Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-03-25 08:37:43
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Phil Knight
- ISBN：1471146723
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
In this candid and riveting memoir， for the first time ever， Nike founder and CEO 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。
In 1962， fresh out of business school， Phil Knight borrowed $50 from his father and created a company with a simple mission: import high-quality， low-cost athletic shoes from Japan。 Selling the shoes from the trunk of his lime green Plymouth Valiant， Knight grossed $8，000 his first year。 Today， Nike’s annual sales top $30 billion。 In an age of startups， Nike is the ne plus ultra of all startups， and the swoosh has become a revolutionary， globe-spanning icon， one of the most ubiquitous and recognizable symbols in the world today。
But Knight， the man behind the swoosh， has always remained a mystery。 Now， for the first time， in a memoir that is candid， humble， gutsy， and wry， he tells his story， beginning with his crossroads moment。 At 24， after backpacking around the world， he decided to take the unconventional path， to start his own business—a business that would be dynamic， different。
Knight details the many risks and daunting setbacks that stood between him and his dream—along with his early triumphs。 Above all， he recalls the formative relationships with his first partners and employees， a ragtag group of misfits and seekers who became a tight-knit band of brothers。 Together， harnessing the transcendent power of a shared mission， and a deep belief in the spirit of sport， they built a brand that changed everything。
In 1962， fresh out of business school， Phil Knight borrowed $50 from his father and created a company with a simple mission: import high-quality， low-cost athletic shoes from Japan。 Selling the shoes from the trunk of his lime green Plymouth Valiant， Knight grossed $8，000 his first year。 Today， Nike’s annual sales top $30 billion。 In an age of startups， Nike is the ne plus ultra of all startups， and the swoosh has become a revolutionary， globe-spanning icon， one of the most ubiquitous and recognizable symbols in the world today。
But Knight， the man behind the swoosh， has always remained a mystery。 Now， for the first time， in a memoir that is candid， humble， gutsy， and wry， he tells his story， beginning with his crossroads moment。 At 24， after backpacking around the world， he decided to take the unconventional path， to start his own business—a business that would be dynamic， different。
Knight details the many risks and daunting setbacks that stood between him and his dream—along with his early triumphs。 Above all， he recalls the formative relationships with his first partners and employees， a ragtag group of misfits and seekers who became a tight-knit band of brothers。 Together， harnessing the transcendent power of a shared mission， and a deep belief in the spirit of sport， they built a brand that changed everything。
Reviews
Olivia Rui
，
It's hard for me to articulate exactly why I liked this book。。。 Maybe it's because the spirit of Nike is conveyed so well that I felt like I was right there with him through all the highs and lows of Knight's journey。 For a book about business， it's really about a lot more than just business。 It's hard for me to articulate exactly why I liked this book。。。 Maybe it's because the spirit of Nike is conveyed so well that I felt like I was right there with him through all the highs and lows of Knight's journey。 For a book about business， it's really about a lot more than just business。 。。。more
Shiv Prakash
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I am pretty surprised by the hype around this book - the story is decent， but not particularly insightful or educational。 I think this book is skippable。 Would have been interesting if to include a section describing the way the brand really took off in the 80s/90s。
Zahra Khan
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I loved this book so much。 It changed my perspective deeply on life and on the Nike brand。 It's written so poetically。 I loved the fact that Phil Knight doesn't talk about "overnight" success。 He talks about the doubts and insecurities one feels when starting a business， the obstacles that get in the way， and the emotional toll。It's about wanting more out of life and KNOWING that there's more to life than the societal norms。 I loved this book so much。 It changed my perspective deeply on life and on the Nike brand。 It's written so poetically。 I loved the fact that Phil Knight doesn't talk about "overnight" success。 He talks about the doubts and insecurities one feels when starting a business， the obstacles that get in the way， and the emotional toll。It's about wanting more out of life and KNOWING that there's more to life than the societal norms。 。。。more
Melanie
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I really enjoyed this， and I'm not sure I expected to。 It's really well written and flows so well as a story。 Phil Knight brings the settings and the characters to life， and there's plenty of drama throughout the early years of Nike。 Overall a great read and an inspiring figure。 I really enjoyed this， and I'm not sure I expected to。 It's really well written and flows so well as a story。 Phil Knight brings the settings and the characters to life， and there's plenty of drama throughout the early years of Nike。 Overall a great read and an inspiring figure。 。。。more
Gopesh Periwal
