I understand some people not wanting to dig into his personal life because it feels a bit invasive, but he is the one who has put this info out there. And I think it also lends some color to what's happening now. In my mind there are basically two ways to look at his accounts of his childhood:
A) You think it's entirely made up or grossly exaggerated. If this is you, it seems reasonable that you would question his current claims and record attempts given the lack of any proof.
B) If you think this his book is accurate or only slightly embellished (this is where I find myself) then you should absolutely be concerned about the potential psychological effects and his current mental state.
Others have suggested that he may be a bit naive in this whole endeavor and that his crew are the ones manipulating him. Though I think there was definite cheating in the beginning, I'm beginning to think that it was not planned from the start. Rather I think it may have been impulsive by his team and a reaction to the pressure to stay on track.