A Life Too Short: The Tragedy of Robert Enke

Ronald Reng

Sep 2011 · Random House

About this ebook

WINNER OF THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR
WINNER OF THE BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS FOOTBALL BOOK OF THE YEAR

Why does an international footballer with the world at his feet decide to take his own life?

On 10 November 2009 the German national goalkeeper, Robert Enke, stepped in front of a passing train. He was thirty-two years old and a devoted husband and father.

Enke had played for a string of Europe's top clubs, including Barcelona and Jose Mourinho's Benfica and was destined to become his country's first choice in goal for years to come. But beneath the veneer of success, Enke battled with crippling depression.

Award-winning writer Ronald Reng pieces together the puzzle of his friend's life, shedding valuable light on the crushing pressures endured by professional sportsmen and on life at the top clubs. At its heart, Enke's tragedy is a universal story of a man struggling against his demons.

‘It should be on every British football fan's reading list’ Metro

Ratings and reviews

Stirring account of Robbie Enkes struggle with depression and the pressures of being an elite athlete. Hopefully this raises awareness that depression is nothing to be ashamed of and its treatable. We must all understand this illness as it could strike you a family member or a friend at any time.

Tragic end. The book gives a good account of thoughts and mental issues relevant to any sportsman. Reveals vulnerability of a depressed mind. Cause of depression was cloudy.

Couldn't put it down. Robert Enke was a football player, a goalkeeper, but don't be fooled that this book will only appeal to football fans. In this book the sport plays a secondary role, it's mainly about Robert and his family, and how this special man coped with depression, that ultimately led to a suicide that shocked the world. It is written by a journalist who was a close friend, and it is very special indeed. You can tell that writing this book was important to Ronald Reng, as he had agreed with Robert himself that at some stage they would write his story together. This story is deep, emotional and will give you more insights about depression than most other books on the topic - as it is based on a true story, told beautifully and simply, in an extremely honest way. It goes deep into Robert's life and mind and... you truly get a real understanding about depression: how it is a disease, and how sometimes there is really a fine line between health and depression - you may recognize many of your own thoughts in Robert's. It is beautiful, sad, highly engaging - cannot recommend it more.

About the author

Ronald Reng is the highly-acclaimed author of The Keeper of Dreams: One Man's Controversial Story of Life in the English Premiership (Yellow Jersey Press), which won Biography of the Year at the 2004 British Sports Book Awards