Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

Written by Phil Knight

Narrated by Norbert Leo Butz

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Apr 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781508211815

Phil Knight

Phil Knight is a professional engineer who may well have built and installed the escalator you are standing on as you read this from your tablet. He lives in Cambridgeshire, UK.

Reviews for Shoe Dog

[Daniel Sanchez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[Blecyn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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

[Gabriel Nicolau · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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

[Sani · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[Ernest Brooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[venture.innomatrix · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was an amazing journey. Filled with inspiration & insights.

[Joshua Manes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing business lessons and storytelling. Worth the read or listen.

[Naren · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very uplifting to hear during my 10 km run.

[kelechiabiri · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it. Wish I had listened sooner. Very good insights and realistic.

[Denise Sherrie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An inspiring book that encapsulates all the themes of life, defining life from the perspective of a dreamer.
DARE TO DREAM.

[Asim Amin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best books I’ve ever read! Must read!

[John Duggan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[Martin Matovu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is truly an authentic book, with all the good and not-so-good facts. Thanks Phil for inspiring the future entrepreneurs.

[scott reeves · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great read! Definitely motivated me to just keep going! 10/10

[Sov KimKhung · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful book for anyone considering being an entrepreneur or starting a new business

[Leisa Hassock · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The honesty, about his hard it is to be a success.

[Orlan Fernandez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Inspiring and compelling story of how passion, determination, and hard work lead to success!

[Masih · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[Jesse Himsworth · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best books I've read, great story and plot helped me further understand the creation of Nike

[Hazani Hassan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best of the best, luck, hardwork n faith..

[Oksana · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[walid Zefzaf · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Authentic story of an entrepreneur journey…amazing, I love it :)

[susana wild · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good book teaches you the story of Nike must read

[Michael · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[Jen Wu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Inspiring, comforting with a bunch of great warnings. Renewed my energy to keep going

[omer miloh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love that book. Really. Inspiring.
One of the best book I have ever read

[Aj Achilles · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best books I have ever listened too/ read

[Ross Taylor · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very interesting and I'm not even a Nike fan. Interesting read for an entrepreneur

[Yong Jie Teng · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book gave me a glimpse into the factors of success for Nike

[Tolu Opatola · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book gave me a whole new perspective to entrepreneurship. Super inspirational story