badam Gul in 1996. As James Kirchick notes in his article “The Con Man and His Pet Columnist,” the Taliban wasn’t established in that area at that point. In fact, the Taliban did not exist there until 2001 (2). That shows a clear discrepancy that cannot be ignored. Gul helped Mortenson get into the restricted native lands and was repayed by being portrayed as a sly con man who led him to the Taliban where he was held against his will. It is evident that Mortenson had no regard for those who helped him achieve his dream of becoming a world-renowned

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