Shoe Dog
2016 . Biography & Autobiography, Personal Memoirs, Business, Sports & Recreation, Running & Jogging . Phil Knight
9.0
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4.5/5223K total
4.5/5223K total
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About the book
4.5/5.0
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In this candid and riveting memoir, for the first time ever, Nike founder and board chairman Phil Knight shares the inside story of the 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. Young, searching, 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 Plymouth Valiant, Knight grossed eight thousand dollars that first year, 1963. 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 more than a logo. A symbol of grace and greatness, it’s 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. Now, in a memoir that’s surprising, humble, unfiltered, funny, and beautifully crafted, he tells his story at last. It all begins with a classic crossroads moment. Twenty-four years old, backpacking through Asia and Europe and Africa, wrestling with life’s Great Questions, Knight decides the unconventional path is the only one for him. Rather than work for a big corporation, he will create something all his own, something new, dynamic, different. Knight details the many terrifying risks he encountered along the way, the crushing setbacks, the ruthless competitors, the countless doubters and haters and hostile bankers—as well as his many thrilling triumphs and narrow escapes. Above all, he recalls the foundational 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 redemptive, transformative power of sports, they created a brand, and a culture, that changed everything.
Year:
2016
Language:
English
Publisher:
Scribner
Pages:
400
ISBN:
1501135910 (ISBN13: 9781501135910)
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Reviews
Zach Epstein
2 years ago
10
Inspired me to want to travel (see the world) and create something lasting (impact the world). He did it all with a relentless pursuit of those goals, and we can all learn from that outlook.
2 likes 
2 comments 
Caroline Lasorsa 
1 year ago
10
I have the attention span of a fly, so non-fiction and I usually don’t mesh well together. And to be honest I didn’t think I was going to like this. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I felt the human aspect of Phil Knight’s journey as he went on to tell the story of how he built Nike. It was a little unorthodox, but it worked. Super interesting read. I would recommend to anyone
1 like 2 comments 
Bailey Heywood
1 year ago
10
Absolutely amazing! Thank you @MarkusMarañonStraarup and @MortenVSchroeder for this recommendation!
3 likes Comment 
Dallin Shaner
4 months ago
10
Really fun to hear how Phil built Nike, especially pre-internet.
Like 1 comment 
Markus Marañon Straarup
2 years ago
9
A captivating, exciting, emotional, and funny story of Phil Knight and Nike. Highly recommend for anyone interesses in business, entrepeneurship or someone thats just a shoe dog.
2 likes Comment 
Henry Melzer
1 year ago
7
Phil is a great story teller and I love shoes but Nike comes off as a boys club. Part of Phil’s thoughts feel a little outdated
1 like Comment 
Andrea Karduss Napoletano
1 year ago
9
Must read!! Specially if you want to start a business
1 like Comment 
Josephine Akinal
2 years ago
8
Very interesting about the founder of Nike. Also if you are a dreamy entrepreneur kind of puts reality into perspective about living in debt most of your life
1 like Comment 
Swagat T
2 days ago
9
Phil Knight is a great storyteller! No one else would have told the story of Nike better than him. He started the journey at the age of 24 in 1962 with a Crazy Idea and today, more than half a decade, Nike’s Swoosh is more than just a logo! A great book. Enjoyed reading it!
Like Comment 
Jacob Morrison
2 months ago
9
Amazing book about adventure and perseverance. Need to find another book like this!
Like Comment AR
Abhi Raul
1 year ago
9
Just a fantastic book written about the origin of nike by one ane only Phil knight.
Like Comment 
Vadim Turcanu
1 year ago
1
Inspiring and motivating book for entrepreneurs who want to move to a higher dimension of perception and mind
Like Comment 
Andreas Boers
1 year ago
10
I sent an application to work for Nike the instant I turned the last page of this book. No joke. Turns out, they moved most of their business offices from Denmark to Sweden 😕 Amazingly captivating though!
Like Comment PP
Priyanka Prabhudesai
1 year ago
8
A very good read about how nike started and the journey of it’s founder along with nike
Like Comment MD
Michael Donlea
1 year ago
10
Such a brilliant read. Easy to pick this up and blast through it in a few days if you're determined enough!
Like Comment JS
Jens Sudmeier
1 year ago
10
Great read if you are interested in the world of running. As a business major this was the perfect read for me as I live the sport of running and there are some great learning from the early beginnings of Phil Knight and Nike in there.
Like Comment 
Shivali Goyal
2 years ago
10
If Phil Knight hadn’t built Nike, he sure could be a legendary storyteller. Gripping read!
Like Comment 
Morten Schroeder
2 years ago
10
Wow! Another great biography. Really enjoyed this book. It’s such a fascinating story and also includes a number of interesting life lessons from Phil Knight. I really liked the end where he reflects on his own life. As a recent entrepreneur I found this story immensely inspiring and captivating
Like Comment 
Joen Møller
2 years ago
9
Great story which appears to be very honest and open. Would highly recommended as an easy summer read or as audio book
Like Comment 
Henry Melzer
1 year ago
Is this book really that good? Looking for my next book to read
2 likes 2 comments DL
Domenick Lasorsa
1 year ago
Great story of the trials and tribulations of starting a new endeavor. Real interesting guy.
1 like Comment