Book Review of Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

Lessons, Triumphs, and Reflections from Nike’s Founding Journey

Advait Lad
6 min readNov 2, 2024

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Photo by George Pagan III on Unsplash

Phil Knight’s memoir, Shoe Dog, provides an unfiltered look into the creation and growth of Nike, one of the most iconic brands in the world. It chronicles Knight’s journey from a young entrepreneur with a vision to the co-founder of a global powerhouse. The narrative is rich with personal anecdotes, insights into the business world, and the relentless drive required to succeed. Throughout the memoir, Knight shares both the exhilaration of triumph and the weight of failure, capturing the essence of what it means to be an entrepreneur in a fiercely competitive landscape.

Synopsis

Shoe Dog begins with Knight’s early experiences that set the stage for his entrepreneurial ambitions. After completing his MBA at Stanford, he embarks on a trip around the world, during which he discovers a potential market for high-quality Japanese running shoes in the United States. This revelation leads him to establish Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964, where he partners with Onitsuka to import their Tiger shoes. Knight’s vision is not just to sell shoes but to create a brand that resonates with athletes.

As Knight delves into the nitty-gritty of running a startup, he candidly discusses the various hurdles he faced…

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Advait Lad
Advait Lad

Written by Advait Lad

Data Product Manager @ KPMG | A product enthusiast who loves to talk about features, user workflows and strategies that drive people towards products.

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