Publication Date: September 15, 2026
Lessons on life and business you are guaranteed to find nowhere else.
Croc tells the true, larger-than-life story of George “Boe” Boedecker, Jr.: his fire to succeed, his “don’t just break the rules but make up new ones” attitude, his partners, his light-bulb moment, and then the explosion—in more ways than one—of Crocs.
This is a modern-day tale of lovers and haters, rivals and thieves, the hard partying, the strongest man in the world and the Mexican police, the fender bender with Fleetwood Mac and the enterprising way into the hearts of the San Francisco 49ers, the little boy lost and Superman, the millions made and just given away, and how it all nearly destroyed Boe.
He helped create the clunkiest-looking—many would say ugliest—shoe in the world, which also became the bestselling non-sneaker brand on the planet. Everyone considered it a fad when they went public almost two decades ago—and they’re bigger now than they’ve ever been. More hated, more loved, never out of fashion. Turns out, ugly can be beautiful.
Some of the time.
In Croc, Boe tells his wild origin story (of both shoe and man) through lessons on life and leadership that are unlike anything you’ve heard before. Sample lessons include:
- Do Not Listen to Anyone (Including Boe)
- Rules Are Worth Following Until They’re Not
- If You Can’t Have Too Much Fun, Something’s Wrong
- Remember the Forgotten
- If You’re About to Go Public, Don’t Threaten to Kill Your Brother-in-Law
Creating a shoe to rival the popularity of sneakers comes with an intriguing origin story.
Author George “Boe” Boedecker, Jr., uses his experience to deliver 15 lessons in Croc. However, this isn’t exactly what you would call a standard primer on leadership and success.
In fact, the subtitle provides a rather provocative description that just begs readers to dig deeper—“How I Invented the World’s Most Popular Shoe, became a Massive Success, and Nearly Destroyed Myself—in 15 Easy Lessons.
From the opening pages, the story of Boe’s life earns a descriptor as “complicated.” As it progresses, it becomes apparent that it is a story of unfiltered truth from someone who knows what it is like to start at rock bottom.
From lost love to the search for the perfect boat shoe, the author blends humor, along with a sense of vulnerability before infusing it with strength.
Croc tells the real story, both success and failure, from the man who launched a shoe revolution and almost lost himself along the way.
George “Boe” Boedecker Jr. has lived at a speed that most of us don’t attempt even for a day, much less a lifetime. He is an entrepreneur and humanitarian as well as the founder and creative force behind Crocs, Inc., where he served as CEO for 2.5 years. During his tenure, Crocs grew from an eight-person startup into an industry giant. Once deemed the fastest-growing footwear company on the planet, George’s success at Crocs culminated in the largest IPO in the history of the shoe industry. The original Crocs model is still their best-selling product and has generated billions of dollars in sales and millions of units sold.
George takes particular pride in his philanthropic accomplishments, including the 2006 creation of the Anthony H. Kruse Foundation through an endowment left to him by his good friend and business partner. In 2009, George consolidated all of his charitable endeavors into one entity, The Boedecker Foundation, which helps fund nonprofit organizations that inspire positive change around the world. George’s personal wealth, derived from the formation of Crocs, Inc., and coupled with the estate left to him for philanthropic purposes, has allowed him to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
As if that’s the whole story…
