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A Life Too Short

The Tragedy of Robert Enke

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A Life Too Short

By: Ronald Reng
Narrated by: John Telfer
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Why does an international footballer with the World at his feet decide to take his own life? On November 10, 2009, the German national goalkeeper Robert Enke stepped in front of a passing train. He was 32 years old. Viewed from the outside, Enke had it all. Here was a professional goalkeeper who had played for a string of Europe's top clubs, including Jose Mourinho's Benfica and Louis Van Gaal's Barcelona. Enke was destined to be his country's first choice for years to come. But beneath the bright veneer of success lay a darker story.

In A Life Too Short, award-winning writer Ronald Reng pieces together the puzzle of his lost friend's life. Reng brings into sharp relief the specific demands and fears faced by those who play top-level sport. Heartfelt but never sentimental, he tells the universal tragedy of a talented man's struggles against his own demons.

©2011 Piper Verlag GmbH, Munich. English Translation © Shaun Whiteside 2011 (P)2011 Random House AudioGo Football (Soccer) Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Sports Celebrity Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt
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What a beautifully written book that portrays the struggle robert, his family and friends all endured. An easy read that engages the mind and asks questions throughout about your own perception of mental health. I would highly recommend this book.

Tragic but beautiful

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Such a tragic story, so beautifully told. Enke was a great man and his story should be heard by all. Reng tells the story perfectly, his book deserves all the credit it has received.

A great injustice, an outstanding book.

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I went into listening to this audiobook wanting to learn about robert enke and came out of it having learnt more about depression and how it can effect an international goalkeeper and how it can change the personality of a person. A must listen. Educating and informative.

Depression explained

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What made the experience of listening to A Life Too Short the most enjoyable?

Here was a person who seemed to the outside world as having all the trappings of professional footballer but yet he spent times unable to function and, more surprising he hid it so well.
The book itself is beautifully touching, in terms of writing and the narrator does a brilliant job.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wanted to listen to it continuiously, but I had to switch it and re compose myself, I was moved to tears on several occasions, having been involved in football and having lived through depression with a close friend, the way the subjects are approached is refreshingly honest and forthright. If you have any knowledge of Robert Enke you will be aware of the shock his death caused at the time, this book brought those feeling back, I felt the loss of his family and friends.

Any additional comments?

Just one word of warning, if you suffer from or if you are thinking of giving this to a someone who is travelling the road of depression, please don't. I felt emotionally drained after listening and I have never felt like that before from a book.

OMG - the worst and best book I have ever heard?

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Such a tragic story but a vital one to be told. Gives a real insight into the illness and the impact on those with it and those around them. Some brilliant lines in here: the fear of the fears, becoming an accomplished actor and recruiting everyone around you as extras. Spot on.

A must read for anyone who wants to understand depression.

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