I haven’t picked this up yet, but I was just introduced to it and after reading a review in the Wall Street Journal, it sounds like a great read for anyone out there thinking of starting a business or who have already made the entrepreneurial jump.

“The Hippie Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder & Other Mountains“ chronicles the dramatic adventures and accomplishments of the man behind one of the world’s most recognized brands. From small-town Kansas boy to adventure-junkie extraordinaire, this book traces Skip Yowell’s journey to the top of the outdoor industry. Full of insightful details and photos from around the world, this books offer a behind-the-scenes look at how Skip and his team built a successful company–and changed an entire industry–by breaking the rules and taking good care of their customers.

The company is JanSport.

From the WSJ review, “It is in part the experience of every start-up and every growing company that has had to endure cash shortages, bank credit line hassles, fire damage, legal minefields, theft, machine failure, bad beer.“