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Summary: A timeless relgious classic
Review: 'Confessions' is exactly what the title implies - the frank, open and heart-rending confessions of a troubled soul. The 'Confessions' rightly occupies a central place in Western Literature because of the breadth and depth of Augustine's thinking, his incredible theological, philosophical and psychological insight (he was admired by Wittgenstein, Husserl, Schopenhauer, and other great thinkers), his amazingly beautiful and elegant style of expression, and his remarkable power to move you to the very soul with every word, sentence and chapter. This book is a theological treatise, autobiography, series of love letters, polemics, philosophical work, and hymn to God in one. Augustine's profound and searching intellect examines his own life, from its very first memories, to his agonies and sins as a student to his tears as he hears the song of children in the street which seem to urge him to read the Bible.
Like all true 'Great Books', this work is never exhausted and without new meaning, whether you have read it once or a dozen times. Like Conrad, Plato, Shakespeare, Dickens, Melville, Woolf and other great writers Augustine is able to capture the most profound and uplifting along with the most horrible and denigrating of this mystery we call life, from the profound heights of God to the melancholy depths of selfishness and sin. Whether you are an atheist seeking to understand what makes religious believers tick, or a Philosopher trying to understand memory and the nature of experience, or a Christian struggling with your faith, or even just a literary 'dabbler', 'The Confessions' is well worth buying and keeping very close to your bed, your coffee table, your pulpit and your bookshelf. This is a book whose beauty will not fade, and unlike a trashy pop novel whose meaning is exhausted with one reading and soon forgotten, 'Confessions' is a book that will keep giving you new strength, hope and insight with each new day that comes.
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Summary: Moving expose of a divided man who comes to terms
Review: A joy to read! It is personal and readable, near Poetical.Augustine was on a path to learn truth, find God, and experienced twists and turns of self-doubt and a divided will that, I think, anyone pursuing knowledge might find of interests, or someone a bit delusioned and cynical about life may find solace in. Augustine's message is a passionate one, this passion is the shining attribute of his confession -- his giving himself over to a life of honest endeavor to do God's will. He defines what the spirit of an honest pursuit looks like, and could be somewhat applied to all pursuits of truth. It is a bit cathartic to read about this often divided and quite human of a man, who I can't see how anyone could apply the terms orthodox or evangelical too (an Effort/Endeavor seems more on terms with a Christian's experience), and how he came to terms with the mysteries that are in our world. His description why it is impossible to know truth ultimately, but his conlusions behind the message of the meaning of mysteries is powerful stuff in themselves. Some interesting themes I found, that Augustine expounded on were:
The mysteries of time and memory and what their being mysteries means.
How the soul and music are akin.
Some differences in exegesis are just quibbles that one should agree to disagree on among sincere souls.
Physical delight needs to be checked by reason (Augustine was coming to terms with lust, apparently, even at the time of this writing).
Don't be overly dependant on the praise of man.
Even contempt of the vain can be a vanity of its own sort.
His descriptions of the third temptations.
His admiration of his mother and his descriptions of the sort of person she was.
The true search is the inner search.
There are things the church does to get people interested that are lower than the true spiritual Christian search
Confession is sacrifice... Almost every page was interesting. Augustine was always surrounded by friends and was never in serious wanting of food or such, that I understood anyway. It is just the account of a highly intelligent, but splinterd man in search of God, until he comes to terms with the Christian mysteries of good. I could hear Shakespeare, Waugh, and Wilde echoing in some of his words. Mr. Chadwich also makes it clear that Augustine barrowed a lot from Neo-Platonist authors, especially Plotinus. The book also provides interesting insights into life in North Africa and Italy at that time, and their cultural differences. Augustine, like Aquinas, was North African. The book was relatively light reading, and highly accessible -- but deep -- especially taken in its entirety. Chadwick's translation, although I cannot attest to the authenticity of it, as I know no Latin, was near poetical and his notes kept my interest by aiding my understanding, clarifying themes and points, without obfuscating the passion of Augustine's message.
Highly catharctic, enjoyable reading.
