Phil Knight

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 show more 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! show less

"I thought of that phrase, “It’s just business.” It’s never just business. It never will be. If it ever does become just business, that will mean that business is very bad."
This was a very engrossing memoir, made all the more say by the very likeable personality that is Philip Knight.
He takes you on the rollercoaster ride of Nike and himself, his ambitions, his fights with the government, with his former creditors, with Adidas and Puma, and much, much more.
You can absolutely taste show more the depths of Phil's despair and the heights of his joy, leaping at you from the pages, which is a marvellous quality for a writer to have, but even more so when you're writing your own autobiography.
TL;DR - must read if you're into memoirs. One of the best such pieces ever written, as is apt for such an unconventional life. show less

I heard this memoir recommended on a recent podcast even though it was published a decade ago. Having visited the Portland area last fall I was eager to learn more about this man and his company that dominates every place and every conversation in that area.
So much of what he recounts of the early years is about boys behaving badly, with alcohol serving as the primary vehicle for relaxation. The company culture was hard driving, but with a strong sense of camaraderie even as they fought show more loudly to convince others of their viewpoint. Knight plants himself firmly in Oregon but takes the reader on a world-wide journey, following his evolution from a soul-searching young man to a global business leader. His voice is self-effacing and humble but never apologetic for his belief in himself, his cohorts and the fact that Nike could dominate the athletic shoe industry. The writing was far better than I would expect based on his background in accounting and sports so I checked. His ghostwriter was J. R. Moehringer, of course. show less

[Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike] by Phil Knight 4.5

Okay, Nike is based in Oregon, but that's such a small piece of why I loved this book. Knight is actually an AMAZING storyteller, with great wit, wonderful vocabulary and a convincing storyline. Shockingly good writing. Who knew? I had no idea that this worldwide giant of a company had such a tenuous start, but it was fascinating to hear all the trials and tribulations, the enthusiasm and dedication, the bond between the founders, show more not to mention foreign travel and negotiating with the Japanese, the Olympics. An awesome read-- I listened on audio, but print would work just as well.

I did take a half of a point off because Knight is so brutally honest; his descriptions were almost too much for me at times. Funny in a painful way. Still, I give it an enthusiastic 4.5 stars. show less