Vindicated (book)

Vindicated is a 2009 non-fiction book written by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. It serves as a sequel to Mortenson's previous bestselling book, Three Cups of Tea, revisiting the themes of education, international relations, and humanitarian efforts in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The book focuses on Mortenson's ongoing work with the Central Asia Institute (CAI), the non-profit organization he co-founded. Vindicated aims to defend Mortenson's reputation and the CAI's mission against allegations of financial mismanagement and inflated or fabricated stories, claims which surfaced following the success of Three Cups of Tea. The narrative presents Mortenson's perspective on the controversies, addressing criticisms raised in Jon Krakauer's book, Three Cups of Deceit, and a 60 Minutes report.

Vindicated details the struggles and successes Mortenson faced in building schools, promoting literacy, and fostering cross-cultural understanding in challenging environments. It also explores the complex political and social landscape of the region, highlighting the challenges of operating a non-governmental organization in a war zone.

Following the release of Vindicated, the controversies surrounding Mortenson and the CAI continued, ultimately leading to legal settlements and scrutiny of the organization's practices.