In Der Lärm des Lebens, Jörg Hartmann masterfully tells his own story, as well as that of his parents and grandparents. It is a declaration of love for the strength of family and the Ruhr area. Whether he delves into the experiences of his deaf grandparents during the National Socialist era, his mother's wisdom during her brief time running a French fry stand, his father's struggle with dementia as a lathe operator and passionate handball player, the many eccentric encounters within his extended family, or the pivotal moments in his life as an actor – Hartmann always strikes a balance between tragedy and comedy.
His storytelling carries a powerful and personal tone, touching and humorous. He ponders why we constantly return to our roots, seeking to grasp the cycle of life: parents and children, beginnings and endings, departure and arrival, growth and decay – all the elements that make up the beloved noise of life. This is a wise and richly anecdotal book about heritage and home, and the desire to break free and explore the world. It is both a sentimental education and, almost incidentally, a cultural history of the Federal Republic of Germany.
"The Hartmann powerhouse radiates positive energy. There are still many secrets within this man." Stern
"A master of contrasts. Sharp-edged yet sensitive." Die Welt
