Her.meneutics: 'Three Cups of Tea,' Three Cups of Me

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April 25, 2011

'Three Cups of Tea,' Three Cups of Me

There's ego behind every published fabrication, including Greg Mortenson's, and Christ is its remedy.

Lisa Velthouse, guest blogger

The publishing world has been aflutter recently following a 60 Minutes segment that raised doubts about the truth of author and philanthropist Greg Mortenson’s work and writing.

Mortenson, best known for the 2006 memoir Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time, is a Nobel Peace Prize nominee whose nonprofit, Central Asia Institute (CAI), has raised tens of millions toward educating children, especially girls, in Pakistan and Afghanistan. According to CBS report interviews, however, a number of stories in Mortenson’s books — including one where he’s kidnapped by the Taliban, one where all the yaks of a region are loaned to him for a school’s construction, and one where a Pakistani village helps him back to health after he happens upon it, ill and lost — are fiction. What's more, Mortenson could be liable for up to $23 million in back taxes from "excess benefits" he received from CAI through 2009.

For now, the Montana (home to CAI) Attorney General has promised to investigate, the CAI has pledged transparency in the process, and Mortenson’s reputable friends have been cautiously coming to his defense. It seems possible to assume that the teacup is half-full: that the unlikely school-builder isn’t also a liar-writer, that his motives have been sound all along.

Yet oh, have we been here before.

One doesn’t have to look far in the memoir/autobiography genre to find authors who have boosted their fame by making stuff up. In 2008, Margaret Seltzer confessed that her Love and Consequences, which told of an upbringing amid gang life in L.A., did not come out of her own experiences but from stories of other people she’d met. At least two books and one almost-book set during the Holocaust have within the last ten years been revealed as false. James Frey, author of the largely fabricated A Million Little Pieces, has so much scandal on his name that it’s still big enough for one of the last Oprah shows.

The simplest math behind sham-autobiographies is this: Great books — the kind that people read and then recommend to their friends, the kind that can bring authors heaps of cash and celebrity — are built on sustained conflict and exceptional characters. And for most of us, A Year in the Life of Me is too dull to pitch to a publisher. The trials we face aren’t flashy enough to drum up interest, the people we know aren’t quirky enough to keep a story moving, and we ourselves aren’t heroic enough to worthily be called protagonist.

So for many hopeful writers, the temptations loom: to fill book proposals with extraordinary, never-happened tales and with fearless, much-embellished people, to submit them as all true. Mostly these are a single temptation: to present one’s self as the kind of Somebody who is an instrumental part of Something Important and Awesome. It’s me, Me, ME. If ego weren’t part of it, the fabricators would write novels instead.

Honesty is the topic at hand, though, so let’s be honest with ourselves: Even the non-writers among us and even those of us who aren’t blatantly self-motivated, are at least a bit smitten with the idea of having our 15 grandiose minutes. There is pride in us lurking everywhere.

Yet what we so easily forget is that the leading role in the realest real Story has already been cast and played. We are the lesser characters; the point of all this is God drawing humanity to himself through Christ. That self-giving sacrifice encompasses what is true: it informs all else, and everything outside it points to it. A spotlight blares on an author’s fallenness when she builds a memoir out of fake details. Yes, but sin is every bit as obvious when an author tells his story in truth.

To write one’s self honestly — to take a day, a month, a year, whatever, and record what actually happened — is not a pretty experience. It’s especially harrowing for those of us who assume we are mostly good. When the veil comes off, when the real thoughts and events and conversations are put to paper, we find that we are not the delightful and winsome people we’d like to think we are. Sometimes we don’t even come close. This is why one of the biggest challenges in writing memoir is presenting the self-character fairly: not skimping on ugly portions, and not giving extra emphasis to attractive ones. There are times when the allure of over- and under-stating can feel constant.

At a most basic level, each of us would like to believe that we are not so flawed as our actions would prove. We’d like to believe we are better, and we’d like to be seen as better. But the gospel of Christ can free us from the desire to masquerade. In him, there’s no need for anything more — no exaggerated trimmings, no theatrical frills — because he is it, and with him we have enough and then some. His light falls on and around and through our sinful realities, and that illuminated darkness is a story worth telling every time. His presence puts meaning in our unseemly and bare details, and makes them spellbinding.

