A Life Too Short: The Tragedy of Robert Enke
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Review
`sensitive'
`Absolutely superb. Incredibly harrowing.' --Sunday Times
`this is a powerful book which transcends football.' --Sport Magazine
`deeply affecting' --Times
`moving...after reading it, I felt I not only understood depression a little better but also determined never again to believe the myth of the sporting superman, impervious to criticism or pressure.' --Daily Telegraph
`A Life Too Short is a sports biography about as much as BS Johnson's classic The Unfortunates is a sports novel. Both are books about grief. But football runs through the heart of Enke's story and this book belongs to the first rank of publications on the game of minds and souls that exists behind the beautiful game that is seen on the field. It is both a fitting tribute to a lost friend but it is also a salutary warning to the great football clubs of the world' --Irish Times
`Enlightening and visceral...An indispensable insight into a man and an illness, Reng's book is a sobering yet brilliant account and may yet restore faith for the disenchanted man in the street. --Sabotage Times
`In a sport that often dismisses depression, this tragic yet sensitively written book might just help sufferers find sympathy.'
----Charlie Ghagan, Four Four Two
Book Description
Winner of the 2011 William Hill Sports Book of the Year. The biography of Robert Enke, the German goalkeeper who took his own life.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Until he passed away, I'll admit I hadn't really heard of the German international goalkeeper Robert Enke. When I heard there was a book being released about his life I still wasn't that interested, simply because I never really knew the guy, as a player or a man.
I am so glad I ignored any previous misgivings or hesitation I had. This is a must-read book, and not just for football fans either.
Don't worry if you didn't know who Enke was, where he came from or who he played for. It's all covered and in detail too. Author Robert Reng was a friend and had in-depth access to Enke and his wife Teresa as well as Robert's personal diaries. So you know the author has his facts right and it shows in the style the book's written in. At times A Life Too Short reads like a work of fiction, it flows seamlessly from chapter to chapter and is never boring or repetitive. Despite dealing with the difficult subject that is depression, not once does Reng's writing become morbid or depressing itself. In fact the book really helped me to understand just how serious the illness is and how horrible it must be for sufferers. Enke certainly had an interesting life and a very interesting career. The chapter that deals with Enke's match during his time at Barcelona, when the Catalan side faced off against the small Spanish minnows Novelda is simply incredible. It is a harrowing piece of writing, you can literally feel Robert coming apart as the match turned in Novelda's favour.
It's not all negative though. As Robert experiences the highs that come with being a professional footballer, you feel like you're right there with him the entire time. Enke's years in Lisbon with Benfica come to mind, when he embraced the Portuguese culture around him until he felt right at home. There are just as many highs as there are lows in A Life Too Short.
This is a special book and I would recommend it to all readers of sport, football especially. It is easily one of the best biographies I've ever had the pleasure of reading and could quite possibly be the best football title I've read too. At the time of writing this, A Life Too Short has been long-listed for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year and it would be a crime for it to miss out on the short-list. I personally feel it should win the whole thing, it's simply that good.
Just go ahead and buy it, because A Life Too Short really is a powerful book. You won't regret it.
I am so glad I ignored any previous misgivings or hesitation I had. This is a must-read book, and not just for football fans either.
Don't worry if you didn't know who Enke was, where he came from or who he played for. It's all covered and in detail too. Author Robert Reng was a friend and had in-depth access to Enke and his wife Teresa as well as Robert's personal diaries. So you know the author has his facts right and it shows in the style the book's written in. At times A Life Too Short reads like a work of fiction, it flows seamlessly from chapter to chapter and is never boring or repetitive. Despite dealing with the difficult subject that is depression, not once does Reng's writing become morbid or depressing itself. In fact the book really helped me to understand just how serious the illness is and how horrible it must be for sufferers. Enke certainly had an interesting life and a very interesting career. The chapter that deals with Enke's match during his time at Barcelona, when the Catalan side faced off against the small Spanish minnows Novelda is simply incredible. It is a harrowing piece of writing, you can literally feel Robert coming apart as the match turned in Novelda's favour.
It's not all negative though. As Robert experiences the highs that come with being a professional footballer, you feel like you're right there with him the entire time. Enke's years in Lisbon with Benfica come to mind, when he embraced the Portuguese culture around him until he felt right at home. There are just as many highs as there are lows in A Life Too Short.
This is a special book and I would recommend it to all readers of sport, football especially. It is easily one of the best biographies I've ever had the pleasure of reading and could quite possibly be the best football title I've read too. At the time of writing this, A Life Too Short has been long-listed for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year and it would be a crime for it to miss out on the short-list. I personally feel it should win the whole thing, it's simply that good.
Just go ahead and buy it, because A Life Too Short really is a powerful book. You won't regret it.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
I am not really into sport and found some of the book quite in depth when talking about the sport but the author did highlight the plight of Robert Enke beautifully. He was a professional man with a fantastic career ahead of him and still he got depression, just goes to show this illness can hit any of us at any time. I so wanted someone to step in and save Robert even though I obviously knew how the book would end. Beautifully written, very respectful.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is well worth a read. Not just a sporting biography but a great account into a depressives mind especially the impact on those around them. Whilst I can't really say I remember Enke, it's obvious that he was destined to be at the 2010 World Cup as Germany's keeper and the fact he was so high profile makes the story all the more gripping. As the end of the book approaches, the story gets even more sad as you really feel for the guy as his final days near. One of the best and most moving books I've read in a long time, highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
MOVING
FELT COMPELLED TO WRITE MY FIRST EVER REVIEW ON AMAZON . THIS IS WITHOUT DOUBT THE FINEST SPORTS BOOK I`VE EVER READ. Read more
Published 8 days ago by SKINNER
Despite the subject matter, an excellent
A difficult subject matter, sensitivity handled, an engrossing, emotional yet enjoyable book to read. I would recommend this to all sports fans without reservation.
Published 10 days ago by Mike31g
A Great Book...............
I bought this book for two reasons, firstly i suffer with depression and happened to stumble across this book by accident and also i am a football fan. Read more
Published 29 days ago by NICK
Stunning
This is an absolutely stunning book - beautifully written. Whilst it is a terrible subject matter it is written with great empathy and at the end of it you will feel that you... Read more
Published 2 months ago by amcgee
excellent book - i don't even like football
A beautifully written moving account of Robert Enke's struggle with depression. Even for someone like me who knows very little about football it was remarkably easy to be drawn in,... Read more
Published 2 months ago by daphne80
Insightful read
I foumd this book to be a compelling read. It provides both insights into professional sport and the issue of depression. Read more
Published 2 months ago by chris53
A moving, very well written account
This an engrossing and moving book which gives a very well written insight into the world of professional football, apparent success and depression.
Published 2 months ago by Sylvester977
Not an easy read but a compelling one
A deserved winner of the William Hill Award, both moving and emotive as Renk walks you through Enke's life, from his upbringing and career start at Carl-Zeiss Jena through to his... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Nigel
Robert Enke A Life Too Short
This is one of the best books i've ever read. It is a real insight to the side of sport we never see, the insecurities, anxiety and depression which has only recently been... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Chris, Liverpool
so very sad
I remember being aware of Robert Enke when he became Germany's goalkeeper, but knew little else about him until I heard about his death. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Booms
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