Kicks: The Great American Story of Sneakers

by Nicholas Smith

A cultural history of sneakers, tracing the footprint of one of our most iconic fashions across sports, business, pop culture, and American identity

When the athletic shoe graduated from the beaches and croquet courts of the wealthy elite to streetwear ubiquity, its journey through the heart of American life was just getting started. In this rollicking narrative, Nicholas K. Smith carries us through the long twentieth century as sneakers became the totem of subcultures from California skateboarders to New York rappers, the cause of gang violence and riots, the heart of a global economic controversy, the lynchpin in a quest to turn big sports into big business, and the muse of high fashion. Studded with larger-than-life mavericks and unexpected visionaries--from genius rubber inventor, Charles Goodyear, to road-warrior huckster Chuck Taylor, to the feuding brothers who founded Adidas and Puma, to the track coach who changed the sport by pouring rubber in his wife's waffle iron---Kicks introduces us to the sneaker's surprisingly influential, enduring, and evolving legacy.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Sports, Fashion, Business, Pop Culture

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2018

About the author

Nicholas K. Smith is the author of "Kicks: The Great American Story of Sneakers." His work has appeared in Esquire, GlobalPost, the Vienna Review and in the Tucson Weekly, among others. He has worked at The Earth Institute at Columbia University as a research assistant for the science news site GlacierHub.org.

He has won numerous journalism awards including the first place in the community reporting category from the Arizona Press Club and contributed to the Tucson Weekly’s first place award for best blog initiative from the Suburban Newspaper Association. Nicholas is also a 2014 Lynton Book Writing Fellow from Columbia University.

He currently lives in Vienna, Austria and is a graduate of the Columbia Journalism School with a masters of science degree in journalism. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arizona.

Reviews

[Olive Fellows (abookolive) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a history of the athletic shoe, commonly known as the sneaker. It looks at everything from the vulcanization (or, stabilization) of rubber all the way up to sneakers and fashion accessories and status symbols. The story of the sneaker is a tale of determination, reinvention, and style and it is entertainingly told in Kicks. For more thoughts, check out my full review on Booktube!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting cultural history of sneakers. I'm not a sneaker connoisseur, the Adidas Superstar has been my favorite sneaker as long as I can remember (gotta have the shell toe!) I expect that the book might be slightly redundant for someone who is super into sneakers and can list brands and details from memory. There was a lot that I didn't know, and this gave me a better understanding of the athletic shoe business from before I was born; and reminded me of some big sneaker events I can remember in my lifetime that may have been turning points in our culture. I enjoy a Book that delves into the history of ubiquitous items I see every day.

Thank you to Penguin's First to read program for providing me with an advance copy for review.

[eleen ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun history of sneakers, starting from what I didn’t think I could find interesting — rubber. We first learn about how rubber went from brittle to pliable shoe soles, and how various tinkerers helped turn sneakers into a significant part of… well, general culture. I can’t say I’m a sneakerhead myself, but I do really appreciate the designs of sneakers. I did already know about Adi and Rudi Dassler, brothers who founded Adidas and Puma, but I didn’t know about the stories of Nike and Converse, and how they became the household names they are now. The history of the sneakers are incredibly tightly woven with sports, and the combination was really fun to learn about.

Personally I wish there were more graphics interspersed throughout the book, particularly about each shoe that the author was discussing. It’s also weird for me to talk about pacing in a nonfiction novel, but I felt that the last chapter (before the Epilogue) was a bit rushed. Finally, I know it’s in the title that this book is very Americentric, but I would have loved to have learnt more about more international sneaker brands: Tisza Cipő, a Hungarian brand that the author mentioned once; Superga, Italian; Feiyues, super popular in China and Hong Kong (my mum used to wear these in the 1970s because they were the cheapest shoe available, and now they retail for like, 25USD). Overall 10/10 would recommend!!

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's not to like in this delightful, fact-filled micro-history covering the sneaker, from Goodyear's creation of vulcanized rubber which revolutionized the industry to today's trendiest shoes. Lots of history and facts here--the German sneaker manufacturers, the Dassler brothers, argued so much about their shoes that they went on to create two iconic companies: Adidas and Puma. And I had no idea of the important role played by athletes and coaches at the University of Oregon. The book is full of amazing "who knew" moments that add to its charm. Companies and marketing are covered as are the big sports names, especially Chuck Taylor (mine are green high tops) and Michael Jordan. You don't have to be a sports fan or even own a pair of sneakers--though I imagine many of us still remember our first pair (mine were gold corduroy Keds. Don't ask. I have no idea what I was thinking)-- to enjoy this book. But fans of sports history, business, and/or pop culture will be particularly pleased.