Lisa Velthouse is the author of two books, including her new (and true) memoir, Craving Grace: A Story of Faith, Failure, and My Search for Sweetness. She formerly served on staff at Mars Hill Bible Church (Grandville, MI), and she blogs at LisaVelthouse.com. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Comments

When I heard about the 60 Minutes story about Mortensen, I was sad...but I wasn't surprised. When my book group read Three Cups of Tea a few years ago, we agreed that the story was great, the work valuable, but that we wouldn't want to be Mortensen's wife or employee. The book portrayed someone who, while doing lots of good, also had a big ego and was in many ways wedded to his work. Seems like the charisma that makes someone capable of big public successes too often goes hand in hand with a big dose of self-absorption and ego.

Our book group just finished reading another amazing memoir: The Same Kind of Different as Me. I find myself begging, "Please, please, please...let it all be true!"

Years ago, my son raised pennies in his elementary school's Pennies for Peace drive. Ours was the first school to participate in Mortensen's Pennies fundraiser in the 1990's. Mortensen's mother was principal of that school (my son took part a few years later, but before the celebrity came).

The original story of being sheltered was part of what we were told. I'd not followed his efforts and had actually forgotten about him to the extent that I had to verify that he was the same man after the story broke. Regardless of the accuracy of the accusations, the scandal is certainly a shame -- both for his efforts as well as other charities that might be caught in the crossfire.

Salon has an interesting article pointing out that, while the media is spinning this as a "lying memoirist" story, the more significant and troubling accusations are that Mortensen's institute is actually doing less good than it says it is, and its accounting practices are suspect. But, as the Salon article points out, charity mismanagement isn't nearly as interesting a story as a lying author. Here's the link: http://www.salon.com/books/writing/?story=/books/laura_miller/2011/04/19/greg_mortenson

Excellent piece. Humility is so very hard to develop, for all of us, and so very essential.

I love that you connected our own stories to the bigger Narrative that God is writing. It's so important to remember that it's not about ME or any one of us, but it's about what the Lord is orchestrating.

Thanks for writing!

I have read THREE CUPS OF TEA and STONES INTO SCHOOLS with my book club. I want to believe every word is true. I wonder why it has taken so long for the critics to start shouting. And why are we so quick to believe them? I am reminded that the crowds, who followed Jesus and praised him when he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, were shouting for his crucifixion a few days later because of false witnesses instigated by men in high places. Mr. Mortenson is not Jesus. He has probably made many mistakes in his efforts to bring hope and a future to those who are disenfranchised, but who among us can cast the first stone?

The 60 Minutes clip probably did a lot to damage Greg Mortenson's image but we should remember that he still accomplished more than most people who see a need and think or talk about filling it. Enjoyed your post.

I read Krakauer's mini book before watching the 60 Minutes piece. As a memoirist myself (and having been a missionary on support), the whole scenario saddened me. So what's a person to do in the aftermath? Here's my take: http://www.marydemuth.com/2011/04/5-choices-to-make-after-a-leader-falls/

While it is permissible for an author to help set the scene of a story, adding dialog (to the best of his/her memory), or setting the scene, it is not right to fabricate the story.

I remember when the James Frey debacle happened. I asked a woman I was dog sitting for if she still liked the book and would recommend it knowing he had fabricated it. I was shocked when she said yes! Her argument was that it was a good story. What about the TRUTH? It seems readers don't care if it's really the truth, they just want a heroic, scandalous, over-the-top story. We are so disillusioned, myself included, and it leads to epic disappointment. I'm sorry to hear yet another 'true'story has been fabricated.

In my experience as a pastor it seems many Christians have very poor "truth filters." We love a good story whether it is true or not. I get such stories emailed to me every day, saying "You've got to read this." Usually these stories seem very fishy, and with very little investigation are proven false, and yet they get passed around for years. I am constantly dismayed at how believers will happily lap up non-truth as long as it sounds good.

Friends, this is where to remember the advice, 'Test the spirits..and let everything done properly and in order.'

These days testing the spirits means fact checking and being aware that a personality driven PR campaign costs money and that money is not available for good work.

Two, Jesus was taken to the heights and offered all the kingdoms and power and glory if only he would fall down and worship the Tempter and..he refused.

Today, the temptation is the temptation to Go Big, Be Effective.

Excellent discussion here

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2011/04/greg-mortenson-peter-hessler.html

And this small quotation is a gem.

