BOOK REVIEWS
Autobiography
Back From The Edge
Luke Sutton
We Rate:
BOOK SYNOPSIS
The truth is that professional sport is a breeding ground for addictive behaviour. Luke Sutton is a business owner and successful agent to sporting stars such as James Taylor, Nile Wilson and Sam Quek, but his life didn't always look so positive. Back from the Edge reveals the huge ups and major downs that a professional career in sport can bring - and the mental health difficulties that can plague a sportsperson along the way. Luke knows this more than most. Brutally but refreshingly honest, this no-frills autobiography of the former professional cricketer describes in detail the moment he hit rock bottom, how he got there, his rollercoaster journey through rehab, and the important lessons he's learnt since. Throughout the book, Luke remains candid and reveals how his addictions affected his personal life, from his friends to family to his children. Back from the Edge is heart-wrenching. Now a sports agent, he is perfectly placed to spot the warning signs in young stars, and to support them before they spiral into the same type of experiences he faced.
OUR REVIEW
In any professional sport, there are thousands, possibly millions that play their chosen game yet unless you are a connoisseur of the game, you are unlikely to come across. Luke Sutton is arguably one of those within the game of cricket, that had a fine domestic career but didn't quite hit the heights and take the international plaudits that many do, yet his battle with his demons has been documented in the past and upon hearing of this book, as a connoisseur of the game myself, I was very keen to sit down and read this.
Without doubt, this is one of the shortest autobiographies that i've read and it's more of a scan through his life which I personally find slightly disappointing as I would have liked a more in-depth view from both his early life and his time in County Cricket but the book tends to focus on the key issue's that Sutton had and then trying to explore the reasons of why these occurred by giving brief snippets of his life. As I read this, I wondered if he felt his time in the game was slightly irrelevant to him, which of course he may feel but knowing the game as I do, understandably not as much as himself, I do question whether the game itself played a part in the issues, focusing on his time as a captain and being that leader he always strived to be. Likewise, the death of his girlfriend and then the effect his actions had on his wife, kids and family are particularly glossed over, perhaps to raw to discuss in the book.
Alas, there is no doubting that one of the main issues Sutton experienced is explored deeply, his relationship with alcohol and how that had an effect throughout his career and how he can now reflect on that time spent in The Priory and how even that relatively short time in the facility in reality, clearly had the desired effect. I've mentioned the disappointment of the book not being longer but don't take anything away from what has been written, it is still a very interesting read and will engross you as you delve into a man who had his demons and has overcome them to a degree but more over than that has found best how to deal with them.
Grab yourself a copy of the book and give it a read and let us know your thoughts on the book.
