Shoe Dog is an audiobook by Phil Knight, narrated by Norbert Leo Butz. The unabridged Audible edition runs 13 hrs 21 mins.
Publisher’s Summary
In this instant and tenacious New York Times bestseller, Nike founder and board chairman Phil Knight “offers a rare and revealing look at the notoriously media-shy man behind the swoosh” (Booklist, starred review), illuminating his 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.
Bill Gates named Shoe Dog one of his five favorite books of the year and called it “an amazing tale, a refreshingly honest reminder of what the path to business success really looks like. It’s a messy, perilous, and chaotic journey, riddled with mistakes, endless struggles, and sacrifice. Phil Knight opens up in ways few CEOs are willing to do.”
Fresh out of business school, Phil Knight borrowed fifty dollars from his father and launched a company with one simple mission: import high-quality, low-cost running shoes from Japan. Selling the shoes from the trunk of his car in 1963, Knight grossed eight thousand dollars that first year. Today, Nike’s annual sales top $30 billion. In this age of start-ups, Knight’s Nike is the gold standard, and its swoosh is one of the few icons instantly recognized in every corner of the world.
But Knight, the man behind the swoosh, has always been a mystery. In Shoe Dog, he tells his story at last. At twenty-four, Knight decides that rather than work for a big corporation, he will create something all his own, new, dynamic, different. He details the many risks he encountered, the crushing setbacks, the ruthless competitors and hostile bankers—as well as his many thrilling triumphs. Above all, he recalls the relationships that formed the heart and soul of Nike, with his former track coach, the irascible and charismatic Bill Bowerman, and with his first employees, a ragtag group of misfits and savants who quickly became a band of swoosh-crazed brothers.
Together, harnessing the electrifying power of a bold vision and a shared belief in the transformative power of sports, they created a brand—and a culture—that changed everything.
Audiobook Details
- Narrated by: Norbert Leo Butz
- Length: 13 hrs 21 mins
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
- Release year: 2016
- Audible category: Biographies & Memoirs / Professionals & Academics / Business
Listener Ratings
Shoe Dog holds an average listener rating of 4.9/5 from 53843 Audible ratings.
On Audible, ratings for this title break down into narration performance and story separately:
- Performance (narration): 4.8/5
- Story: 4.9/5
- 5-star ratings: 88% of all ratings
What Audible Listeners Are Saying
5/5 stars — “Epic book – absolutely loved it!!”
As an entrepreneur, I identified with this book like no other that I’ve read – the well written narrative makes reading this book like living the experience moment to moment – wow.— Amin, Audible listener
5/5 stars — “I’m going to buy me some Cortez Nikes!!!”
Love the story from beginning to end. It’s currently on replay now. Mr. Knights highs and lows equal total motivation. Thank You.— MsKuttinUp, Audible listener
5/5 stars — “Raw and Genuine Memoir “
This is a well written book. It took a little bit of patience on my part as I felt it started off slowly but it then captivated me. I listened to the entire book in just a couple of days because I couldn’t get enough of his honest recount of his life, loves, career and feelings I could literally feel his frustrations, joy and pain. Thanks for sharing your inspiring passions with us Phil.— GuamUsa65, Audible listener
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