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Summary: Still powerful after 1600 years
Review: After Sacred Scripture itself, perhaps no other book has brought more people to a deeper understanding of the truths of the Christian faith than "Confessions." Simply put, it's the story of one well-educated, intelligent man who led a profligate life in a sophisticated pagan society. It took his mother, prayer, and the grace of Almighty God to make him a saint--and indeed one of the greatest saints of the Catholic Church. What is most striking about Augustine's story is how easily it relates to our own lives and our own times. It is impossible to read "Confessions" without seeing a little bit of yourself in his tales of his early life. The book is perfect for anyone struggling with their Christian faith. Indeed, it helped bring me back to the Catholic Church. This translation is well-written and highly readable. I own it and highly recommend it.
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Summary: A Commendable Storyline Ending In Triumph
Review: As a big fan of Augustine's writing I give this book five stars. The way that he has interwoven his thoughts, feelings, and personal experiences with the humble eloquence of repentance will have you as the reader very exuberant. In reading this work you will learn more of Augustine's life, the spiritual turmoil he faced, and how he came to knowledge of the truth in a most triumphant manner. Although, that's not all that you will find interesting in the Confessions. In fact once Augustine converts to Catholicism and discovers the mystery of the faith, he then proceeds to fill in the blanks philisophically were he had once been left in error. Finally Augustine ponders on the book of Genesis and discourses a respectable point of view on the creation of heaven and earth. Oh Yeah! I forgot to explain how Augustine corresponds the subject matter of this book with a profound emphasis on the Holy Scriptures. So I recommend this masterpiece to anyo ne who has a love for great Latin literature, or to all that wish to read the prestige of Christian writings.
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Summary: Take and read!
Review: Augustine's 'Confessions' is among the most important books ever written. One of the first autobiographical works in the modern sense, it also represents the first time a psychological and theological enterprise were combined. It also helps to bridge the gap between the Classical world and the Medieval world, exhibiting strong elements identifying with each of those major historical periods.
Most undergraduates in the liberal arts encounter the book at some point; all seminarians do (or should!). Many adults find (or rediscover) the book later, after school. For many in these categories, there are concepts, narrative strands and historical data new and unusual for them. However, Augustine's 'Confessions' is still generally more accessible in many ways that truly classical pieces; it has interior description as well as external reporting that we are familiar with in modern writing.
The 'Confessions' shows Augustine's personality well - he was a passionate person, but his focus wavered for much of his life until finally settling upon Christianity and the Neoplatonic synthesis with this faith. Even while remaining a passionate Christian and rejecting the sort of dualism present in the Manichee teachings, he varied between various positions within these systems. Augustine's varied thought reaches through many denominational and scholarly paradigms.
The 'Confessions' are divided into thirteen chapters, termed 'Books' - the first ten of the books are autobiographical, with Augustine describing both events in his life as well as his philosophical and religious wanderings during the course of his life. The text is somewhat difficult to take at times, as this is writing with a purpose, as indeed most autobiographies are. The purpose here at times seems to be to paint Augustine in the worst possible light (the worse his condition, the better his conversion/salvation ends up being); at other times, one gets a sense (as one might get when reading the Pauline epistles) that there is some significant degree of ego at work here (Paul boasts of being among the better students, and so does Augustine, etc.).
Augustine also uses his Confessions as a tract against the Manichean system - once a faithful adherent, Augustine later rejects the Manichean beliefs as heretical; however, one cannot get past the idea that Augustine retained certain of their intellectual aspects in his own constructions even while denouncing them in his official life story.
The whole of the conversion turns on two primary books - Book Seven, his conversion to the Neoplatonic view of the world, including the metaphysics and the ethics that come along with this system; and Book 8, which describes his conversion to Christianity proper. This is where perhaps the most famous directive, 'Tolle! Lege!' ('Take and read!') comes from - Augustine heard a voice, and he picked up the nearest book, which happened to be a portion of the Pauline epistles, arguing against the undisciplined lifestyle Augustine lived. Scholars continue to debate whether Augustine's conversion to Christianity was more profound or more important than his conversion to Neoplatonism; in any event, Christianity interpreted through a Platonic framework became the norm for centuries, and remains a strong current within the Christian world view; Protestant reformers as they went back to the 'original bible' in distinction from the Catholic interpretations of the day also went back to the 'original Augustine' for much of their theology.
