2 Book Reco's - Phil Knight (Nike) & Memoir on Steve Tarpinian

Triathlon Forum
1

I know Dan was going to start a series of book reviews for ST, so I thought/think it appropriate to note two really good books I just finished:

  1. “Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike: Phil Knight.” Worth around $24 Billion today, Phil Knight started “Blue Ribbon Sports” at the age of 24 with a $50 loan from his father. He imported and sold Japanese running shoes (Tigers … later became Asics) and grossed $8,000 his first year. The story chronicles his vision, his passion, and his drive to build the iconic brand known as Nike. Quite interesting, particularly who he surrounded himself with, and the incredible financial challenges he battled for many, many years. Good business book.

  2. “Slipped Away: A Memoir.” This is the sad, heartwarming/heartwrenching tragic story of Steve Tarpinian, a true icon/legend in our sport. Steve took his life in March, 2015, after a long battle with demons, depression, and mental illness. Author Jean Mellano was Steve’s lover and partner in every respect for over 30 years. She weaves her thoughts, writings by Steve, and writings by others - including many Slowtwitchers - to help us know who Steve was, and just how special he was to so many of us in the triathlon world. A brilliant life cut short tragically. http://www.slippedaway.org/order-info.html

I highly recommend both books for very different reasons. b.

2

I know Dan was going to start a series of book reviews for ST, so I thought/think it appropriate to note two really good books I just finished:

  1. “Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike: Phil Knight.” Worth around $24 Billion today, Phil Knight started “Blue Ribbon Sports” at the age of 24 with a $50 loan from his father. He imported and sold Japanese running shoes (Tigers … later became Asics) and grossed $8,000 his first year. The story chronicles his vision, his passion, and his drive to build the iconic brand known as Nike. Quite interesting, particularly who he surrounded himself with, and the incredible financial challenges he battled for many, many years. Good business book.
  2. “Slipped Away: A Memoir.” This is the sad, heartwarming/heartwrenching tragic story of Steve Tarpinian, a true icon/legend in our sport. Steve took his life in March, 2015, after a long battle with demons, depression, and mental illness. Author Jean Mellano was Steve’s lover and partner in every respect for over 30 years. She weaves her thoughts, writings by Steve, and writings by others - including many Slowtwitchers - to help us know who Steve was, and just how special he was to so many of us in the triathlon world. A brilliant life cut short tragically. http://www.slippedaway.org/order-info.html
    I highly recommend both books for very different reasons. b.

Haven’t read the Nike book but +100 on “Slipped Away”, it’s pretty heart-wrenching/heart-warming just as you said.

3

I don’t know if I’d trust Phil Knight to write his own memoir; dude is almost Steve Jobs-like in his dealings with friends & family as he built NIKE, and would likely leave some things out, re-tell in his own fashion, or simply make things up

Read “Swoosh: Unauthorized Story of Nike and the Men Who Played There” for that story
.

4

I hear what you’re saying. He is actually quite self-deprecating in how he deals with people - the people he built Nike with, as well as his family. Little or no praise to anyone, very straight and direct, totally consumed and not the best family person by any stretch. He does end the book with his “regrets,” of which these are some.

5

Picked it up from the library & just started reading it
.