Yvon Chouinard is an icon in the world of outdoor sports, a legendary climber, fisherman, and surfer. He is also the founder and longtime guiding force behind Patagonia, maker of high-end outdoor gear and clothing. Dirtbag Billionaire tells Chouinard's story in detailed and dramatic fashion, from his childhood in Maine and California to his youthful passion for the outdoors and his unconventional path to becoming CEO of an unconventional company. David Gelles thoroughly and engagingly takes the reader through the successes and highlights of Chouinard's life, as well as the problems and inherent paradoxes in his approach to business. Dirtbag Billionaire is a fascinating study of a totally unique individual.

This is fascinating non-fiction, well-written and nuanced. Of course, I don't agree with Chouinard on everything; Gelles does an excellent job of presenting the complexities and contradictions of Chouinard - as well as the many ways Patagonia was a pioneer. Chouinard was a trailblazer in everything from environmentalism to childcare to anti-consumption (ironic for a clothing company, yes, but read the book and you'll see). I hope this excellent book inspires more companies to follow Chouinard's lead in those respects. This is a must-read for anyone who cares about the environment, ethical consumption, or ethical capitalism.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions. This is cross-posted to Goodreads, and will be posted to Amazon and Instagram within one week of the book's publication.

Content warnings for anyone who would like to know: some swearing