[Trevor Seigler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly never thought a book about the history of the sneaker could be so interesting and engaging, but boy howdy was this a good book.

"Kicks: The Great American Story of Sneakers," by Nicholas Smith, is a very engaging, fascinating, and well-written look at the history of that most basic of American clothing ideas: the tennis shoe or sneaker. Beginning with the vulcanization of rubber by Charles Goodyear in the nineteenth century, Smith shows how the notion of something comfortable on your feet became not just a luxury of the rich and famous but a must-have for ordinary Americans with the widespread influence of sports and leisure. Smith highlights some of the manufacturers behind the most iconic brands (the story of the Dassler brothers and their competing shoe brands, Adidas and Puma, could be a movie), all culminating in the moment when a high-rising sports superstar known for his dominance of the court became the spokesman for the ages off of it, at least in terms of sneakers.

Reading this book was a joy, because Smith balances just the right amount of social history that initially seems unconnected to the main story with the right moment to show how indeed it's essential to the overall tale that he's writing. It's mostly a celebratory history, though Smith doesn't shy away from detailing the rash of sneaker-related murders that occurred once stars like Michael Jordan made sneakers more of a fashion choice, nor does he stay away from discussing the conditions in sweat shops where people make Nikes and Reebok shoes for next to nothing in terms of wages. "Kicks" is maybe one of the most fun books I've read in a while, especially about a topic that, on the surface, I would've never considered interesting. Go figure that a book all about the things we wear on our feet could be so interesting.

[Ezio · Rating 5 out of 5]

As sneakerhead myself, I knew already some of the stories in the book but also I discovered new ones, I found it entertaining and I guess it should be also for a non sneakerhead that ventures in a reading of this topic. Along the contents, I enjoyed the writing style, a light tone full of curiosities and references.

[Nada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who would have thought that someone would write a book about sneakers? Who would have thought I would choose to read it? Who would have thought that I would really like it? Kicks: The Great American Story of Sneakers by Nicholas Smith is a fascinating look at how a pair of shoes turns into a statement of fashion and identity and how far the impact of the industry on American culture extends.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2018...

Reviewed for Penguin First to Read program.

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about so much more than the history of the sneaker.

* Sports history (olympics, legendary athletes, female athletes + how some sports came to be)
* Regular history (nazi Germany, industrial revolution)
* Entrepreneurs and businesses
* Patents and lawsuits
* Company rivalry (my personal fav was the breakup of a family business due to sibling rivalry. Especially since both companies still exist today. The sheer drama of it all made me reduce the speed from 3x to 2x)
* How one invention changed other products (eg vulcanized rubber sole led to better rubber tires and hoses)

Sneaker history is tied into the advancement and creation of sports. I shouldn’t have been surprised about this, but I was. Sneaker manufacturers have been using the reputation of top sports players to promote their products, a sales tactic that is still used today. I enjoyed this book and the narrator. The excited tone of his voice kept me listening. The writer’s organization system gave the book a nice flow; it was akin to a documentary. I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did

[Christopher Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic nonfiction.

This is a deep dive into not only the subculture of "sneakerheads" and such, but also a look back into the cultural history of sneakers/tennis shoes/etc and how they came to be ubiquitous.

Readers will not only get a look into how most of today's major sneaker companies like Nike, Adidas, Puma and such rose to prominence, but also sprinkled in are the stories of the creation of basketball, modern marathons, and long-lost spectator sports such as public walking.

I absolutely devoured this book.

[Brendan Crowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I'm no 'sneakerhead' and have appalling fashion sense, runners are the one item of clothing that I  can actually enjoy shopping for.  I'm also the kind of guy who wears black Asics walking to work and doesn't bother putting on suit shoes unless a meeting is very important so my views on anything shoes or fashion related should probably be ignored. 

I had to ask myself if Kicks qualified as a sports book but it given the heavy focus on the history of sport and sports companies, it definitely does.  Kicks traces the story of how sneakers (the American term for runners, trainers, sports shoes or tackies) were first developed and grew from being a sports specific shoe to the ever-present default footwear choice of billions.

In telling the story, Smith traces the origins of numerous sports and even more sport shoe companies.  In particular he captures the rivalries that drove advances in technology and marketing as the sneaker business crossed over from sports wear to mainstream everyday wear.  From Converse v Keds, Addidas v Puma to Nike v Reebok, the battle to be number led to some much innovation and change in an ever growing market.   Each company would at some hit a gold mine - whether the Converse All-Star, the Reebok athletic shoe or Nike Air Jordan - before losing the lead as a competitor signed the next big name or launched the next must have shoe.

The book weaves together a lot of stories I already knew or was vaguely aware of.  I was surprised by how much of the source material I had read including Kenny Moore's book on Bill Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Phil Knight's autobiography Shoe Dog (about Nike) and Pitch Invasion by Barbara Smit on the founding of Adidas and Puma.

It also touches on the role non-sport elements popular culture, in particular Run DMC's promoting of Adidas which landed them a $1 million endorsement deal, had on the marketing of sneakers. Finally, it talks about sneakerhead culture and the fan culture that the internet has enabled resulting in shoes selling for thousands online and sneaker theft becoming a worrying source of crime in US inner-cities. While it seems crazy to think of someone buying shoes they will likely never wear, I'm writing this looking at my library of 100's of books I'm yet to read while I buy way more new books every year than I read.  I guess we all have a passion and for some people that passion is sneakers.

Overall it is a very interesting dive into the world of American sports shoes that becomes more interesting as you keep reading.  While the book could easily have become a boring repetition of facts, Smith's writing style keeps it light, entertaining and fun.

See all of my sports book reviews on https://allsportsbooks.reviews

[MeePok · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Kicks" was my unexpected joy in 2019 and I will never look at sneakers the same way again. I admire how the book brought fashion, sports, commerce and pop culture together in one endearing story that begins with Chuck Taylor, climaxes with Michael Jordan, and ends with Kanye West. I never appreciated how the book discussed the many iterations of how sneakers began as state of the art professional sportswear and evolved into pop culture mainstays. This was true for basketball sneakers, running sneakers and tennis sneakers. But there were many thought provoking twists, such as how Reebok returned in the 1980s because it capitalized on aerobics shoes and how Adidas returned in the 2010s with Kanye's Yeezys, a sneaker line that significantly was not inspired by any sport. There were many other thought provoking details, such as how color television meant that home viewers would check what brand Olympic runners were wearing. Sneakers' importance in pop culture was beautifully depicted with how Michael Jordan was deployed by Nike in 1990s commercials against Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Dr. J, and protected the Nike brand when receiving his Olympic gold medal. "Kicks" is genuinely a great American story but not just about sneakers, and even a reader with just a passing interest in sneakers should appreciate how the book captures so many broad trends that come together in ubiquitous shoes.

[Josh Heffernan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in a casual style with lots of pop culture references and anecdotes, this book tells the history of the tennis shoe/sneaker and it's rise to be the dominant footwear in leisure, athletics, and fashion.

Opening with the invention of vulcanized rubber, the book chronicles how tennis shoes came to be by hitting on the origin stories of the major shoe brands and their development through the decades. Starting with Converse and Keds, the book proceeds to describe the early rivalry of Adidas and Puma, the introduction of Nike and Reebok, and the counter culture surge of Vans. The centerpiece of the book focuses on shoe marketing and the "shoe war" between Reebok and Nike, forever changing the way companies advertise with celebrities in sports, film, and music. The book closes on the controversies that tennis shoes have also caused, including gang affiliation, hyper-consumerism, and child labor, as well as a current look at the sneaker-head culture.

Told through the lens of the sweeping pop cultural changes, this book brings to mind writings from Chuck Klosterman or Micheal Lewis in making the subject fun and accessible.

Note: Keep a computer handy - if you're like me you'll want to google the shoes they're talking about.

[Brenten Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING 4.1971 STARS

This book - much like Phil Knight's SHOE DOG - was quite enjoyable, albeit nostalgia makes it much more so in my case. Having worked in the sneaker biz for as long as I did, it was great to reminisce about some of the technological developments and monumental releases detailed in this book. KICKS actually works really well as a companion to SHOE DOG as it fills in historical gaps and offers an outside perspective for some of the events that shaped the sneaker industry.

You learn about the history of most of the major companies, the evolution of player endorsements, the breakthroughs that changed the game, and the rise of sneaker heads. And it's all wrapped up in a nice narrative that keeps you engaged and prevents your eyes from glossing over.

Here's the only thing... KICKS needs a visual companion that has pictures of all the shoes it references (I felt the same way about SHOE DOG to be fair). If you weren't there or aware back then, you really want to see what these prized possessions look like and googling them all later is kind of a drag...

Great read for me though.

[Святослав Рудченко · Rating 4 out of 5]

The one is excellent book. Think that everyone should involve in the circle of his interests as many as possible theme. Sneakers have been being popular for a long time, like it revealed in process of reading. It doesnt seem important, but it is. We are generation of consumers, what lives in age of cultural reproduction, ascending the cult of things to the top. Book covered the main features of shoe's history with touching different branch of sports, brands, marketing, sportsmen and other celebrities. Facts about goodyear company, converse, randy were new for me. So, having tried to be involved in west environment more i found information about fresh names and dispatches. Going by this way have read some articles, trailers of films made in previous epoch. Thank you to Nikolas Smith. I opened the part of this culture for me only about 5 years ago, though world had gone crazy at least 2 decades. The fact about Dasslers, Knight renowned everywhere, only for this reason the summary mark is 4. I am russian student, which want to practice english, so i will be glad for your feedback with grammar correction. Also i am ready for talk, on discord: rud4_ko#8561 ,telegram: @zlavvka

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kicks was a load of fun to read! Who knew tennis shoes had such a history? I never knew there was a Goodyear connection, but it made sense that rubber would need to be vulcanized in order for athletic shoes to have developed! Learned something new right off the bat! Charles Goodyear was a great inventor! Then the book shows hoe all the various sports developed , along with the associated athletic footwear, until it gets to present day when a single pair of tennis shoes (think Nike.... can go for hundreds, even thousands of dollars, a pair! I remember the 90's when Air Jordans (and Starter jackets) were so big, riots were breaking out and kids jumping other kids for a pair! Nuts! I'm glad those days are over. Still, for ANYONE who thinks "THE SHOES" are going to make anything better- I say, it's NOT the shoes! But the book is! Fun and fascinating read for just about everybody, as we all seen to be wearing these shoes everyday!
I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Angie Reisetter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, broad history of all things sneaker, and that necessarily includes some significant history of sports, especially in the U.S. I learned a lot, and I also wove together stories that I had known separately, such that their connection was made clear. I'm not by any means a shoe aficionado (this man clearly owns more shoes than I do), but on some of the history of sports stories I knew there was more to it and part of me wanted him to go into more detail. But his storytelling is disciplined, staying close to the shoe theme and wandering too far from it, and the book is better for it. I would characterize it as more of a wide story rather than a deep one, full of interesting trivia and characters.

I think the weakest point of the book is in the first 20 pages or so, so if it feels a little rough right out of the gate, stick with it. It'll get better.
I got a copy to review from First to Read.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A cultural history of sneakers, tracing the footprint of one of our most iconic fashions across sports, business, pop culture, and American identity

When the athletic shoe graduated from the beaches and croquet courts of the wealthy elite to streetwear ubiquity, its journey through the heart of American life was just getting started. In this rollicking narrative, Nicholas K. Smith carries us through the long twentieth century as sneakers became the totem of subcultures from California skateboarders to New York rappers, the cause of gang violence and riots, the heart of a global economic controversy, the lynchpin in a quest to turn big sports into big business, and the muse of high fashion. Studded with larger-than-life mavericks and unexpected visionaries—from genius rubber inventor, Charles Goodyear, to road-warrior huckster Chuck Taylor, to the feuding brothers who founded Adidas and Puma, to the track coach who changed the sport by pouring rubber in his wife's waffle iron—Kicks introduces us to the sneaker's surprisingly influential, enduring, and evolving legacy. "







I thoroughly enjoyed Kicks. The way Nicholas Smith presents the histories of each brand of shoe mingling history, lifestyle and trends was a pleasant way to tell a story as in-depth as this book is about sneakers. I had so much fun guessing which brand was being created next just from the creator's name. As a child in the 70’s and 80’s, raising boys in the 90’s, and a daughter in the early 2000’s the history of the "sneakers", as we called them,(other friends called them tennis shoes, keds [although not the brand just a form name for the shoe itself], or just by their name brand - my kids evolving from Addidas to Nike's as they got older) was like being wrapped into paper and being placed in a box next to my favorite black and hot pink Freestyle Reebok — comforting and formative at the same time. Even the notes at the end continued to teach and remind me of what these shoes meant to my family.

