A. P. Giannini: The Man with the Midas Touch

At six, he witnessed his father's murder. At 12, he regularly sneaked out to the waterfront at midnight. At 15, he quit school. At 30, he retired a self-made man. Then the real work of his life began.

In 1904, A.P. Giannini (1870-1949) founded Bank of Italy, the predecessor of today's Bank of America. Against a backdrop of earthquake and fire, anti-immigrant fervor, war, and the Great Depression, he broke every rule and tradition on his way to a showdown with Wall Street.

This riveting story of an outsider with something to prove is an American classic that has never been more timely and relevant. in our era of bankruptcies, bailouts,a nd vast impersonal market forces, A.P. Giannini's life is an inspiring reminder that one person can make a difference.