An interesting read if you are looking to learn more about the foundations the company was built on. It helps bring light to the values that the founder and ceo stand on.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Wow. I was excited to get the chance to read this but this was impossible to put down, Tompkins was quite the figure. From high-school drop out to, well, many things - he led an interesting life. What a read. Highly recommend for adventure lovers, fans of excellent biographies. You will not forget his story.

It’s hard not to like what Doug Tompkins has accomplished and his vision for an improved planet. Yet I don’t think I like the man, or at least the way he was portrayed here in this book. Tompkins comes off as arrogant, dismissive and perhaps a narcissist. He had two kids and was barely a father to them, yet it’s said in the book several times how much he loved them, and yes acknowledged he likely did not do enough to express that love to his kids. Really, who leaves his newborn baby and wife when they just started up a company, to go adventuring for six months? And this is way before cell phones!

Tompkins was smart, no doubt about that. He would dive deep into a topic until he knew it very well. He did this with design and ecology, among other topics. He started several very successful businesses: The North Face and Esprit. The Patagonia company is detailed in the book as well, as it was founded by a fellow climbing and adventure buddy.

Tompkins was an all or nothing guy. Once he decided to turn his attention to environmental causes, he sold out of his clothing company. He used that money to fund others, occasionally, but mostly he created his own non-profit and bought a lot of land in the interest of creating a huge park in the Patagonia region. Tompkins wanted to preserve the land. He clashed with the locals and government officials, even though his intentions were noble. It was his way or no way. He led a full life, that’s for certain, but perhaps it was at the cost of those close to him.

A very detailed account of the life Dough Tompkins, the founder of The North Face and Espirit, who left the world of apparel to dedicate himself to open lands conservation and wildlife conservation with the money from selling Espirit and many donations. The author takes us from the founders roots in New York to his early days of outdoor adventure then on to California for the story of the story of The North Face with some history about the Patagonia apparel company founded by his friend. The story of Espirit follows and then the most interesting part of the book begins when Tompkins begins to purchase lands in South America for conservation and ends up moving there on a old sheep farm that he works to re-wild with his life partner. They both face a lot of hurtles with the locals in Chile and Argentina. The remainder of the book focuses on efforts to win hearts and minds and create national parks in Chile and Argentina. A great read for all interested in rewilding, conservation, national parks, outdoor adventure and more.

This was an enjoyable biography. It felt far-fetched and "legendary", but enough supporting materials and further reading was included to conclude that this is actually an incredible true story. I definitely recommend it if biographies and conservation are things that you enjoy!

What an interesting life!! A Wild Idea by Jonathan Franklin is the true accounting of the life of entrepreneur turned conservationist, Douglas Rainsford Tompkins, 1943 – 2015.
Was he a restless spirit or was he an ingenious entrepreneur who lived his wildest dreams? From a high school dropout to later become a renowned adventurer, businessman, and landowner, he did manage to live his wildest dreams. He was an accomplished climber and explorer and often made fun of trendy gear used by those starting out with non-essential gadgets. Starting with such low and wildly varied inventory to sell, his idea was "If you go light, you'll have more fun".
Tomkins was a hardcore climber. He was the fourth time the Salathe Wall at Yosemite was climbed followed by his best friend Yvon Chouinard.
The young days of selling items on the docks of San Francisco to creating the best-known companies such as The North Face and later Esprit. He lived a very fulfilling, adventurous, and eventful life. It wasn't easy but he had innovative ideas and traveled to wilder parts of the world. He and some friends went to Patagonia where they devised a new route on Mount Fitzroy. There was a film, "Fitz Roy- First Ascent of the Southwest Buttress", of the experience made by Lito Tejada-Flores, who accompanied them on the assent.
In his personal life, he had an agreement: four to six months a year he was not a husband, father, or CEO. He would leave for wilderness adventures with his close friends.
The company, Esprit was first called Plane Jane and was designed from very humble beginnings before booming to success. Later in his life, he became an extensive landowner in northern Argentina to southern Chile.
Tomkins became an activist for organic agriculture, environmental activism, and received various honors in America and South America.
On his excursions through the wilderness, whether climbing, flying, or kayaking, he eyed the wildlife with the eyes of a naturalist and the heart of a rebel. At age seventy-two, his death was caused by complications from an unfortunate kayak accident in southern Chile while on an adventure trip with his long-time friend Yvon Chouinard, the business creator and owner of "PATAGONIA", and four others. The cause of his death seemed to have happened in terrifying waves of hope and despair.
He did not actively participate in the lives of his daughters, but he lived it being creative, adventurous, and meeting challenges to protect the wildlands he loved. I wondered if his emotional distance from his daughters was to ensure he would stay a 'wild spirit' and not concede to making decisions based on family or emotional ties?
I enjoyed reading A Wild Idea! Anyone who enjoys wilderness, hiking, climbing, kayaking, and being in nature can appreciate the legacy left by Douglas Tomkins.
Publication Date: August 10, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Not at all what I was expecting. It is a vlong, winding book. Some will love it ND others not so much.