Shoe Dog

By: Phil Knight

Narrated by: Norbert Leo Butz, Phil Knight - introduction

Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's 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 fifty dollars 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 start-ups, Nike is the ne plus ultra of all start-ups, 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.

©2016 Phil Knight. All rights reserved. (P)2016 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Narrator Norbert Leo Butz...infuses his delivery with drama and suspense, keeping the listener engaged with each chapter. Knight claims to be a shy introvert, but Butz isn't fooled, portraying the chairman as a straight-shooting, no-nonsense leader who keeps winning because he's relentless in his pursuit of success...." (AudioFile)

Just do it

This book is the story of the man who built the Nike shoe Empire. It had never occurred to me that I was a Nike customer, but during the course of the listen I realised that I own 3 pairs of Nikes (a pair of golf shoes and 2 pairs of ‘trainers’), so they’re obviously sufficiently globally ubiquitous to have had an impact on my life. When I started at University, in 1980, I remember my new friend Jez Brown showing me his pair of Nikes as if they were something special. At the time they seemed a bit odd and I wasn’t sure if they would catch on or just be a flash-in-the-pan. That was my first exposure to the brand.

The story of Nike starts in 1962, the year I was born, when an ambitious young man, passionate about running, has the wild idea of going to Japan to import running shoes, pretending that he already owns an established shoe business in the US. He throws his heart and soul into building this business, recruiting a posse of similarly devoted eccentric characters along the way. He’s always up against adversity, always on the brink of bankruptcy – but somehow he survives and scrapes through to the next phase, even though selling the shoes is never a problem. The problems are always supply and cash flow.

The book ends in 1980, when Phil and his band of odd-bods finally yield to the pressure to allow Nike to go public. This is something they had resisted because they liked the home-spun ethos of the company. Once the company went public it signalled an end to the author’s financial worries (he instantly became a very rich man), an end to the company’s constant battles against adversity, and an end to the story (apart from an epilogue).

This is a great listen. Completely compelling and entertaining from the first to the last word. Recommended.

Breathtaking

The best book I have ever read. Thank you Phil Knight for taking the time to inspire, comfort, or warn us all out here. Thank you.

A teacher for the jungle

A great story about passion, hard work and endless learning path. Phil's life aware us from some of the obstacles and breakpoints an entrepreneur will have to overcome.

Simply wonderful!

Who knew that Phil Knight could write better than most professional “authors”! A warm, lighthearted , often funny memoir that tells a fascinating tale of the birth of Nike. Absolutely loved it!

Shoe dawg!

Great book. loved listening to it. I have learnt a lot from Phil. those so many lessons to take out of this.

A truly wonderful book

This is not a book only for business people and entrepreneurs’ minds. This is a book for everyday battles of life. There are so many relateable moments and stories that pause you to rethink and reevaluate those of yours!
The narrator has done as awesome job! Kudos!
Passionately recommended to everyone!

Love for Cortez

Thank you Mr. Knight for writing this book.
I live in my Nike Cortez. I can’t count how many I have owned since 1991. My husband hates them but I don’t care. He doesn’t know. I will try to teach him now that you have helped me find the words.

A determined voyage eloquently recounted.

I do not know the entire narrative of the formation of Nike and this book may very well be completely biased but I could not nearly care less. This is a story very well crafted and a very enjoyable listening experience.

Victory!

Excellent book from beginning to end. I have always been a huge fan of Nike, and after having listened to Shoe Dog I am a fan Phil Knight.

Absolutely Phenomenal !!

The story is absolutely phenomenal. It's a combination of the epic struggle of an idea and the fortitude of driving that idea into the company that is Nike today. The story grabs your attention, pulls you in, and then wraps you up in bear hug. I could not stop listening... It's the story of a man's life, his trials and tribulations wrapped around a damn good business book. I have read many business books and memoirs over the years and I have to say that this book and story puts them all to shame. I plan on gifting this book to each one of my sons. It captures the essence that being successful is hard-work, taking risks, and being persistent... Bravo!