This Is Herman Cain!: My Journey to the White House [Hardcover]

Herman Cain (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 4, 2011

When Herman Cain speaks, people listen. When he debates, he wins.

If you care about the future of America, you have heard of the down-to-earth political newcomer running for president, the straight-talking man of the people with blunt assessments of what America needs. Originally overlooked by mainstream politicos and media, Herman Cain is truly a candidate from “outside the Beltway,” but no longer one who is being ignored.

BUT WHO IS HE?

While Herman Cain has been the host of a popular conservative Atlanta-area radio talk show called The Herman Cain Show, a different name originally captured American interest. As CEO, Herman Cain transformed Godfather’s Pizza from a company teetering on the verge of bankruptcy into a household word. Cain—as those with an interest in commonsense solutions to political problems will remember—is also famous for using the language and logic of everyday business to expose the fallacies inherent in Clinton assumptions about “Hillarycare” during a 1994 televised town hall meeting.

WHAT IS HIS STORY?

Herman Cain’s rise is the embodiment of the American dream. His parents, Luther and Lenora Cain, made a living the only way black people could in the ’40s and ’50s. Luther held down three jobs, including being a chauffeur; Lenora cleaned houses. They had two big dreams: to buy a house and to see their sons graduate from college. With dedication and hard work, they made both these dreams come true. In this thrilling memoir, Herman Cain describes his past and present . . . and the future he is determined to create, a future that will put our country back on track. His message resonates because he describes the American reality, and his down-to-earth personal tale of hope and hard work is both unforgettable and inspirational.

***

What is it in my DNA that years ago prompted me to forgo the ease of cruise control and take on the enormous challenge of doing my part toward making America a better place for my granddaughter and the generations to come?

Why do I, a son of the segregated South, refuse to think of myself as a “victim” of racism?

What is it that motivates me to insist on defining my identity in terms of “ABC”—as being American first, black second, and Conservative third?

Just who is Herman Cain? And how did I get this way?

Just a hint: it may have had something to do with lessons learned from my parents, Lenora and Luther Cain, Jr.

—From This Is Herman

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A characteristically defiant memoir." --Politico

About the Author

Herman Cain was raised in an impoverished family in segregated Georgia. Inspired by the work ethic and character of his parents, Herman attended Morehouse College and then earned his Master’s from Purdue University. He returned to Atlanta to work for the Coca-Cola Company, then Pillsbury, where he soon became vice president. From there, he served as Vice President for Burger King and then went on to become the CEO of the near-bankrupt Godfather’s Pizza chain, which he returned to solvency in just fourteen months. Herman also served as CEO and President of the National Restaurant Association. He was the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, and most recently hosted a radio talk show, The Herman Cain Show, which he gave up to pursue the presidency.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Threshold Editions; 1 edition (October 4, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451666136
• ISBN-13: 978-1451666137
• Product Dimensions: 1.2 x 6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (120 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

279 of 338 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A character of extraordinary competence and integrity October 4, 2011

By Alan F. Sewell TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Until recently the conventional wisdom has been that businesspeople do not make good elected officials, perhaps because the temperaments between the two professions are so different. However, the professional politicians have made such an awful mess of our state, local, and federal governments that we are now turning to the tough-minded discipline of business leaders to restore fiscal responsibility.

In 2010 we elected many businesspersons as governors, congresspersons, and senators. They seem to be succeeding in reforming state governments to operate within their budgets. Now Herman Cain is running for President as a businessperson pledging to restore our national economy.

Of course, it isn't just the government that's broken. Big business has also tarnished its reputation by becoming greedy and predatory. Big business has destroyed its workers jobs, poisoned the housing market with toxic mortgage derivatives, turned Wall Street into a den of thieves, and encouraged CEO's to treat companies as their own personal piggy banks. Does Cain possess the extraordinary competence and integrity required to recover our economy that has been debilitated by both the failures of government AND business?

Cain begins to answer that question in the first paragraph:

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I didn't grow up wanting to be president of the United States. I grew up po', which is even worse than being poor. My American dream entailed working hard and making $20,000 a year, but I surpassed that goal and became a corporate CEO, a regional chairman of the Federal Reserve, a president of the Restaurant Association, an author, and an Atlanta talk show host before retiring at sixty-five on cruise control. And then I became a presidential aspirant. But a strange thing happened on my way to cruise control: The country got off-track.
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From that, I gather that Cain is running for the right reason --- a sincere calling to elevate the condition of the country and serve its people.

