Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman by Yvon Chouinard

This fascinating book is an inside look into one of the most interesting organizations of our time, Patagonia, the world famous sporting equipment and clothing company. Told by creator and dedicated founder Yvon Chouinard, this book takes the reader through accounts of Chouinard’s own personal life and shows the roots of his interesting entrepreneurial spirit. Since 1985, Patagonia has donated over $25 million dollars to over 1000 environmental groups. This sort of environmental consciousness does not just spring up in a company’s culture – it takes a vision and dream from the leaders of the organization to instill such an organizational culture, and also requires the tenacity to follow that vision and see it through to success. Not until recently have we seen other companies jumping aboard this environmental-friendly wagon. Despite squashing many conventional means of business practices, Chouinard stuck to his goal and made himself successful. A great book that will benefit any reader, Let my People Go Surfing is a unique perspective and story about a man who “brought environmental care and adventure into the heart of business”.

Dr. Lynn K. Jones is a Certified Personal and Executive Coach based in Santa Barbara, California and a sought after coach and consultant for organizations and individuals across the US.   Her doctoral work completed at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University concerned organizational culture; she coaches, consults and trains organizations on what they need to do to create organizational cultures that are aligned with their vision and values using a process of Appreciative Inquiry.  She coaches individual on achieving their reflected best selves.  An MSW@USC faculty member, Dr. Lynn K. Jones, MSW, DSW, CSWM, teaches Human Behavior and Social Environment.