'A refreshingly honest reminder of what the path to business success really
looks like ... It's an amazing tale' Bill Gates 'The best book I read last
year was Shoe Dog, by Nike's Phil Knight. Phil is a very wise, intelligent
and competitive fellow who is also a gifted storyteller' Warren Buffett In
1962, fresh out of business school, Phil Knight borrowed $50 from his
father and created a company with a simple mission: import high-quality,
low-cost athletic shoes from Japan. Selling the shoes from the boot of his
Plymouth, Knight grossed $8000 in his first year. Today, Nike's annual
sales top $30 billion. In an age of start-ups, Nike is the ne plus ultra of
all start-ups, and the swoosh has become a revolutionary, globe-spanning
icon, one of the most ubiquitous and recognisable symbols in the world
today. But Knight, the man behind the swoosh, has always remained a
mystery. Now, for the first time, he tells his story. Candid, humble, wry
and gutsy, he begins with his crossroads moment when at 24 he decided to
start his own business. He details the many risks and daunting setbacks
that stood between him and his dream - along with his early triumphs. Above
all, he recalls how his first band of partners and employees soon became a
tight-knit band of brothers. Together, harnessing the transcendent power of
a shared mission, and a deep belief in the spirit of sport, they built a
brand that changed everything. A memoir rich with insight, humour and hard-
won wisdom, this book is also studded with lessons - about building
something from scratch, overcoming adversity, and ultimately leaving your
mark on the world.