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I absolutely loved this book。 I had never heard anything about Nike's CEO and his work but I was flabbergasted learning about his life story。 It is inspiring to say the least。 Phil recounts his post college years， having his heart broken， starting new company and all the things that ensued。 This book has made me consider going on a trip around the world， alone。 The writing is so amazing， it almost reads like a fiction。 I wish to live my life with Phil Knight's spirit of never giving up。 I absolutely loved this book。 I had never heard anything about Nike's CEO and his work but I was flabbergasted learning about his life story。 It is inspiring to say the least。 Phil recounts his post college years， having his heart broken， starting new company and all the things that ensued。 This book has made me consider going on a trip around the world， alone。 The writing is so amazing， it almost reads like a fiction。 I wish to live my life with Phil Knight's spirit of never giving up。 。。。more
Stacy Beck
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（Audio） The narrator is fantastic！ This book。。。 I just loved it。 I so enjoyed hearing the journey of Nike。 The imperfections， the doubt and fear， the milestones and faith in a vision and product。 It was inspiring and motivating。
Courtney
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This is my favorite memoir to date， even better than Educated。 It’s the wild ride that Nike founder Phil Knight experiences。 His self deprivation is real， it’s raw。 I love his nervous ticks like snapping rubber bands or hugging himself。 He is no different than anyone else and his skills at writing shine through。 The read is so easy it’s like drinking water。 There are times when I laugh hysterically at the absurdity of his situations。 Above all else， I love his quotes。 When he visits a city he wa This is my favorite memoir to date， even better than Educated。 It’s the wild ride that Nike founder Phil Knight experiences。 His self deprivation is real， it’s raw。 I love his nervous ticks like snapping rubber bands or hugging himself。 He is no different than anyone else and his skills at writing shine through。 The read is so easy it’s like drinking water。 There are times when I laugh hysterically at the absurdity of his situations。 Above all else， I love his quotes。 When he visits a city he walks in the footsteps of prior leaders and he recounts the speeches they are famous for。 I will be recommending this at my next book club！ 。。。more
Rex Buys
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I've read a lot about entrepreneurs and I listened to a lot of their stories and never found a story I identified with more。 Phil Knight is a humble baller I've read a lot about entrepreneurs and I listened to a lot of their stories and never found a story I identified with more。 Phil Knight is a humble baller 。。。more
Mick Bowens
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Love， love。 Love this book。 What a life story
Bookish Melba
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I just finished reading this and I’m filled with encouragement and the need to work hard， to push boundaries， to learn my craft （be obsessed actually 🤣）， to have faith in what i do and a whole lot more。 I don’t know why i never reached for it all this time？ I probably thought it would be a boring read but， boy！ Was i wrong？ I literally didn’t want to put this down after i dived into it 。。This will be the book i recommend one to read from now on （ until i find something better）。 。。I have so much I just finished reading this and I’m filled with encouragement and the need to work hard， to push boundaries， to learn my craft （be obsessed actually 🤣）， to have faith in what i do and a whole lot more。 I don’t know why i never reached for it all this time？ I probably thought it would be a boring read but， boy！ Was i wrong？ I literally didn’t want to put this down after i dived into it 。。This will be the book i recommend one to read from now on （ until i find something better）。 。。I have so much respect for Phil and how he believed in his “crazy idea” through the debts， betrayal and worse， he still didn’t give up。 Now i want to have Nike shoes so bad！ #shoedog #bookishpost 。。。more
Miguel Sanchez Ruiz
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Phil Knight nos describe como fue su odisea desde la creación de Blue Ribbon Sports y todo lo que tuvieron que pasar hasta la creación de Nike。 Relata cómo fue su reacción con su grupo de "Buttface" los cuales estaba conformado por Hayes， Wodell， Johnson y Strasser los cuales fueron los pilares junto con Knight de que Nike sea lo que es hoy。Penny fue importante para que Knight nunca se diera por vencido， y hoy en día， los dos se encuentran disfrutando los frutos de su trabajo duro， y como el mis Phil Knight nos describe como fue su odisea desde la creación de Blue Ribbon Sports y todo lo que tuvieron que pasar hasta la creación de Nike。 Relata cómo fue su reacción con su grupo de "Buttface" los cuales estaba conformado por Hayes， Wodell， Johnson y Strasser los cuales fueron los pilares junto con Knight de que Nike sea lo que es hoy。Penny fue importante para que Knight nunca se diera por vencido， y hoy en día， los dos se encuentran disfrutando los frutos de su trabajo duro， y como el mismo creador del "swoosh" nos dice， tuvieron esa "suerte divina" que algunas de las empresas más grandes tienen para ser lo que hoy en día son。 。。。more
Stefan Kapelac
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Phil Knight appears to be insufferable。 I rarely put a book down and I put this one down 2/3s in。
Vinod Kurup