When I was 16 years old I dreamed of owning a pair of Reebok Freestyle hi-tops. It is was the epicenter of the aerobics age. I didn't want to own them because I was into aerobics; No, I wanted to own them because I saw that wrinkle in the toe box, the British flag on the white leather side of the hi-top and I just knew that those shoes would make my feet feel like I was wearing slippers all day long besides, owning a pair of foreign shoes was cool to beat! The trend was for someone to go to Japan, London wherever and bring those puppies back for you. Supposedly they were cheaper than Stateside. I had to have them!!! My parents gave me a pair for my birthday. I was in love. It was like my feet were snuggled in a chenille blanket. Heaven. Then came the black hi-tops with hot pink laces, hot pink heels square and foot pads on the bottom of the shoes. Even though they were too hot to wear in the summer months, (they were more like a boot) I bore the brunt of that stifling heat to show off my kicks. They were just right up my alley — bright and unusual.

With my boys, we had discussions on what shoe brand was better for your feet for each sport they played. One kid liked Nike for his soccer shoes, the other Addidas. Baseball had the same scrutiny. As a mom, I didn't always get to buy the cheapest like I wanted. Feet were important in each sport, so the best was purchased to protect their assets. Each kid had their own favorite brand and style wasn’t always the reason to buy the shoe; it was the fit around their heels, whether the "box" was wide enough etc... so Smith’s book brought back so many memories of even my children's buying style.

Reading Kicks even inspired a lot of Ad/commercial searching on YouTube. My favorite the Converse Weapon commercial of Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Isaiah Thomas, Kevin McHale, Mark Aquire and Bernard King even if it is cheesy. It wasn't as cool as MJ's commercials, but I like that it had so many great basketball players rapping their strengths with the shoes.




" I walked away with the MVP"


Just for Fun. A Few of the Air Jordan commercials that Nike produced that Kicks mentions for each style.


I was able to spend the weekend with my kids now as adults, they had to listen to their mother ask them, “do you remember, such a such a shoe... commercial or design?” After every page, I read. It was probably annoying to them but fun for me.

I was a little sad that Under Armour Shoes weren't talked about. I wonder if it is because it started out with athletic attire first and not shoes and Under Armour didn't create their own shoes from scratch like the brands talked about in the book. The "I Will" campaign pushes people out of their comfort zone while inspiring. I enjoy the inspiration that the Stephen Curry commercials give to youth. He always educates at the same time as sells the sneaker. Although it is close to what Nike did with it's "Find your Greatness" campaign. So, yeah.

The biggest problem I had with the book is when Smith is talking about the Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz game 5 during the 1997 playoffs. He kept referring to Utah's court in Park City, Utah. The Delta Center was located in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah as a girl watching that game and proud to be from Salt Lake, it irked me that his research was off on that one. I completely agree though that Michael Jordan's heroic "flu" game was one of the best in the all-time history of basketball even though we Jazz fans were wishing for a different outcome.

I recommend this book if you love a good non-fiction, love sneakers and want a quick read this book is for you. It might even convince you to buy a different brand of sneakers the next time you step into a Footlocker or an Indie sports store. I might need to get a few more colors of Chuck Taylor Converse and a checkered pair of Vans. 😏💙👟

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"How one runs probably is more important than what is one one's feet, but what is on one's feet may affect how one runs."

I received a copy of this book from firsttoread.com in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting dive into the world of American sports shoes. This book talks about the rise of Nike and how shoes meant for sports turned into athleisure wear and how celebrity endorsements shaped shoe sales.

The book briefly touches on issues of class such as kids being killed for their Air Jordans (and how Jordan wasn't initially on board with Nike) and goes back to the early days of sneaker sales. This book gives some context as to why it's so hard to break into the shoe world now and the importance of branding as many popular shoe companies began.

It's a fairly easy read that you learn a few things from.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like them because they fit me.

Rating: 5/5

"The first sneaker was made for an unlikely game: croquet."

"The percolating of leisure down the social ladder, combined with the development of organized sport and the wide availability of consumer goods, set the stage for the early-twentieth-century sneaker to become what we recognize today: a product with a purpose and a celebrity to sell it."

"No shoe is more variable than the sneaker. Whether you know them as sneakers, trainers, gym shoes, tennis shoes, joggers, or runners, almost everyone has owned a pair. Sneakers can help us stand out or blend in. They can be the item we build our outfits up from or an afterthought we slip on before running out the door. And every sneaker we wear says something about us in both subtle and not-so-subtle ways."

