Phil Knight published the Nike memoir Shoe Dog in 2016.
Shoe Dog is Knight’s account of building the company that began as Blue Ribbon Sports and became Nike. The book describes early shoe importing, sales made from a car, relationships with athletes and designers, financing difficulties, and the company’s eventual expansion into a global sports brand.
The title uses “shoe dog” as an informal term for someone deeply involved in the footwear business. It reflects the book’s focus on the practical and personal work behind a company often associated mainly with advertising and celebrity athletes.
Shoe Dog is a memoir rather than a formal corporate history. Its narrative is presented from Knight’s perspective, so it offers personal recollections and interpretations alongside the company’s documented milestones. Readers sometimes mistake the title for a Nike slogan, but it is the name of Knight’s 2016 book.