Shoe Dog

Archival Summary & Scope

Nike founder and board chairman Phil Knight provides a rare and revealing look at the notoriously media-shy man behind the "swoosh." Knight chronicles the company’s evolution from an intrepid start-up into one of the world’s most iconic and profitable brands. Choosing at twenty-four to shun corporate life, Knight instead pursued a vision for something dynamic and different, navigating a "messy, perilous, and chaotic journey" defined by crushing setbacks and hostile bankers.

The memoir details the many risks Knight encountered and the central relationships that formed the heart of Nike, including his partnership with his irascible former track coach, Bill Bowerman. Shoe Dog is an unflinchingly honest account of the sacrifices required to build a global culture, focusing on the ragtag group of misfits who harnessed the transformative power of sports to change the industry forever.