Authentic

A Memoir by the Founder of Vans

By: Paul Van Doren

Narrated by: Tony Alva

In the tradition of best sellers such as Shoedog, Authentic is a surprisingly candid, compelling memoir by a high school dropout who went on to establish one of the world's most iconic brands

Paul Van Doren is the founder of Vans - the shoe company beloved by skateboarders, creatives, and fans everywhere for its laid-back, colorful SoCal vibe, and famous for its people-oriented company culture. How did Van Doren, who started as a 16-year-old "service boy" at a local rubber factory, establish a family shoe business that evolved into a globally recognized brand with annual revenue of more than four billion dollars?

A blue-collar kid with no higher education and zero retail experience, Van Doren leveraged a knack for numbers, a genius for efficiency, and the know-how to make a great canvas tennis shoe into an all-American success story. In 1966, when the first House of Vans store opened, there were no stand-alone retail stores just for sneakers. Paul's bold experiments in product design, distribution, and marketing (Why not sell custom shoes? Single shoes?), aided by legions of fans - skateboarders, surfers, even Sean Penn wearing Vans' famous checkerboard slip on shoe in the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High - made Vans a household name.

But there was also back-breaking work, a shocking bankruptcy, family turmoil, and a profound shift in how customers think about athletic shoes. Authentic details Van Doren's personal life, but also hard-won business lessons learned over six turbulent decades in the shoe trade: the importance of deep-rooted values, of improvisation, of vision (and revision), and above all, of valuing people over profits. Refreshingly forthright and totally entertaining, Authentic is a business memoir by an American original.

©2021 Paul Van Doren (P)2021 Audible, Inc.

Incredible

Shoe dog 2.0. I loved the authenticity. Very easy read and am awesome story. Loved it

Must read! It’s Vantastic!

The entrepreneurial Journey is exemplified in this must read founder story. I also just purchased some Vans.

Great read

man re-read aspiring to be in the freeway in this you myself this is a definitely a good inside of the ins and out of the industry and also what makes a brand a culture rather than just powder definitely would recommend RIP Paul Van Doren

Riveting

I loved it. it was great to hear about someone with such high moral standards overcome difficulties and maintain those standards.

Very Interesting

I’d recommend this book to first time entrepreneurs as it covers the different stages and roadblocks one would come across while building a business. The book has a couple of nuggets that would work in this day and age.

incredible

I've listened or listened to probably a hundred business books and biographies, and this one is one of the best!

Excellent biography about an amazing life!

What an inspirational story of an American dream come to life. Paul Van Doren has had an incredible life that is rooted in an amazing work ethic. With an eye for creative problem solving at a very early age, he took a simple idea of wanting to make the best shoes into one of the best companies in the world. Listening to Paul’s story injected a new energy into my own professional drive. I am going to listen to this one over and over again.

Simply amazing

This book was everything I hoped it would be it’s no wonder why you feel at home when you walk into a Vans store. This is a book about a amazing man and his family it’s also a book about the birth of an awesome and reliable shoe company. I highly recommend this book. It doesn’t matter if you’re a wafflehead like me or someone who just enjoys a true American dream story you will love this book. TA does an awesome job telling the story and also bring Vans skate culture full circle. 👍🏻❤️🏁

Vans - Off the Wall and everything in between

Love the story and the provenance of one of Americas most beloved sneaker companies, the rich history and family ties; plus all the ups and downs along the ways.

My only criticism is the performance could be better, but it doesn’t detract from this amazing story.

interesting read and good advice

if your looking to start a clothing brand definitely pick this book up the advice isnt typical bullshit other entrepreneurs spew out.