Facing Hard Truths

Overview

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER

"It’s a great book and he should be proud of it."
—President Bill Clinton

Successful businessman, activist, and philanthropist, and 2026 candidate for governor of California Stephen J. Cloobeck applies an unflinching problem-solver’s eye to America’s most pervasive challenges.

Cloobeck built his reputation transforming dysfunctional companies at the brink of ruin into performance powerhouses. In Facing Hard Truths, he focuses this proven business acumen on our most pressing concerns like immigration, crime, the cost of living, and the coarsening of political discourse. He offers sometimes tough—but always sincere—lessons learned over a lifetime of public and private sector experience.

From his first job bussing tables in a small California restaurant, to his time operating a global hospitality juggernaut, to helming federal public-private partnerships, state agencies, and local organizations, Cloobeck’s journey propelled him from busboy to boardroom. In this book, he relies on the action-oriented principles that drove his personal success to outline a plan that will take California, and America, from flailing back to flourishing.

With a refusal to pander and a no-nonsense assessment of today’s most salient issues, Cloobeck argues our country’s ability to effectively navigate the future depends on a reaffirmed commitment to:

• Integrity
• Collaboration
• Respect for rules and norms
• Economic inclusivity
• A return to competence
• Putting others first
• Fostering of social trust

In Facing Hard Truths, Cloobeck’s engaging storytelling and straight-shooting proposals leave readers feeling heard, respected, and above all, eager to set aside political differences and get back to what really matters: creating an America that is more affordable, liveable, and opportunity-rich for all.

Reviews

"It's a great book and he should be proud of it."
—PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON

"This world needs more of Stephen's fight to ignite that spirit in all of us to keep going and come together to do what's right. He's a person who doesn't just talk but delivers.”
—CORY BOOKER, US Senator, D-New Jersey

"Cloobeck’s toughened, real-world optimism, his essential humanism, is obvious and cheering throughout the text. A provocative, stirring call for greater civility."
—KIRKUS REVIEWS

"Stephen offers a new lens through which to view the most pressing issues of our day. For anyone looking for a way out of the political morass, Facing Hard Truths seeds new ideas that I, for one, certainly hope take root.”
—STEPHEN F. SISOLAK, businessman and 30th Governor of Nevada

"A must read if you live in California and are concerned about its future.”
—ROBERT SHAPIRO, internationally renowned litigator and serial entrepreneur

“Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and California gubernatorial candidate Stephen J. Cloobeck is stepping into the national conversation.”
—LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE

“We need more leaders like Stephen that are willing to step up and stand in the gap and make sacrifices to create real change.”
—GARY BRECKA, renowned human biologist, biohacker, and longevity expert

"It is often said that a teacher learns from his students. I have had the honor of mentoring many students in my lifetime and learning from them. I will always remember the lessons from one of my mentees, Stephen J. Cloobeck, on the 'Meaning of Yes.'"
—MICHAEL MILKEN, financier and cofounder of the Milken Family Foundation

Author Biography