Sneakerhead

By: Amanda Eyre Ward

Narrated by: Amanda Eyre Ward, Timothy Harrison Meckel

Length: 1 hr and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

When Amanda Eyre Ward's 13-year-old son, Harry, dove headfirst into the world of sneaker culture, she found herself baffled by his obsession with flashy, expensive shoes that seemed like mere status symbols. Determined to bridge the gap with her teenage son, Ward reluctantly decided to embrace the mantra of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em".

As she shed her preconceptions and immersed herself in the quest to snag the latest drops, Ward discovered a community far richer than she had imagined. Sneaker culture, she realized, wasn't just about shoes—it was a gateway to entrepreneurship, a vibrant community, and a powerful form of creative expression that was transforming Harry's identity before her eyes.

In her irreverent, insightful voice, Ward recounts this transformative journey in Sneakerhead. Through vivid prose and engaging conversations with Harry and fellow enthusiasts they encounter, Ward's eyes are opened to the depth and significance of her son's passion. Throughout, Ward paints a vivid portrait of an important piece of American culture—a phenomenon that transcends mere footwear to embody aspirations, creativity, and belonging.

In embracing her son's world, Ward not only discovers a newfound appreciation for sneakers but also for the unique individual her son is becoming. Sneakerhead, ultimately, is a testament to the magic that unfolds when parents invest in understanding and encouraging their children's passions.

©2023 Amanda Eyre Ward (P)2024 Audible Originals, LLC.

Learned something new

I initially listened because I like shoes and my husband is a little bit of a sneakerhead too who has tried to land drops here and there. It was interesting to hear about the deeper world of sneakers. But as a mom, I liked the the sweet understory of her relationship with her son.

Authentic

I love the journey of the mom as she tries to maintain a connection with her son. It was actually refreshing to hear the son speaking in his own voice. Learning vocab was an interesting peak into middle school sneaker world.

A great analogous for how life with your growing child will go!

When I first stumbled upon this book I didn’t think I’d like it. Turns out I loved it. I have a growing child who wants me around BUT I’ve already stated to notice some distance and her being her true self blossoming. It’s bitter sweet for sure. And now I understand what my own mother went through with me and my siblings. Thank you for this!! 😋

Connecting

I love the way that the author try to connect with her son. I think any mother with teenage children would understand the feeling.

A Dad who enjoyed it!

I almost didn't listen to this book. I'm not a sneaker guy. But I share a similar upbringing to the author, and as the Dad of two girls, I enjoyed the story of a parent trying to connect.

One tricky thing for the musician in me to overcome was crediting Duran Duran with writing the song Eye of the Tiger. What? That was a song by the band Survivor.

I bring this up to say it’s one of the few things I know about and was surprisingly inaccurate. I hope other parts were more accurate, but I have to leave that to others to comment on.

Regardless, the book’s message to know what your kids are into and engage with them over it is vital.

Mom & Son

An audiobook of many of our families. Whether sneakers, dance, baseball or whatever, if we like what our kids like, life gets better. If we could turn back time…

Story about Connection

Admittedly I personally am not interested in sneaker culture but listening to how Amanda strived to connect to her son with his passion made me happy. I relate to the story with my own younger brother who I don't share many interests with but who I strive to understand and support the things he likes so we can be close.

Quick read

This book is interesting. Good content on for sneaker heads. Something a teen may want to read

Interesting dive into a subculture and parenting teens.

I had no interest in sneakers, but this came up as a suggestion. If you have teens, just get a couple chapters in and chances are you’ll relate to and appreciate this story.

Love the sneakerhead terms and definitions

It's a nice story of a mom trying to submerge herself into the sneaker world as a way to bond with her growing teenage son. The son does a great job in defining some urban terms. Throughout the story, the author shows how committed she was in learning about sneakerhead culture and how it changed her life. There were two things that stood out to me (very minor). I'm the beginning, she used the term "fluid" when describing what her son used to clean his sneakers. I would have used "cleaning solution". She also used the word "littler" when referring to small children. It was a nice upbeat story overall.