Shoe Dog
A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
The raw, unvarnished story of how Nike almost didn't make it.
Phil Knight recounts the founding of Nike, from importing Onitsuka Tiger shoes as a young entrepreneur to building a global brand. The memoir is candid about the constant cash shortages, banking battles, lawsuits, and personal toll of the early years. It reads as a vivid, honest account of entrepreneurship rather than a triumphant retrospective.
Few founder memoirs capture how close-run and chaotic building a company really is. Knight's story shows the relentless cash crunches, partnership tensions, and stubborn belief that startups demand, making it an antidote to sanitized success stories.
Sign in to mark this read or add it to your want-to-read list.