"Last September, when I was researching a profile of Rajeev Goyal, an American development worker, I asked what he thought about the book “Three Cups of Tea.” Rajeev and I were walking through the hills of eastern Nepal, where he had organized a number of projects over the past decade, including the construction of five schools. “Three Cups of Tea” is one of the bestselling books by Greg Mortenson, a mountaineer whose Central Asia Institute claims to have built or significantly supported more than a hundred and seventy schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Rajeev paused for a moment. “It seemed to be mostly about the author, about everything he accomplished,” he said slowly. “And that story is about quantity, about the number of schools built.” Rajeev said his own work had convinced him that construction projects are overvalued, and sometimes can even have a negative impact on a community. People might become dependant on outsiders, and corruption can become a problem. Building materials and methods may be inappropriate, especially if money comes from far away and there’s little oversight. Foreign-funded structures have a tendency to overuse cement, which can change local construction patterns in environmentally damaging ways, especially in dry parts of Central Asia. Rajeev believed that teacher training and other cultural factors often have more value. “A good teacher sitting under a tree can do more than a bad teacher in a new building,” he said. “That’s why I don’t want to do school construction anymore. It might have been a mistake. It’s a good instinct, as you want to help, but maybe it’s not the best thing.”

I asked about his impressions of Mortenson. “I kind of felt sorry for him,” Rajeev said. “That was my reaction reading the book. He must have low self-esteem.”

This conversation took place seven months ago

asked about his impressions of Mortenson. “I kind of felt sorry for him,” Rajeev said. “That was my reaction reading the book. He must have low self-esteem.”

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2011/04/greg-mortenson-peter-hessler.html

The author noted how a wealthy friend was saved from investing with Bernie Madoff. He tested the spirits.

"A number of years ago, a wealthy friend of mine considered investing in Bernie Madoff’s hedge fund. But his family’s policy is that they won’t invest in any company until they speak to a number of former employees. They talked with people who had left Madoff’s Ascot Partners, and they concluded that something didn’t feel right, so they put their money elsewhere.

" When I heard this story, it reminded me that any good journalist should follow this strategy when he’s writing about a company. And after the revelations of the past week, I’ll be sure to apply the same standard to any N.G.O.
"

This may be a teachable moment for adults as well as for the youngsters.

There appears to be a distinction between what is inspirational and what the older writers termed 'edifying' as in that-which-builds-up.

If we equate 'feeling good' with 'inspiration' we are vulnerable to being told what we want to hear, rather than what we need to hear.

Again, here is a wake up call to test the spirits.

Inspiration means that which breathes in spirit.

But..is the spirit in service to truth, in service to God?

or is the 'spirit' in service to Mammon? In service to a PR machine feeding a needy and suffering human personality.

If something 'feels good' but is NOT good, if that something is not built on a foundation of truthfulness, its no different from the powders peddled by drug dealers.

As for those lauding Greg as a saint, remember how Jesus told his followers, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.'

And when they were chasing after him because he had fed a multitude on fish and bread (in a society close to starvation that was a staggering thing to accomplish), he realized he was in danger of being kidnapped and 'made king'.

Jesus fled and was tracked down. He told his eager pursuers 'I have food that you know not of.'

Test the spirits.

Thank you for these words, "His presence puts meaning in our unseemly and bare details, and makes them spellbinding." It's so true.

I wasn't surprised by the allegations because when I was reading it I thought something didn't ring true. Apart from Christ lighting the way, it's just too easy for writers to exaggerate, especially for the sake of a good story. There's a lot of pressure out there for high entertainment value, and many writers fall into that trap. Praying the truth would be revealed in this situation.

Aldous Huxley once wrote, 'Souls are saved by the holy, not by the busy.'

Another way to test the spirits:

Matthew Six

Giving to the Needy (or in todays terms, giving to the needy in front of cameras and as part of a well oiled PR campaign)

1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

http://bible.cc/matthew/23-6.htm

(Today, substitute Lear jets, fancy hotels and expensive speakers fees for 'most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets)

Mark 12:39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luke 11:43 "Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luke 14:7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luke 20:46 "Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.
New International Version ©1984

Just read this book with my Honors 10 class. They are really upset at the whole situation. Try to pull something over on adults and you will get outrage. Try to pull something over on kids and you will get mutiny. Thanks for writing this piece. Well spoken as usual!

I've used an article about Greg Mortenson's work from one of my wife's magazines to teach my undergraduate reading class here in China for the past two years, and I thought it was a great lesson for my students. Now I have to tell my students that what Greg Mortenson wrote just isn't true. How sad...

Good article. Why are we ever surprised when people are caught lying? God says we are all liars (but He loves us anyway).

Lisa's own words about us being part of God's story are wonderful and lovely and exactly what we all need to read.

It's all about Him. It isn't about us.

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