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)

A Must Read For All Entrepreneurs!

Shoe Dog is highly transformational and inspiring. It will move you and keep you engaged the whole time. Usually I'd pace a book throughout a week or so, however I couldn't resist the urge to binge chapter to chapter. I can truly say this book has changed my life for he better!

Honest and raw

Me. Knight is an amazing storyteller with an awesome story to tell. The struggles and spiritual journey he describes are required reading for anyone with a big idea.

Great purchase

I couldn't wait to get back to listening to this it made my drive so much better everyday.

insights into a shy influential person

Phil Knight is a brilliant man with a lot of heart. An athlete, but a poet. A business man, but a philosopher. Reading his story and the birth and growth of Nike reminds me that so much of what we enjoy in our everyday life came at the expense of the heart and soul of countless individuals and generations.
Glad I read it.

One of the best business books I’ve listened to

Knight’s style of storytelling was engaging, humorous, and yet full of business wisdom. I’m recommending this book to everyone I know!

Six stars

I’m speechless. I don’t read so many business memoirs but I highly doubt I’ll ever find anything more powerful and moving than this. It’s hard to imagine Phil remembering so many details from so many decades ago but ultimate it doesn’t matter because the story is so good and that’s the reason I read. This one is special.

Even Better Than I Expected

I was kind of expecting a egomaniac-like story trying to make the author seem bigger than life but I was pleasantly surprised he came across as a humble good guy. The narrator was very good.

So worth the time

One of the best audio books I've heard. Phil pours his heart out to give you an experience of a life time. Pure gem!!!

Autobiography that feels like fiction

An amazing write-up by Phil Knight, with Norbert Butz doing an incredible job reading the story. The way Phil Knight writes this feels like a fictional book. If you're a fan of sports, Nike, or shoes, you're in for a treat.

great book audio was lacking in beginning

This was an outstanding book. If you love "how I did it" books, then look no further. This book told the story of how Nike was started till their first public offering. Some books only devote a chapter to the startup period, but not Shoe Dog. The only issue with the audiobook was that the reader in at least the first few chapters sounded depressed, but after that sounded lively.