Name: Book Discussion: Kicks: The Great American Story of Sneakers by Nicholas Smith
Start: 2026-02-18T14:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-02-18T15:00:00-05:00
Location: 314 S Park St, Kalamazoo, MI, United States, Michigan 49007

Book Discussion: Kicks: The Great American Story of Sneakers by Nicholas Smith

Author Nicholas Smith examines the history, innovation, and societal impact of sneakers in American life through marketing, economic, and cultural trends. Smith weaves together a story of how the sneaker evolved over the course of a century. As production methods were revolutionized, the perception of this iconic footwear shifted as well, making them into must-have shoes. Themes in this book will tie into Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks.
Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum, and curated by Elizabeth Semmelhack, Director and Senior Curator of the Bata Shoe Museum.
All book discussions are free, open to the public, and take place in-person at the Meader Fine Arts Library. Participants do not need to have read the book, but it will help facilitate the overall discussion. Preregistration is encouraged.