Sneaker Wars: The Enemy Brothers Who Founded Adidas and Puma and the Family Feud That Forever Changed the Business of Sports
, subject: Adi and Rudi Dassler, the family feud behind Adidas and Puma, and the business of sports
A family rupture becomes the origin story of Adidas, Puma, and a global contest for athletes and attention.
About the book
Barbara Smit's history of Adi and Rudi Dassler, the German brothers who built a shoe business together, split in a bitter feud, and founded Adidas and Puma on opposite banks of the same river. The rivalry professionalized sports marketing and shaped the modern athletic-shoe industry.
Why read it
Best if you want a business history where family conflict, product design, sports marketing, Adidas, and Puma are inseparable
Key themes
- Brothers to rivals
- Product obsession
- Sports marketing
Evidence and original sources
This record is supported by 5 public evidence rows linked to original Founders episodes.
- Adi Dassler (Adidas) — The episode is built around Sneaker Wars, which David says he read this week and discusses throughout, focusing on Adi Dassler and the Dassler family story.
- Bill Bowerman (Nike) — David recalls Sneaker Wars while connecting Adi Dassler's shoe innovations to the Bowerman and Nike story.
- Phil Knight (Nike) — David says he covered Sneaker Wars in Founders No. 109.
Unofficial listener-built companion, not affiliated with or endorsed by David Senra or Founders Podcast.