{"product_id":"kicks-the-great-american-story-of-sneakers-paperback","title":"Kicks: The Great American Story of Sneakers - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eNicholas Smith\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A vivid picture of how what we wear on our feet can tell us what it really means to be an American.\"--\u003ci\u003eVanity Fair\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Expansive, thorough, and entertaining . . . a comprehensive look at how much the sneaker became a signature indicator of cool.\"--\u003ci\u003eThe Wall Street Journal \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA cultural history of sneakers, tracing the footprint of one of our most iconic fashions across sports, business, pop culture, and American identity\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"It's gotta be the shoes.\"\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhen Spike Lee said it to Michael Jordan in a 1989 commercial, it was with a wink and a nod--what makes MJ so good? His Nike Air Jordan IIIs, of course. But as Nicholas Smith reveals in this captivating history, Lee's line also speaks to the sneaker's place at the heart of American culture. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOnce 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. We follow the humble athletic and watch as sneakers become the calling card of California skaters and New York MCs, the spark of riots and gang violence, the heart of a global economic controversy, the muse of haute couture, and a lynchpin in the transformation of big sports into big business. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAlong the way, we meet larger-than-life mavericks and surprising visionaries: genius rubber inventor Charles Goodyear, risking everything to get his formula right; the warring brothers who started dueling shoe empires; road-warrior Chuck Taylor, hawking shoes out of his trunk; and many more mavericks, hustlers, and dreamers. With a sure stride and a broad footprint, \u003ci\u003eKicks\u003c\/i\u003e introduces us to an influential and evolving legacy.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNicholas K. Smith\u003c\/b\u003e has worked as a reporter for the past ten years, covering a range of topics including stolen WWII art, melting glaciers, Austrian indie gamers, and the New York City mayoral election. He is a 2014 graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism, where he was awarded the Lynton Fellowship in Book Writing. A native of Arizona, Nick now lives in Vienna, Austria with his wife and two children. www.nicholasksmith.com, @nicholasksmith\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 320\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.8 x 7.9 x 5.2 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e April 30, 2019\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51756003361056,"sku":"9780451498120","price":17.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/8aeda1b57341b65bc681d41e58c856d2.webp?v=1780072439","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/kicks-the-great-american-story-of-sneakers-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}