“Into Thin Air” author Jon Krakauer, who is mentioned in “Three Cups” as a CAI supporter, charged that Mortenson, who has made millions in book sales, used the charity “as his private ATM.”

That revelation must have hit “Three Cups” fans in the gut. The memoir asserts that Mortenson made repeated sacrifices — such as living in his car rather than pay rent — because “every wasted dollar stole bricks or books from the school.”

But there were so many other signals that the book was problematic.

In “Three Cups,” Mortenson charmed his Taliban kidnappers by asking for a Quran and showing his devotion — and so they let him go. Which is amazing.

More amazing was the claim that they gave him money, saying, “For your schools. So, Inshallah, you’ll build many more.”