Review: The Cobbler by Steve Madden | Memoir ~ Excerpt ~$25 Gift Card
A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.
Book Details
The Cobbler: How I Disrupted an Industry, Fell From Grace, and Came Back Stronger Than Ever by Steve Madden Published by Steve Madden ltd. on 04/18/2023
Genres: Business, Non-fiction, Memoir
Format: Audiobook, eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Pages: 252
Everyone knows Steve Madden's name and his shoes, but few are familiar with his story. Over the past thirty years, Steve Madden has taken his eponymous shoe company from the fledgling startup he founded with a mere $1,100 to a global, multi-billion dollar brand. But Madden's demons, from his battle with addiction to the financial shortcuts that landed him in prison, are as important to his story as his most iconic shoes.
In this raw, intimate, and ultimately inspiring book, Madden holds nothing back as he shares what it took to get here 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 styles.
In The Cobbler, readers are treated to the wild ride through Madden's rise, fall, and comeback. But they will also walk away uplifted by a man who has owned up to his mistakes and is determined to give back and use his hard-won platform to create positive change.
Originally written in 2019, The Cobbler was released at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. During and in the aftermath of the pandemic, Madden's perspective on life and business shifted. This new, updated version includes a prologue and epilogue revealing how Steve Madden the man and the company not only survived, but managed to come back stronger than ever for the second time.
Source: Goddess Fish Promotions
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Excerpt from The Cobbler
I fidgeted in my tux, restless as ever, as the supermodel Winnie Harlow stood onstage talking about my career, my brand, and me. These events always felt surreal. I never got used to them, and it was hard to focus on what she was saying as thoughts flooded through my brain. Is my jacket straight? Do I have all the notes for my speech? It’s nice that Winnie is wearing a pair of my shoes.
“Steve Madden has been called many things,” Winnie said from the podium. That’s for sure, I thought.
“Mogul,” she said, pausing for effect. “Icon.”
I could have added to that list. As a kid, I was called things like stupid and lazy, a pain in the ass who couldn’t shut up and sit still. Nobody knew then that I had an attention disorder that kept me from focusing or that such a thing even existed. In my teens and twenties, I was called other things: a partier, a wild man. But at the height of my addiction, when I was either out crashing cars or hiding in my apartment, isolating myself from the world, my life was anything but a party.
It wasn’t until I turned thirty and got clean that people started calling me things that were positive: creative, charismatic, someone who was on the pulse of trends and knew how to create a cool product for a good price. When I look back, those years were the best—hustling and fighting, clawing my way to the top of an industry that was loathe to accept an outsider like me. But they were also the years when I made my biggest mistakes fueled by impatience and a replacement addiction: money. After my downfall, the names I was called were the most hurtful, even though they were true: a criminal, a convict, a mere number as far as anyone running the facility I was locked up in cared to know.
Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.
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Purchase Links for The Cobbler
Amazon – OneLink for every country
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My thoughts on The Cobbler
“The Cobbler: How I Disrupted an Industry, Fell From Grace, and Came Back Stronger Than Ever” by Steve Madden is an inspiring memoir that captivates readers with its touching honesty and perseverance. Madden’s vulnerability and self-reflection deeply engage the reader, making this a compelling and relatable story of overcoming adversity.
The book personifies the American Dream, showcasing Madden’s journey as he battled addiction and built a shoe empire from humble beginnings. From selling shoes out of his car trunk in the 90s to transforming his company into a billion-dollar brand, Madden’s determination and innovative mindset shine through.
The writing style of “The Cobbler” is well-crafted and keeps the reader engaged with its fast-paced narrative. Madden’s unconventional hiring strategies and his unwavering commitment to product quality offer unique insights into the business world.
Originally published in 2019, this updated version of the book includes a prologue and epilogue that delve into the author’s experiences during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. These additions showcase how Steve Madden, the man, and the company not only survived but managed to come back stronger than ever for the second time.
“The Cobbler” is an exceptional memoir that leaves readers inspired and uplifted. It serves as a reminder that owning up to one’s mistakes and embracing change can lead to personal growth and success.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!
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About Steve Madden
A man who wears many hats-and shoes-Steve Madden cannot be described in one word. He is an entrepreneur, an award-winning designer, and a business titan whose eponymous company is currently worth 3 billion dollars.
On the flip side, he is an ex-con, a recovering addict, and a devoted family man. Over the past thirty years, the provocative shoe designer built a booming brand and nearly lost it all to The Wolf of Wall Street, only to rebound by giving back and creating a global empire.
Through it all, he hasn't forgotten his humble beginnings or his core consumer, resulting in millions of adoring fans worldwide. Considered the fashion footwear mogul of the twenty-first century, Madden has an innate sense of what's hot, what's next, what's exciting, and, more importantly, how this will translate to the customer.
He is also an active philanthropist and mentor who supports a number of organizations that help those in need of a second chance.
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Purchase The Cobbler online from a local bookstore.
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Easy Amazon Info Link
Amazon – OneLink for every country
If the above link does not take you to your country, here are a few more:
Please send me a note if your country isn’t listed and you would like to purchase using my links. Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share.
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Giveaway!
Steve Madden will be awarding $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Visit more stops on this Goddess Fish tour for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for The Cobbler
Full Tour Schedule:
June 5: Literary Gold
June 6: Westveil Publishing
June 7: Kenyan Poet
June 8: Girl with Pen
June 9: Sandra’s Book Club
June 12: Hope. Dreams. Life… Love
June 13: Straight from the Library
June 14: Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!
June 15: Fabulous and Brunette
June 16: The Avid Reader
June 19: FUONLYKNEW
June 20: It’s Raining Books
June 21: Gina Rae Mitchell review
June 22: Long and Short Reviews
June 23: Travel the Ages
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Goddess Fish Virtual Book Tour Host
This sounds like a great book
Thank you for sharing your review of The Cobbler, this is one memoir that I am looking forward to reading myself
Sounds like a great memoir. Love the cover.
Sounds like a terrific book.
Oh, how I love his shoes💜💜💜 Back when I was working, I had so many of them in my closet. Great brand and sounds like a great story. Excellent review, Gina💜
Sounds like a good book.
Shoes and book on a fabulous shoe maker- I am here for it!
Thank you for hosting and reviewing.
Steve Madden will always hold my interest. He just exudes confidence. I am excited to read this.