Book review: 'From an Idea to Nike: How Marketing Made Nike a Global Success' is a captivating book about business basics

Embarrassing confession time. When I first opened the package and found, "From and Idea to Nike" in it, I thought the book was a mere history book about the founding of Nike. Now, having a degree in economics, I was excited. Little did I know this book is more than a mere timeline of how Nike achieved greatness. Oh no, it's much more than that.

Image from hmhbooks.com

"From an Idea to Nike: How Marketing Made Nike a Global Success" is quite possibly one of the best books I've read that teaches business basics to children and succeeds in doing so in an upbeat, page-turning manner. I cannot wait to assign my three children (yeah, I have five kids, but two of them aren't yet literate) to read this book.

This book introduces readers to Phil Knight, the co-owner and founder of Nike. Readers learn a little about his growing up years, how his mom suggested he go out for the high school track team, and how his dad thought starting his own business was bonkers. At the beginning, Knight had to have a full-time job to fund his startup and his *warehouse* was his parents' basement. But then Nike shoes grew in popularity and Knight's new mission was figuring out how to market them.

While reading this book, I remembered one of my kids wears Nike shoes and loves them. Nike, feel free to send me a new pair for her (size 10, please and thank you). She drags her toes while riding her Strider around so if you have any models with steel-toes that would be great. Also, please note her matching socks. Matching socks hardly ever happen around here; I'm counting today as a win.

 Reading about the history of Nike is absolutely fascinating and entertaining (it's okay for educational books to be entertaining too, right?). But "From and Idea to Nike" goes beyond Nike and also teaches basic business practices and terms.

TERMS, people! As in, college business course lingo that, if kids can pick up at this age, will help them be far ahead of their peers in business acumen know-how. Author Lowey Bundy Sichol teaches about why companies sell stock and why people buy it. She explains why stocks go up and down--something many adults don't understand. She teaches what shareholders are and the differences between privately and publicly held companies. Kids can learn the basics of how to manage their future lemonade stands by understanding costs, breakeven points, and profits. These are only a few of important business terms, most of which are new terms to college students, that Sichol introduces kids to. And she does it all in a few simple, short, yet somehow fascinating, pages.

So, in case you can't tell, I am really impressed with this book. Now, let's talk about the black and white illustrations. The pictures really add to the read and, while the words could probably stand on their own, the illustrations help teach many important concepts and make "From Idea to Nike" cool. Because, let's be honest, most learning-type books are not seen as cool by kids. But these illustrations are! Hopefully the pairing of Sichol with illustrator C.S. Jennings will end up being a long one, because these two together are gold.

Loved the concept this illustration helped teach about why ownership in a company is so important.

"From an Idea to Nike: How Marketing Made Nike a Global Success" is a wonderfully interesting book geared toward older elementary to middle school children, but one readers decades older (I'm 40) can enjoy as well. This book has nothing offensive in it.

Sichol lives near Lake Michigan with her family and has an MBA. Jennings has a degree in graphic communication, lives in Texas, and has a wide range of illustration experience.