Sports journalist and veteran shoe tester Brian Metzler takes runners and kicksologists deep inside the $10 billion dollar running shoe industry with a behind-the-curtain look at what makes iconic running shoe brands tick. Kicksology follows a shoe from inspiration to store shelf to show how innovative ideas evolve into industry-wide trends and fads. Metzler tours shoe labs where scientists advance our understanding of shoes and running mechanics as well as the domestic and overseas shoe factories where the world’s favorite kicks are assembled.
A dedicated shoe nerd and running junkie, Metzler shares his love of great shoes in this fascinating look at the intersections of shoe culture and history, science and storytelling, intel from the innovators with on-the-ground insight from top runners.
Kicksology is filled with information as entertaining as it is surprising, tapping into the passion runners have for their kicks and feeding their curiosity about what makes a great shoe.
Shoes are a runner’s passion and go-to gear; they’re also serious business, with consumers shelling out billions of dollars a year for their favorite kicks. But do we know what we’re buying? Will they really make us faster? Save us from injury? Between changing science, shifting fads, marketing promises, and modifications in techniques and materials, it’s anyone’s guess.
In Kicksology, veteran running journalist and self-proclaimed shoe geek Brian Metzler sifts through the lore, research, history, and hype. He explores the power brands and the plucky start-ups, tracks design evolution and visionaries pushing the envelope of innovation, and looks at the controversial relationship between shoes and injury. With compelling storytelling, insider intel, and a peek at what’s next, Kicksology is a fun, fascinating ride through the world of running shoes that just may change how you buy your kicks.
”Kicksology captures the science, the sagas, and the surprisingly tantalizing backstories surrounding a subject that’s as personal and passionate to true believers as any religion. You’ll be captivated by this delightfully probing book.”
―Christopher McDougall, author of Born to Run
”If there’s such a thing as a living encyclopedia of running shoes, it’s Brian Metzler. His passion for running shoes, their history, evolution, and application is unmatched and speaks to my sole.”
―Mario Fraioli, The Morning Shakeout
Brian Metzler has written about shoes for Runner’s World, Running Times, Men’s Health, Outside, Competitor, Trail Runner, and GearJunkie, and has run in more than 1,500 pairs in his career. His other books include Natural Running, Run Like a Champion, and Running Colorado’s Front Range.
“No one alive knows more than Brian Metzler about that great modern indulgence: the running shoe. Kicksology captures the science, the sagas, and the surprisingly tantalizing backstories surrounding a subject that’s as personal and passionate to true believers as any religion. If you’ve ever laced rubber to your feet for a run, you’ll be captivated by this delightfully probing book.” — Christopher McDougall, author of Born to Run
“If there’s a such thing as a living encyclopedia of running shoes, it’s Brian Metzler. Not only does he own more shoes than anyone I know, he knows more about them than anyone I know. His passion for running shoes, their history, evolution, and application is unmatched and speaks to my sole.” — Mario Fraioli, The Morning Shakeout
“It takes a true running shoe geek to write an informative and entertaining book about running shoes. That’s who Brian Metzler is, and that’s what he gives us with Kicksology. Like the proverbial kid in a candy store, Metzler samples each new shoeminimalist, maximalist, zero-drop, VaporFly, and so onwith unabated enthusiasm. He also interviews the researchers and designers behind each shoe to provide crazy stories and new insights we haven’t heard before.” — Amby Burfoot, 1968 Boston Marathon winner, Runner’s World editor at large
“Kicksology is a great survey of the modern history of running shoes. A must-read for anyone in the sneaker game.” — Matt Powell, sports industry analyst
“I loved reading Kicksology and recommend it a must-read for anyone who runs. Brian Metzler has been one of the country’s top running writers for a long time because he asks the right questions and delivers smart, thought-provoking answers with exceptional storytelling. He presents the untold stories of running shoes: where we are, how we got here, and what the future holds for your feet.” — Jay Dicharry, MPT, leading biomechanist, running gait expert, and author of Running Rewired
“No one has more knowledge and passion about running shoes and the industry than Brian Metzler. With Kicksology, he delivers a compelling and engaging read.” — Lisa Jhung, author of Trailhead and Running That Doesn’t Suck
“In Kicksology, we too can run in Metzler’s shoes and gain access to his hard-earned insights. The result is a fascinating journey.” — Laura Clark, American Trail Running Association
“Kicksology is a personal tour of running shoe history, design, and business that only Brian Metzler could write. He has the uncanny ability to be near the center of every new trend and takes the reader on an informative journey through the many interesting characters, stories, and ideas that make running shoes fascinating.” — Jonathan Beverly, PodiumRunner
“Brian Metzler’s knowledge of the running shoe industry is as broad as it is nuanced. Kicksology is a great broad-based dive into the industry’s evolution since its inception without getting too strung up on detail and technical language. I found it very accessible, and I expect that a layperson with an interest in the shoe business will find it similarly easy to access.” — Jonathan Stull, Editor, Outdoor Project
“Kicksology is a fascinating read, giving us an insider’s look at the running shoe business that Metzler has been involved with since college. It is that obsession with all things relating to shoes that gives Kicksology its breadth and depth and the reason it has been drawing national and international attention.” — Mike Sandrock, Boulder Daily Camera
