Book Review : Shoe Dog

Show Dog is an autobiography of an entrepreneurs. Phil Knight takes us through his journey of materialising his “crazy idea” of creating a shoe company.

Phil started the company on money borrowed from his father, and worked on it passionately with perseverance. He shares the challenges that he faced along the way right be it finding the right manufacturer from Japan to compete with the German shoemakers, selling the sourced products from his car, creating a team, innovating, making a brand or growing the presence from one city to a global phenomenon and all this while struggling with finances for a reasonable long time.

Phil has dared to open up and provide the readers with his the way events unfolded in the process of creating the brand NIKE as it is know today. The insight into the struggles of the company and his personal life are very relatable.

The narration of the events and the storytelling is top notch.

The portrayal of Phil’s personal relationships with the team and his family is humble and daring at the same time. The central characters are described as misfits seeking success and resolutely stand by the company despite the heavy demands and trying situations.

I get a feeling that there has to be more to the growth of the company that may have been left out due the negativity that it have brought in the story. But then it is Phil’s story.

This is gripping story written very well. The never give up attitude of the author and team to make the brand work is inspiring. A must read to get an insight of making of a global brand.