It showed up today. Not a proof, not a PDF, not a cover mockup in an email. The actual book… in my hands.
My first book. I have written a lot of words over the last two decades, but holding this one is a different feeling entirely. And it is real now.
My editor at Motorbooks, Jordan, left a note inside the front. “Congrats, Nick, you wrote a banger. I’m thrilled you decided to join us for Small Luxuries: Sneakers. The book is beautiful, and your personality really shines through.” I might have to frame it.
My brother Jacques Slade wrote the foreward. We’ve been through a lot together in this world of sneakers but this one meant more than I can put here.
And the book starts where it had to start, with my first pair of Air Jordans.
From there it covers a lot of ground. NWA, Tony Hawk, choose your weapon, the different styles and types and brands that make this whole thing what it is. But I didn’t necessarily write it for the people who already know all of that. I wrote it as something you could hand to somebody who knows nothing about sneakers at all, and have them walk away understanding not just the shoes, but the people who made the shoes matter.
Because the shoes were never really the point. It is the people, the connections, the memories, the person standing next to you in the moment, thinking there is nobody you would rather be there with. That is what I carry through everything I write here and everything I create.
Small Luxuries: Sneakers is out October 2026 from Motorbooks. If you have been meaning to support the work, pre-ordering it is the single biggest way to do that right now.
I get to be one of the voices passing these stories on to the next generation. On a day that started rough, that showing up in my hands felt about as surreal as it gets. Thank you for being here for it.
Keep building.
-Nick
I’m Nick Engvall. I’ve worked in the sneaker industry for over two decades. I built the original Eastbay Blog during my time at Sole Collector, led the first dedicated sneaker team for Complex, led the first UGC and seeding programs for Finish Line, employee #9 at StockX, and much more. Now, I run Sneaker History and host the Sneaker History podcast, with over 600K downloads. Outside the newsletter, I take on select consulting and advisory work with brands, retailers, and founders across the footwear industry. If you’re building something and want an experienced set of eyes on it, reply to this one or reach out. I’d love to hear what you’re working on.
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