Shoe Dog
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1962, fresh out of business school, Phil Knight borrowed $50 from his father and started a company with a simple mission: import high-quality, low-cost running shoes from Japan. He sold them out of the trunk of his car. This is the story of how that tiny startup, run by a band of misfits, became Nike, told with surprising honesty about the near-failures, the debts and the doubts along the way.
Why it's worth reading
It spent more than 100 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists, and it's one of the most loved business memoirs ever written. It reads like an adventure story, and it's as much about friendship and risk as about shoes.
You'll love it if you liked
Unreasonable Hospitality, Steve Jobs or The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine
Good to know
It ends in 1980, when Nike goes public, so it's about the scrappy early years. You don't need any interest in business to enjoy it.
Quick answers
Is Shoe Dog worth reading?
Yes. It spent more than 100 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists, and it's one of the most loved business memoirs ever written. It ranks #228 of the 2,819 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 82.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Shoe Dog about?
In 1962, fresh out of business school, Phil Knight borrowed $50 from his father and started a company with a simple mission: import high-quality, low-cost running shoes from Japan. He sold them out of the trunk of his car. This is the story of how that tiny startup, run by a band of misfits, became Nike, told with surprising honesty about the near-failures, the debts and the doubts along the way.
How long does it take to read Shoe Dog?
About 10 hours (386 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Shoe Dog?
If you liked it, try Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara, Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson or The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis.
By the numbers
- Readers95 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller70 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
105 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2016.
Where it ranks
- #12 of the 85 self-help and business books we rank
- #43 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #113 of the 1,575 modern books we rank
- #228 of the 2,819 books we rank
Bestseller
- 105 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2016
Reads as
True story
If you like this, read next
Tuesdays with Morrie
Becoming
The Glass Castle
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
Steve Jobs
Have a Little Faith: A True Story