Then Cain explains how he developed his character. Most of it, he says, came from observing his father. He explains how his dad left impoverished rural Georgia at age 18, hitchhiking to Ohio to find work in a factory. His dad then returned to Atlanta, working three jobs as a barber, chauffer, and janitor; his mother worked as a maid. Cain says:

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I relished those moments. While we were financially poor, we were emotionally rich, and our hard-working parents taught us lessons in dignity, ambition, and the value of formal education. Dad didn't have the opportunity to earn a college degree, but I always tell people that he had a Ph.D. in common sense.

And both of our parents taught us not to think that the government owed us something. They didn't teach us to be mad at this country. They would always say to us: "If you want something, just work hard enough, focus on it, and guess what? You can make it happen!" And Dad made things happen. One day in the summer before I started the eighth grade, he came home and said to us: "Get in the car; we're going for a ride." He drove us to a suburb west of Atlanta, pulled up in front of a six-room, all-brick house on Albert Street, and said, "This is our new home." He had fulfilled his dream of being able to buy a "whole house."
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Cain explains that his dad was so well thought of that he became the private chauffer of the legendary Coca Cola CEO Robert Woodruff. Woodruff gifted him Coca Cola stock. Herman watched his dad prosper through integrity, work, and investment. He describes a man whose life was well balanced between work, love of family, religious values, and desire for success --- a man who started out as an impoverished, uneducated Black kid in rural Georgia at a time when society didn't do Blacks any favors.

Cain has taken this lesson through the rest of his life. He earned his master's in mathematics. He set his goal to become an executive in business by age 40 and succeeded when placed in many challenging positions of large companies. He succeeded as an entrepreneur. Now he has moved into the first tier of presidential contenders.

This book has answered the most important question I wanted to know about Herman Cain: "Does Cain have the character of extraordinary competence and integrity to lead us as President in recovering our debilitated economy?"

After reading the book, the answer is a resounding "Yes."

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Like other Cain supporters I'm disappointed in the revelations about Mr. Cain's personal life that caused him to withdraw from the race in early December. I believe the allegations of sexual harassment made by the first two women who went public are non-credible. However, the story of the last woman who went public, and Mr. Cain's admission that he paid her money, are evidence that Mr. Cain was involved in an improper relationship. A candidate who bases his campaign on integrity and sound business judgment can't continue on when these allegations become credible.

I do believe that the campaign to take down Mr. Cain was very carefully orchestrated. Nevertheless, he put himself in the situation of having a relationship that he should have known had the potential to jeopardize his reputation in business and public life.

132 of 168 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing personal story, and example of the American Dream October 4, 2011

By dansmith46

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Many people don't know the story of how Herman Cain grew up in the Jim Crow south, only later going on to become a very successful business man. It is very inspirational and this book captures the character, and achievement of Herman perfectly. The forward is just ok but when you get into the actual story Herman will have you laughing your head off while simultaneously making you feel inspired. This book is obviously going to be a favorite for those who know Herman or who listened to his radio show, but I would also urge people to read it who are simply interested in the inspirational story of a civil rights era businessman. His personal trial with racism, his service in the navy, and his multiple turnaround stories are quite enamoring. Great read and must if you want to be an informed voter in the Republican Primary.

If you would like to see Herman's character for yourself try watching this video and then see if you still want to read the book.[...]

63 of 80 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A primer on Herman Cain for President October 6, 2011

By Krykie TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is about the book -- not a review about Herman Cain.

The book is a fast and easy read, written in the first person by Mr. Cain to answer the question "Who is Herman Cain?" that so many people are asking due to his sudden rise as a Presidential Candidate for 2012.

The first third of the book is a quick background of his youth; his parents, his family, how he was raised, what influenced him, and why and how he went to school. An interesting read about what gave him his foundation, and some context on his "formative" years.

A larger third of the book discussed his professional life, how he went from a GS13-14 as a mathematician and government employee with the Department of the Navy, to Pillsbury VP, to Burger King President, and as CEO of Godfathers. This was interesting and informative, as this background provides perspective of how he might "run" the country.

The last part of the book (including appendices) is EXACTLY what you are looking for, and EXACTLY what we wish all candidates would deliver. A checklist of exactly where he stands on the hot issues, and a specific stand on how he would approach problems. No empty rhetoric, no pablum, no double-speak. If EVERY candidate were to publish something like this -- it would go far in helping Americans learn about the candidates directly, without having positions spun positively or negatively by the media. This book is helpful for any voter to learn about Herman Cain, whether one is Republican or Democrat, and whether you fundamentally support or oppose his views.

This is a must read book for every voter, and we can only wish that EVERY candidate will quickly publish a similar primer.