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Loved the beginning where he was figuring out how to pursue his passion。 Didn't enjoy the second half where he documented his business dealings。 Really didn't like the postscript where he played the victim regarding the fact that Nike supported sweat shops。 Loved the beginning where he was figuring out how to pursue his passion。 Didn't enjoy the second half where he documented his business dealings。 Really didn't like the postscript where he played the victim regarding the fact that Nike supported sweat shops。 。。。more
Thuwarakesh Murallie
，
Wow， this book alone worth a hundred MBAs。 I admit what Phil said about young students。 We are overly pessimistic。 But we have your story to change it。
Jack Piccoli
，
Like Warren Buffet said， Knight is a gifted writer。 This book， not only was a fun read and easy to follow， but also had a ton to offer。 There were a lot of truly telling and weighty quotes that held a bunch of knowledge， from Knight’s experiences， which was super powerful and meaningful。 All in all， this book is， without question， a worthwhile read- especially for business students！
Ivan
，
very well written
Keaton Wittmack
，
I listened to the audio book and I’m glad I did。 I think it would be been a tough read as there were parts that I found a bit dull and repetitive。 It was interesting to learn the history behind Nike and how it all started - where the name came from， how the “swoosh” was designed and the struggle of getting Nike off the ground。
Matt McCombs
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LOVE。
Jacquelyn Casazza
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Fast paced look into the evolution of Nike and what went on in Phil Knight’s brain throughout。 I had no clue as to how scrappy this company started。 Part business book and part memoir - you’ve probably read better of both - but it was a fun read。
Igor M。
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One of the most inspiring business books I've read One of the most inspiring business books I've read 。。。more
Andrew Wood
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A story with sole and soulI nice easy read for those that are interested in entrepreneurship and what is feels and looks like to start and sustain a company。 Everyone knows Nike， and it is interesting to read how the company became what it is today。
Ian Horton
，
Typically not a fan of business-centric biographies， but was pleasantly surprised by this book。 It focuses primarily on the early years of Nike and ultimately chronicles a lot of interesting aspects of the company that I did not know （as opposed to the stories we all already know i。e。 inventing the running shoe）。
Aparna Kumari
，
One of the best memoirs I have read。 Usually， these kind of books tend to focus only on the person writing it， but this one focussed on the team。 This book showed me how each person in the team helped in creating the company。 As a runner myself， I connected with the enthusiasm of the author。
Alexa （ෆ˙ᵕ˙ෆ）♡
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Inspiring。 My respect has doubled for NIKE after reading this。 Passionate。
Luciana Codreanu
，
¨Un alt lucru pe care l-am auzit adesea de la aceiași profesori a fost vechea maximă: Când mărfurile nu trec granițele internaționale， le vor trece soldații。 Deși eram cunoscut pentru faptul că numeam afacerile război fără gloanțe， ele reprezintă， de fapt， un minunat zid de apărare împotriva războiului。 Comerțul este calea coexistenței， a cooperării。 Pacea se alimentează cu prosperitate。" ¨Un alt lucru pe care l-am auzit adesea de la aceiași profesori a fost vechea maximă: Când mărfurile nu trec granițele internaționale， le vor trece soldații。 Deși eram cunoscut pentru faptul că numeam afacerile război fără gloanțe， ele reprezintă， de fapt， un minunat zid de apărare împotriva războiului。 Comerțul este calea coexistenței， a cooperării。 Pacea se alimentează cu prosperitate。" 。。。more
Steven Hurtado
，
Una historia llena de retos， detalles， muchos protagonistas， obstáculos pero sobre todo。。。 perseverancia。 Realmente un muy buen libro que va mucho más allá de narrar las anécdotas de la creación de Nike。 Realmente habla de la vida de un emprendedor y llena de ánimo a otros emprendedores。 Las últimas 30 páginas logran una conexión muy profunda
Mary Vigilante
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While I know the shoes， I knew nothing about the founder。 Interesting read/audiobook。
Mārtiņš
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I would want to fault it， as in all honesty not a whole lot is applicable to aspiring entrepreneurs when looking at a business started in the unique set of circumstances in the post-war America and a World that was a lot smaller than today， however I must say， this is a wonderful life story， full of emotion and depth。 I thoroughly enjoyed it。
Srishti
，
Would give this one a 10， if that was possible。 As someone who's neither into sports nor shoes， even less so， into reading business or entrepreneur books， this one left a massive impression。 More than business， this book is about dreams。 About finding a purpose and pursuing it for more than just money。 About friendships and emotions。 About highs and lows of life。 About love， grit and passion。 Highly recommend it。 Read it now！ Would give this one a 10， if that was possible。 As someone who's neither into sports nor shoes， even less so， into reading business or entrepreneur books， this one left a massive impression。 More than business， this book is about dreams。 About finding a purpose and pursuing it for more than just money。 About friendships and emotions。 About highs and lows of life。 About love， grit and passion。 Highly recommend it。 Read it now！ 。。。more
Kelsey Schott
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