Lies by Omission

I've already detailed some of the explicit lies in The Fantasy Bond. There are some critical, damning facts that Bob omits. From chapter 20:

The friends had formed a general partnership where they contributed a certain percentage (33 percent) of their gross income to pay for rent*, food**, utilities, and boat expenses, and they decided to continue this financial arrangement on a permanent basis.

It's true that "the friends" paid 33% of income which covered most of the things that Bob enumerates. But what he fails to reveal is that everyone paid Bob for therapy in addition. Cash and only cash. The reason for this omission is obvious. He's obscuring the fact that he was everyone's therapist. He also fails to mention that the partnership paid a chunk of that 33% to him for services rendered.

An investment fund was started; with this new financial arrangement, each member of the “cooperative” became an equal partner in a general partnership.

First off, there was no transparency whatsoever for these financial arrangements. It's not until you depart the cult that the bullshit comes into focus. Somehow your ownership of an impressive array of assets...

• 36 unit apartment building in West Los Angeles
• luxurious 100 foot yacht  
• 80 foot schooner
• various large, deluxe motorboats
• investment property

... amounted to small change. 

And then take into account how Bob assumed control over businesses started by his patients.

The Firestone family is filthy rich. Emphasis on filthy.

* Implies more value than readers might imagine. We lived dormitory style, except for Bob and Tam.

** There was a communal dinner prepared four nights per week. For the first few years, it was prepared by the Firestone's long time housekeeper. It was truly awful. Think pot roast at Denny's with added salt and butter. This was the only "free" food.