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    Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
    Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
    Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
    Audiobook13 hours

    Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

    Written by Phil Knight

    Narrated by Norbert Leo Butz

    5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    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.

    Editor's Note

    A new business book classic…

    Just as Nike’s swoosh symbol is one of the most recognizable symbols of excellence around the world, this memoir from the shoe company’s founder, Phil Knight, has quickly become one of the most-lauded, must-read business books of all time.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateApr 26, 2016
    ISBN9781508211815
    Author

    Phil Knight

    One of the world’s most influential business executives, Phil Knight is the founder of Nike, Inc. He served as CEO of the company from 1964 to 2004, as board chairman through 2016, and he is currently Chairman Emeritus. He lives in Oregon with his wife, Penny.

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    Reviews for Shoe Dog

    5/5

    2,705 ratings231 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be a highly recommended, inspiring, and captivating book. It provides deep insights into the story of Nike and the journey of its founder, Phil Knight. The book is praised for its storytelling, authenticity, and the life lessons it offers. Readers describe it as a fantastic, excellent, and thoroughly insightful read that is both humorous and inspiring. While there are a few negative reviews criticizing the authenticity and perceived boredom, the overall consensus is overwhelmingly positive.

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      When you hear of a big company like nike, most people's minds go straight to big money making corporation who doesn't care about people. Phil Knights memoir really captures the essence of being a small startup in the late 60's and 70's and the evolution of that company. Would highly recommend.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Totally worth my time. And glad Mr. Knight was didn’t shy away from mentioning how he treated JOHNSON and his regret or not reading his letters. Mr. Knight repeatedly took on a job when it felt like his business wasn’t going in the direction he had expected. This point of his story is very critical to me as it has helped me to decide exactly how I want to balance my business and work life. Thanks MR. Knight for telling your story.


      Blessing from Nigeria

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Wonderful book, it really made me think about career and future.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Extremely deep and beautiful story telling. I feel like I was with Mr. Knight all the way and the lessons are entwined in the stories. Thank you for writing this version of Nike's story.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Phil Knight's incredible memoir reads more like a novel or a great saga. It is captivating, suspenseful, full of twists and turns and is very well written.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Phil Knight's and Nike's story has been told by others from just about every imaginable angle. But none have told the story with as much soul and panache as Knight himself. This book is gripping - I hate the phrase, but I literally couldn't put it down.

      The narrative is heavy on the early years of Nike; it ultimately leaves off when Nike issues their public stock offering in the 1980. So there is no Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson, Tiger Woods, or Wayne Gretzky. Instead, the tale spins around people you've never heard of that completely sold out (in the most positive sense of the expression concerning commitment) to make Nike the multi-billion dollar company it is today. And I would wager that you will find these unknowns even more interesting than their celebrity counterparts.

      Pick up this book and read it today!
    • 5/5
      Loved it. Wish I had listened sooner. Very good insights and realistic.
    • 5/5
      An inspiring book that encapsulates all the themes of life, defining life from the perspective of a dreamer.
      DARE TO DREAM.
    • 5/5
      One of the best books I’ve ever read! Must read!
    • 5/5
      Great book
      Phil Knight Had a vision / dream
      ,and like he said, a great team some luck and a whole lot of perseverance.
      The last chapter was very touching.
    • 5/5
      This is truly an authentic book, with all the good and not-so-good facts. Thanks Phil for inspiring the future entrepreneurs.
    • 5/5
      Great read! Definitely motivated me to just keep going! 10/10
    • 5/5
      Wonderful book for anyone considering being an entrepreneur or starting a new business
    • 5/5
      The honesty, about his hard it is to be a success.
    • 5/5
      Inspiring and compelling story of how passion, determination, and hard work lead to success!
    • 5/5
      Feeling defeated and battered by life, this book is so uplifting and inspiring that makes one's problems look small and insignificant. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone going through hardship in life.
    • 5/5
      One of the best books I've read, great story and plot helped me further understand the creation of Nike
    • 5/5
      One of the best of the best, luck, hardwork n faith..
    • 5/5
      I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. A life story which is very different from other narratives containing tones of different instruction on how to live to be productive etc.
    • 5/5
      Authentic story of an entrepreneur journey…amazing, I love it :)
    • 5/5
      Very good book teaches you the story of Nike must read
    • 5/5
      The things l have learned from this book are life lessons that will help me find new and better paths in my personal and work life.

      Thanks, Phil for sharing your story.
    • 5/5
      Inspiring, comforting with a bunch of great warnings. Renewed my energy to keep going

    • 5/5
      Love that book. Really. Inspiring.
      One of the best book I have ever read
    • 5/5
      One of the best books I have ever listened too/ read
    • 4/5
      Very interesting and I'm not even a Nike fan. Interesting read for an entrepreneur
    • 5/5
      This book gave me a glimpse into the factors of success for Nike
    • 5/5
      This book gave me a whole new perspective to entrepreneurship. Super inspirational story
    • 5/5
      Must read for entrepreneurs and dreamers. Great storytelling sprinkled with deep insights while setting the facts straight in one of the most beloved brands in the world
    • 5/5
      Loved it so much I had to get a physical copy. Inspiring