Shoe Dog

Inspiring and makes you appreciate the value of hard work. You won't look at Nike Products the same after this.

There was so much I didn’t know about the Nike story. Thoroughly enjoyable and interesting.

Good lessons and good humor along the way

Very nice! Would be my go to recommendation for anything related to business/startup autobiographies

The book Shoe Dog, a memoir by the creator of nike Phil “Buck” Knight reveals that the story of Nike started off unlike anyone would have expected. The story starts off with our main character Phil Knight, or how some of his close friends and family him Buck. The book takes place in 1965, when Phil graduated college and is now living with his parents figuring out what he is going to pursue in life. He figures he will go on a trip around the world and pitch business ideas for a track shoe company, running in general is one of Phil's favorite hobbies and he thought he could somehow turn it into a career. Phil meets the Japanese CEO of an existing show company and agrees to sell shoes to the 13 eastern states. That is how Blue Ribbon (later to be named Nike) got its start. The story has a certain flow to it. You read it but you feel like you are watching movie if that makes sense. It is one of the most entertaining books I have ever read before. This is just me but I love history and this incorporates that. It’s what grabbed my attention in the first place. The biggest thing that stood out to me is how the author made the chapters. He didn't label them “1,2,3”, instead he wrote it by the years that were the most significant to Nike’s development. He also wrote their characters in a way that you almost knew them your entire life. For example, Phil's track coach Mr. Bowerman. You could just tell by the way Phil Knight described him he was your coach for whatever sport you play. I would personally recommend anyone that is into history, a fan of nike, or person just looking for a good read to check this book out cause it has surprises that I can’t tell you. Your just going to have to read it yourself to find out.