// Book comparison
Shoe Dog vs Think Again
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of Shoe Dog by Phil Knight and Think Again by Adam Grant.
At a glance
| Shoe Dog | Think Again | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 400 | 320 |
| Reading time | ~10.0 h | ~8.0 h |
| Published | 2016 | 2021 |
| Author | Phil Knight | Adam Grant |
| Category | Leadership | Leadership |
| Publisher | Scribner | Viking |
Choose Shoe Dog if…
- → You're interested in leadership.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
Choose Think Again if…
- → You're interested in leadership.
- → You prefer a shorter read (~8.0 hours).
- → You want the more recent perspective (2021).
Key takeaways — Shoe Dog
- ✓ Prioritize Cash Flow Management as the primary survival skill for a growing organization, recognizing that even a profitable firm can fail without adequate liquidity.
- ✓ Build a Mission-Driven Founding Team based on shared passion and trust, ensuring that your organization's core culture remains resilient during periods of high uncertainty.
- ✓ Embrace Strategic Risk-Taking by committing to bold brand pivots (like the move to Nike), recognizing that playing it safe is often the riskiest path in a competitive global market.
Key takeaways — Think Again
- ✓ Adopt a Scientist Mindset by treating your business strategies as hypotheses that require constant testing and validation against new market data and feedback.
- ✓ Cultivate Confident Humility, acknowledging the limits of your knowledge to remain open to better ideas and more accurate strategic insights from your workforce.
- ✓ Foster a Rethinking Culture within your team by rewarding the 'courage to be wrong' and encouraging the regular questioning of established organizational best practices.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with Shoe Dog. If you want a different angle on the same topic, Think Again is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is Shoe Dog or Think Again better? +
Shoe Dog has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. Shoe Dog focuses on leadership, while Think Again focuses on leadership. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, Shoe Dog or Think Again? +
Think Again is shorter (320 pages, ~8.0 hours) compared to Shoe Dog (400 pages, ~10.0 hours).
Should I read Shoe Dog or Think Again first? +
If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with Shoe Dog. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHubs.