Many things set Joe Grano apart from the typical corporate leader: his decorated military career, his humble origins, his lack of a formal college education, his meteoric rise. But perhaps the most unique aspect of Grano's life and career is his ability to deal with crisis. When things are at their worst, Grano is at his best. From Vietnam to 9/11, from the market crash of '87 to today's financial crisis, Wall Street legend Joe Grano has been at the front lines of the most defining American crises of the last forty years. Whether leading draftees through combat as a Green Beret in Vietnam, regrouping a team of brokers during the market crash of 1987, or working tirelessly to reopen Wall Street after the attacks on 9/11, Joe has served at the forefront, leading and even inspiring others when things seem at their darkest. Structured around six specific crises he faced in his life and career, You Can't Predict a Hero tells the unique story of how Grano was able to triumph over challenges both personal and professional.

Joseph J. Grano, Jr. is chairman and CEO of Centurion Holdings LLC, a company that advises private and public companies. From 2001--2004, Grano was chairman of UBS Financial Services, Inc. (formerly UBS PaineWebber). Having joined the company in 1988, Grano is credited for turning PaineWebber around and shepherding its merger with Swiss banking giant UBS. Grano began his career as a stock broker at Merrill Lynch, where he rose to various senior management positions over sixteen years. He was also chairman of the Board of Governors of the NASD. A decorated war hero, Grano was chosen by the White House to be chairman of the President's Homeland Security Advisory Council after 9/11, a position he held from 2002--2005. The recipient of countless awards for leadership, civic contributions, as well as honorary degrees, he is involved in a wide range of educational and philanthropic endeavors. Mark Levine has written and collaborated on more than thirty books, including the best-sellers Second Acts, Die Broke, and Lifescripts, as well as hundreds of magazine articles. He lives in Ithaca, New...