Perspective

Bernard "Ben" Hamper (1956 - ) is a former factory worker at General Motors, a newspaper columnist, best-selling author, and radio talk show host.

As a child Hamper wanted absolutely nothing to do with working in an automotive factory. Hamper's father, along with the majority of family members on both sides, spent many years working on the factory line. Hamper thought nothing could be more boring and senseless. The heat, the noise and the repetition of the job seemed excruciating to Hamper. As a child Hamper wanted to become an ambulance driver. Alas, it was not to be.

Hamper began to decline in his studies, married young, and eventually gave in to working at GM Truck and Bus as a riveter. Hamper worked at GM for 11 years. Hamper recorded the details of events and people, even if it was only as a mental exercise at first. "I met all kinds...