Kicks was a load of fu n 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!

Got this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Really interesting non fiction giving a look at the history and progression of sneakers and sneaker culture. Perfect amount of detail to satisfy those with very little knowledge of shoes and those who are experts on them. Good read!

This was a very enjoyable read. It is packed full of a lot of information connected to sneakers, but in a very accessible way that would be a good fit for sneaker enthusiasts, newcomers, or anything in between and allows for a fast, fun read. If you have any interest in the history of various sports (especially running or basketball) and their stars, engineering and evolution of shoe design, sports marketing, or history of objects and culture, I would definitely recommend this book.

Fun book that introduces the reader to the world of sneakers. From the invention, modification and back room dealings of the footwear industry. Smith deftly paces the reader on a rollicking journey of history and pop culture.