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NikeFounder MemoirConsumer

Shoe Dog

by Phil Knight · 2016

Phil Knight's memoir of building Nike from Blue Ribbon Sports into a global sportswear company.

Recommended by 3 people

Why this author is included

Phil Knight · Nike co-founder

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Who recommends it

3 people have recommended Shoe Dog. Each entry links to the source.

Warren Buffett at the 2015 SelectUSA Investment Summit Warren BuffettChairman, Berkshire Hathaway
The best book I read last year was Shoe Dog by Nike's Phil Knight.
Recommended · Exact quote Source: Berkshire Hathaway
Evidence details Berkshire Hathaway 2016 Annual Report

Buffett highlighted Shoe Dog in the Bookworm section of Berkshire Hathaway's 2016 annual report while noting the annual meeting store would have piles of the book.

The quote is taken word for word from the source.

Berkshire Hathaway · 2017-02-25 · accessed 2026-06-21

Shareholder letter · Shareholder letter

In the annual-meeting Bookworm section, Buffett says Shoe Dog was the best book he read the previous year and says the store will have piles of copies available.

Bill Gates portrait in 2018 Bill GatesCo-founder, Microsoft; philanthropist

A refreshingly honest reminder of what the path to business success really looks like.

Recommended · Wording not verified Source: TIME
Evidence details Bill Gates Picked These Books as the Best of 2016

Gates included Phil Knight's Shoe Dog in his top books of 2016 list, emphasizing the messy and difficult reality behind building Nike.

This text documents what the source says, but it is not verified as a word-for-word quote.

TIME · 2016-12-05 · accessed 2026-06-20

Article · TIME report of Gates Notes list

TIME reports Gates's 2016 Gates Notes book list and quotes his explanation for selecting Shoe Dog.

Portrait unavailable for Bill Gurley Bill GurleyVenture investor and former design engineer

Bill Gurley recommends Shoe Dog in a discussion of company-building books.

Recommended · Wording not verified Source: The Tim Ferriss Show
Evidence details The Tim Ferriss Show: Bill Gurley (#651), transcript

Conservative summary of Gurley’s own reading selection; no exact quotation asserted.

This text documents what the source says, but it is not verified as a word-for-word quote.

The Tim Ferriss Show · 2023-01-25 · accessed 2026-10-01

Article · Direct interview recommendation

Positive reader-facing selection by Gurley in response to an investor/entrepreneur resources question; not the host’s subsequent endorsement of Open.

About the author

What the author has done, shown separately from who recommends the book.

Phil KnightNike co-founder

Founder/operator behind Nike and author of the Nike memoir Shoe Dog.

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