recounts the dramatic hours negotiating the rescue of Hypo Real Estate, the giant German lender that came within a whisker of collapse. He takes a critical look at the causes and lessons of banking crises, analyzes the downfall of Credit Suisse, calls for “war games for bank executives,” tougher stress tests, and greater powers for Switzerland’s regulator FINMA, including a “Special Financial Action Task Force.” Ackermann puts forward concrete suggestions on how to prevent a future financial collapse and formulates his “Ten Maxims of a Good Banker.” The author dedicates other chapters to his childhood and family life and shares many personal anecdotes of encounters with politicians, business leaders and royalty around the world.

“To me he has always been a person of great dignity, elegance, insight, perspicacity, with the ability to grasp issues in next to no time.” Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank