Shoe Dog (Unabridged)
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- $22.99
Publisher Description
In this instant and tenacious New York Times bestseller, Nike founder and board chairman Phil Knight “offers a rare and revealing look at the notoriously media-shy man behind the swoosh” (Booklist, starred review), illuminating his company’s early days as an intrepid start-up and its evolution into one of the world’s most iconic, game-changing, and profitable brands.
Bill Gates named Shoe Dog one of his five favorite books of the year and called it “an amazing tale, a refreshingly honest reminder of what the path to business success really looks like. It’s a messy, perilous, and chaotic journey, riddled with mistakes, endless struggles, and sacrifice. Phil Knight opens up in ways few CEOs are willing to do.”
Fresh out of business school, Phil Knight borrowed fifty dollars from his father and launched a company with one simple mission: import high-quality, low-cost running shoes from Japan. Selling the shoes from the trunk of his car in 1963, Knight grossed eight thousand dollars that first year. Today, Nike’s annual sales top $30 billion. In this age of start-ups, Knight’s Nike is the gold standard, and its swoosh is one of the few icons instantly recognized in every corner of the world.
But Knight, the man behind the swoosh, has always been a mystery. In Shoe Dog, he tells his story at last. At twenty-four, Knight decides that rather than work for a big corporation, he will create something all his own, new, dynamic, different. He details the many risks he encountered, the crushing setbacks, the ruthless competitors and hostile bankers—as well as his many thrilling triumphs. Above all, he recalls the relationships that formed the heart and soul of Nike, with his former track coach, the irascible and charismatic Bill Bowerman, and with his first employees, a ragtag group of misfits and savants who quickly became a band of swoosh-crazed brothers.
Together, harnessing the electrifying power of a bold vision and a shared belief in the transformative power of sports, they created a brand—and a culture—that changed everything.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
The Nike swoosh is a universal icon for athletic performance and brilliant branding, but it’s never moved us in a personal way—until now. In his magnetic memoir, company founder Phil Knight finally tells the story behind his multibillion-dollar empire, from the inspiration that came to him during a 1962 backpacking trip to the countless roadblocks and hard lessons that followed. Broadway star Norbert Leo Butz makes Knight’s fascinating story sound like a gripping novel. Shoe Dog didn’t just entertain us—it left us inspired.
Customer Reviews
Loved!
HIGH on the list of autobiographies, if not at the top. This book is an incredible story and contains countless valuable business insights.
Must read if biz owner
This was a beautifully written book. The story telling by the author was captivating and I finished it in 3 days. Must read if you are a business owner! May be my new favorite book!
So Engaging
Had no idea a book about a shoe company could be so engaging. Listened every chance I got. Really surprised by how much of a struggle Phil and Nike had early on. Love the personalities and culture of the founders. Glad I own so many Nikes and will continue to purchase more!
Narrator was great too. Had a laid back, sarcastic kind of voice that seemed perfect for the personality Phil was portraying.