Born in a working-class neighborhood of Windsor, Ontario, Dennis Gazarek paid for college by working on farms, in factories, and in horse-racing tracks. His early work experience taught him the reality of heavy manual labor and an appreciation for the challenges faced by working people in everyday life. After receiving an honors degree in business administration from the University of Windsor, Gazarek worked in sales for Procter & Gamble and General Motors, as well as working in real estate and as a business consultant. He is the author of Whacked! How GM Careened into Bankruptcy and Took the Innocent with Them. Gazarek lives with his wife in the Toronto area, where he plays saxophone with the Markham Concert Band.