Let My People Go Surfing

The Education of a Reluctant Businessman

Yvon Chouinard is the founder and owner of Patagonia, Inc., based in Ventura,
California. He began in business by designing, manufacturing, and distributing
rock climbing equipment in the late 1950s. His tinkering led to an improved
ice axe that is the basis for modern ice axe design. In 1964 he produced his
first mail-order catalog, a one-page mimeographed sheet containing advice not
to expect fast delivery during climbing season. In 2001, along with Craig
Mathews, owner of West Yellowstone’s Blue Ribbon Flies, he started One Percent
for the Planet, an alliance of businesses that contribute at least 1 percent
of their net annual sales to groups on a list of researched and approved
environmental organizations.

In his long-awaited memoir, Yvon Chouinard-legendary climber, businessman,
environmentalist, and founder of Patagonia, Inc. shares the persistence and
courage that have gone into being head of one of the most respected and
environmentally responsible companies on earth. From his youth as the son of a
French Canadian handyman to the thrilling, ambitious climbing expeditions that
inspired his innovative designs for the sport’s equipment, Let My People Go
Surfing is the story of a man who brought doing good and having grand
adventures into the heart of his business life-a book that will deeply affect
entrepreneurs and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

Paperback, 258 p.,black and white photos; rewised ed. 2016