[Hallie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I'd more aptly call this a book about the story of sneakers, not just American ones, as the start of the book did cover off on a number of early brands, not all of which were American. The latter half of the book, however, did focus on the US market.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it did start fizzling out for me about halfway, two-thirds of the way through. I much more enjoyed the detail on how each of the major brands came about from the start of their establishment and the niche markets they served. The latter parts of the book spoke more towards modern-day sneaker marketing and appeal - I don't know whether I found the content just not as interesting, or if it was just not as well structurally organized as the beginning, but either way I didn't truly find myself wanting to read through to the end.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book talked about the origins of sneakers and the development of some of the most popular sneakers. The author described the origins and development of various sports, shoe brands, specific shoes, and marketing techniques. Except for explaining how the rubber sole was successfully developed, there was little about the technology of the sneaker--just the author telling us that this new development made the sneaker lighter, tougher, or have better traction, which is good. So it's not technical. Rather, it's an enjoyable, interesting survey of the development of sneakers as a popular shoe and how they impacted society. A quick, fun read.

I received an ARC review copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kicks tells a broad-based history and pop culture development of shoes from an American perspective. Focusing on athletic footwear and looking at the stories of Adidas, Puma an Nike as well as the surfer and skater culture that gave rise to the sneakerheads Nicholas Smith takes the reader all around the high points of the story of the sneaker. For those into Sneaker trivia this is your book cataloging the high points of development and the turns of the industry as it grew and became collectors items. It is a fun read with lost of information but it does meander at time and I can’t say that there was one coherent thesis throughout the book other than to relate facts the author found interesting about sneakers. Definitely a niche book but a fun dread nonetheless.

[Kenn Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads.com giveaway.

Hard to believe someone wrote a book about sneakers. Even harder to believe it is a good book. While inundated with facts, Nicholas Smith's writing style keeps it interesting as any story teller should. The history of the sneaker is an entertaining as well as informative. Going from just producing a functional sports shoe to multi-million dollar contracts for famous people to wear your shoe. The influence of the hip-hop scene was more drastic then I ever knew.

While not a book to curl up with in front of a fireplace on a rainy day, I read while traveling and was entertained.

[Agne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio.

I went into this with rather low expectations, I just wanted a sort of companion to the memoir of Phil Knight. It ended up being a huge surprise. It's not very long, but covers much more than I had hoped. I loved the introductory part about the history of rubber. I loved that as a whole, the author gave a lot of attention to women in sports and the possible environmental impact of mass production. The narrative was smooth and I definitely learned a lot about sneakers, sports fads and how these massive companies reached their success.

The very last part about sneakerheads and what they're whole thing is was especially fascinating from a cultural standpoint.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is the most informative book I've read in American history. It covers invention, business, entrepreneurship, advertising, competition and I could go on and on. By the way, this is all centered around America's most popular clothing item since the blue jeans introduction. Nicholas Smith taught me something new with every turn of the page. It's a must-read for the pop culture and for every curious reader of a product's impact on the society it serves. Kicks: The Great American Story of Sneakers goes far beyond the title.

[Rohan Chaturvedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sneakers, Sports, and Advertising. What's not to like? Kicks by Nicholas Smith is loaded with fun trivia and compelling anecdotes. This book is easy to read and keeps you hooked till the end. A great American Story of Sneakers, it takes a comprehensive look at the evolution of Sneakers via stories of Brands like Converse, Nike, Adidas, Puma, and Vans, amongst others. For the reader's reference, numerous pictures have been included too.

Highly Recommended.

[Cherith · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5.
I read this book as one "outside my bubble" for the library's book bingo and I ended up really enjoying it. I suspected it would largely be about sports and athletes but a large portion is about the other cultural elements that influence footwear. I wish it could have had more photos (the Googling I did, whewy), but it references Out of the Box early on (a giant coffee table type book) that I also got from the library and it has more photo references if Googling got old.

[Eric Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be really fun and fascinating. Picking a new pair of shoes for sport has always what seems like a major life choice. Do I go with Nike or the new Converse basketball shoes? What do the reviews online say? Do they even have a size 12?

So a digestible book that highlights the history of sneakers throughout the last 100 years or so was an easy and enjoyable read. The author didn't go too deep in the lore of shoes but just enough to satisfy your curiosity.

[Mike Ely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book about the history of sneakers. Smith does a good job of discussing the evolution of the sneaker from the 1850s to the present. He loses a little focus in some chapters as the book doesn't flow freely but overall it is a pretty comprehensive look. Definitely recommended for all sneakerheads.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh this book was a lot of fun to read. Discusses key factors over the past 200 years that led to sneaker culture being viable, along with key moments in the histories of most of the popular sneaker brands today. Great read, particularly if you’re interested in shoes, running, basketball, or sports in general.