Some Stories: Lessons from the Edge of Business and Sport

According to LP Jacks, “A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.” For nearly 80 years, Yvon Chouinard has followed this advice, pursuing, with equal fervor, sport adventures, business excellence and environmental activism. Since 1950, he has captured the lessons and revelations he’s learned in articles and books, personal letters and poetry, introductions and eulogies. In this fascinating inside look, Chouinard himself has selected his favorites from years of reflection, all accompanied by illustrative photos, many never published before. The result is more of Chouinard’s iconoclastic and provocative thinking, his skilled storytelling and sense of humor, and a picture of the evolution of his thoughts and philosophies. With articles on sport, from falconry to fishing and climbing to surfing, with musings on the purpose of business and the importance of environmental activism, is an eclectic portrait of a unique life lived well. Yvon Chouinard is the founder and owner of Patagonia, Inc., and author of , and . He lives in Ventura, California.