The Cobbler

Book excerpt: The man behind the iconic shoe brand recounts his rise to the top, struggle with addiction, time in prison, and ultimate recovery in this candid memoir. Everyone knows Steve Madden’s shoes, but few are familiar with the man behind the brand. Over the past thirty years, Madden has taken his eponymous shoe company from a fledgling startup he founded with a mere $1,100 to a global, multibillion-dollar enterprise. But Madden’s mistakes, from his battle with addiction to the financial shortcuts that landed him in prison, are as important to his story as his most iconic designs. In this raw, intimate, and ultimately inspiring book, Madden holds nothing back as he shares how he got where he is and the lessons he’s learned along the way. From his unconventional hiring strategies to his slavish devotion to product, Madden offers a business perspective that is as unique as his style. In The Cobbler, readers are treated to the wild ride though Madden’s meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and stunning comeback. But they will also walk away uplifted by a man who owns up to his mistakes, determined to give back and use his hard-won platform to create positive change.