*New York Times correspondent and best-selling author David Giles' book was named to the Financial Times' Best Books of 2025 list*
, to reveal how Patagonia has become a global leader in achieving success through philanthropy, and how other companies are adopting its principles. This is the inside story of one of the corporate world's most distinctive brands, a rare company driven by environmental activism rather than the greed of capitalism. Founded in 1973, Patagonia has grown into a popular producerExtremely popular for jackets, hats and sweaters, it has a wide fan base among professional mountaineers and Wall Street traders alike, generating sales exceeding $1 billion annually.
But it's not just the clothing that sets Patagonia apart. Over the decades, the company has stood out as a unique beacon of socially responsible business, a rare company that can claim to be doing its best to make the world a better place, while still making a profit. From its beginnings in taking perfect care of its employees, through its effortsFrom its aggressive efforts to clean up its supply chain, right down to its controversial activism, Patagonia has set itself apart from its peers with its successive unorthodox decisions, proving that there is another approach to capitalism.
At the heart of this story lies the founder of Patagonia, legendary rock climber Yvon Chouinard. A lifelong rebel who has built a resume among the most impressive in the world of outdoor adventure, Chouinard has cemented his place as a pivotal figure in American business history. Thanks to his tendencyAnti-authoritarian and deeply committed to nature conservation, Patagonia has come to exert a powerful influence on other companies, paving the way for a new era of social and environmental responsibility. Chouinard began life as a simpleton — a term affectionately given to poor, nomadic outdoor enthusiasts who are so indifferent to material possessions that they are content to sleep on the dirt — to become a billionaire.Chouinard also demonstrated that there is another way to philanthropy. Late in his career, he donated to Patagonia, giving away his fortune and dedicating all of its future profits to fighting the climate crisis.
