The first cultural history of America"s most popular footwear, and an eye-opening look at an $11-billion-a-year industry, The Sneaker Book is an entertaining, informative look at the economic and pop cultural factors surrounding these globally produced Al-American icons. Supplemented by charts, statistics, and graphics, The Sneaker Book documents the costs and profits of the $11-billion-a-year sneaker business on every level. Literary excerpts help put America"s craze for "kicks" into context. The SneakerBook swooshes past the hype, puts the numbers on the table, and takes a fresh look at familiar--if unexamined--footwear.