Shoe Dog

Shoe Dog is a 2016 memoir written by Phil Knight, the co-founder and former CEO of Nike. The book covers his personal journey building the sportswear giant from a small startup called Blue Ribbon Sports.

The memoir primarily focuses on the 1960s and 1970s, detailing the risky early years of the Nike brand. Knight writes about his early partnership with Onitsuka Tiger shoes and the eventual launch of Nike's own footwear.

No, the book deliberately stops its timeline well before the massive modern era of Nike and Michael Jordan endorsements. Instead, it focuses on the foundational struggles, legal battles, and early team members who helped keep the company afloat in its early days.

While it details the creation of Nike, it reads more like a deeply personal coming-of-age memoir rather than a traditional business book. Phil Knight shares his vulnerabilities, family tragedies, and the intense passion that drove him to overcome early financial crises.