Dr. Abraham George is the author of the memoir Mountains to Cross: Finding Life’s Purpose in Service, a powerful reflection on his extraordinary journey from soldier and entrepreneur to social reformer. He began his career in the Indian Army as an artillery officer stationed at the Se La mountain pass on the India–China border, then the highest battleground in the Himalayas.
Following his military service, he moved to the United States, where he earned two master’s degrees and a PhD in business administration from New York University. For nearly 25 years, he built a successful entrepreneurial career before returning to India in 1995 to confront systemic discrimination and economic oppression.
Over the decades, Dr. George has championed social justice and expanded opportunities for the underprivileged through groundbreaking educational and healthcare initiatives. His projects include founding a school that provides world-class education to socially and economically disadvantaged children, creating a postgraduate institution to foster an independent press, and establishing a rural hospital serving fifteen villages. His pioneering work in environmental health also played a pivotal role in eliminating leaded gasoline across India in April 2000—a milestone achievement in public health.
Dr. George has served on the boards of esteemed organizations such as Human Rights Watch and the International Center for Journalists, and he has been honored with awards including the Hind Rattan. In addition to his memoir, he is the author of three books on international corporate finance and two on social reform, further cementing his lifelong dedication to service, justice, and education.
Find out more on Dr. Abraham George’s website.
The interview
Fill in the blank: “People will like your book if they like…”
If they are seeking a purposeful life.
How did you plot out the content of your book?
It is fairly simple; it is my own story from childhood to date.
Did you write in timeline order or have any specific process for getting your first draft down?
In an excerpt for the first chapter, I discuss a life-changing incident; the remainder is in timeline order. No specific process other than selecting what would be meaningful to readers.
Did you have trouble writing about yourself, or was it fun and freeing?
I felt it was easier writing about someone else. In an autobiographical book, one has to be careful not to project an impression of self-glorification. Your story must speak for itself.
How do you handle including dialogue in a memoir?
Until the last two chapters, I didn’t want to speak to the reader. My dialogue was entirely from my memory and the conversations I had with the children in school or others.
Did you have any input on the cover design?
Yes, I designed it. The idea of mountains came from my childhood experience. Crossing those mountains is overcoming obstacles until you reach your destination. The cover with mountains makes sense.
How important was the settings of your book in telling the story that you wanted to tell?
Where incidents occurred was critical to telling the story; only then would what happened be understood.
Without providing spoilers, what is one moment that you feature in your book that you would most like to go back in time to change?
There are several points in time when I made mistakes, but the biggest was when I was careless in managing my money. I also trusted those I shouldn’t have.
Do you try to hit a certain page or word count with each writing session?
I was aware that the book should not exceed 100k words, but by the time I finished the book, it was nearly 150k words. The editor wanted me to cut it to 90k, so I had to select only those events that I thought would be more meaningful to readers.
Do you have any writing rituals?
Most of my writing was early mornings and late nights. During daytime I had other work to do. Often, I sat until late at night to complete whatever I was working on.
Where did you write this book?
I wrote this book at my home, both in the US and India
What are your favorite memoirs?
I have read several memoirs, and recently about the late Israeli prime minister, Golda Meir, and the anthropologist Jane Goodall.
What are your passions/hobbies outside of writing?
Currently, my passion is bringing up children in my school. I am passionate about their progress in life, both academically and with their personality and character. I am also interested in making life easier for poor people living in the villages.
If given the chance, would you rather own a bookstore or run a library?
I would rather sit in a library and choose the books I want to read.
If Hollywood bought the rights to your book, would you want it to be turned into a movie or series? Any casting preferences?
If the producer would consider the script close to what I have written, I would be happy to see it as a movie or series. I would like to be represented by an Indian actor.
Who is your dream audiobook narrator?
We chose a wonderful narrator for my book, Manish Dongardive.
Who is on your Mt. Rushmore of greatest/inspirational writers?
Albert Schweitzer, Theodore Roosevelt, Leo Tolstoy, Abraham Lincoln.
Are you a big reader? Do you own a large collection of books, or are you more of a borrower?
In my younger years, I would read both fiction and nonfiction, but now I only read nonfiction and am very selective. I enjoy thoughtful writings as opposed to political or other achievements. Practical philosophy appeals to me.
Who would you most want to read your book? They can be living or dead.
My late mother.
Have you ever mentored another writer with their writing?
Yes, I did. Shilpa Raj. She wrote her memoir, The Elephant Chaser’s Daughter. She started writing at 16, so I had to guide her through.
What is an annoying thing that a non-writer has assumed about writers or the act of writing?
Non-writers often assume that storytelling or fiction is more interesting. I enjoy serious writers. Both fiction, like Tolstoy, and non-fiction.
What is your favorite website that you use to promote your writing?
Drabrahamgeorge.com
What kind of feedback have you received from those featured in your book?
The book was published a month ago, and the ranking of 5.0 on Amazon speaks for itself.
Have you made any public appearances to promote your book?
Yes, a couple of times. I was lucky to travel to both LA and New York to promote the book.
How do you measure the success of your writing career?
The impact my book has on others, especially in motivating them to engage in service, would be the most rewarding outcome.
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