An abridged version that includes a new introduction and "A Letter to the Young Reader" containing advice from Phil Knight for budding entrepreneurs. Knight, the man behind Nike, tells his story. He begins with his crossroads moment: twenty-four years old, backpacking around the world, wrestling with life's Great Questions, he decides the unconventional path is the only one for him. Rather than work for a big corporation, he will create something all his own, something new, dynamic, different. Knight details the many terrifying risks he encountered along the way, the crushing setbacks, the ruthless competitors, the countless doubters and haters and hostile bankers--as well as his many thrilling triumphs and narrow escapes. Above all, he recalls the foundational relationships that formed the heart and soul of Nike, with his former track coach, Bill Bowerman, and with his first employees, a ragtag group of misfits and savants. Together, harnessing the power of a bold vision and a shared belief in the redemptive, transformative power of sport, they created a brand and a culture.