The final three books are Augustine's dealing with the creation of the world via narrative stories in Genesis 1 exegetically and hermeneutically. This is very different from what is done in modern biblical scholarship, but is significant in many respects, not the least of which as it gives a model of the way Augustine dealt with biblical texts; given Augustine's towering presence over the development of Western Christianity in both Catholic and Protestant strands, understanding his methods and interpretative framework can lead to significant insights into the ideas of medieval and later church figures.
This translation by Henry Chadwick is one of the standard editions of the book available. Chadwick, a noted scholar of early Christianity, provides a good introduction that gives synopses of the books as well as background and contextual information. This is a book that will be of interest to novice readers of Augustine as well as scholars, to students, clergy and laypersons, and anyone else who might have an historical, literary, philosophical, theological or other interest in Augustine - something for everyone, perhaps?
Rating: 
Summary: Wanted: Better suport work
Review: Augustine's Confessions combines an intellectual biography and conversion story with apologetics and theology. It is an essential source document on one of the most highly regarded Western thinkers and for early Church history. As a conversion story, it sets the standard in Christian thought. In short, any serious student of Christianity cannot afford to miss reading this book. The Penguin Classics edition, translated by R. S. Pine-Coffin, provides a good translation. However, you are going to get what you pay for. Like most books in the Penguin Classics series, this edition of the Confessions leaves a lot to be desired. It has a bare bone's introduction, no notes to help the reader understand obscure passages, and no index. This edition is fine if you want to read Augustine without the distractions of commentary. However, if you want to seriously understand the Confessions, spend some more money and get an edition with better support.
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Summary: Confessions (Oxford World's Classics)
Review: Confessions (Oxford World's Classics) by Saint Augustine is the most important Christian autobiography ever written. Augustine was a pagan and a sinner whom saw the light of Jesus Christ and converted to the faith of Christianity. His soul searching is breathtaking and his writing style is clear and concise.
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Summary: Worth the distinguished rep
Review: I decided to read this book to find out for myself what everybody was talking about, especially from being Catholic. I wanted to read the book that so long ago won over all of the philosophers of the time who considered Christianity to be a simpleton's system of life.
Right from the beginning of this book/autobiography I knew that I had in my hands something special. It is written with such brutal honesty and insight into St. Augustine's soul and mind. He pours himself out and into this work. It was completely refreshing to know that He/they so very long ago were dealing with the same searching the same longings and fascination that we /I do today. It is wondeful to feel the thoughts of St. Augustine who lived most of his life right in the heart of the dieng Roman civilization. This book is deeply spiritual, personal, and filled with a strong message of faith. But it goes beyond being religious or spiritual or preachy all of which it is as wll but it is a masterpiece. It is very thoughtful, personal, and well crafted. It is a great read for anyone whether Catholic, Christian, athiest or any other. It is the story of a man's life told by the very man who lived and experienced it. It tells the story of this time and this place told through the eyes of one who lived in it. I found some of the passages deeply moving. ANd yet other passages I found to be utterly hillarious. So read and enjoy the Spiritual, personal autobiography of one who lived a long time ago. For Christians one who lived closer to the actual life of Christ than to us today. It is clear to see after reading this work how it helped the Catholic Church and Christianity itself take-off with such passion and intellectual backings.
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Summary: Biography and philosophy
Review: I was asked to read this book as a freshmen in college and I loved it. It is not an easy read, but once you read over a part once more, Augustine's logic makes perfect sense. If you've read any other Augustine, such as "Freedom of the will", this book fits right in there and explains it perfectly. In fact, this book explains most of Augustine's tenants perfectly. If anyone wants to know why Christianity took such a harsh stand against sexual sins...it's Augustine lashing out at his past. He was really tormented. Worship God or worship sex. He chose God and I'm sure he thought about going back. Augustine also developed the full Christian idea of free will, which is manifested in this book as well. Augustine is an incredible figure and a role model for modern Christians. His trials are not much different from ours, seeing as we live in a society so obsessed with sex. Augustine's Confessions is one of my favorite books. A must-read for any theologian and philosopher.
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Summary: Edifying for the Heart and Mind
Review: It is no wonder that Augustine's Confessions are read so widely. Both Protestants and Roman Catholics draw from Augustine because the insight found in his work, especially this one, is equaled by very few in history. Certainly, Augustine is the most influential church father; and there is a rise in Augustinian thought among philosophers today (c.f. "Augustinian Christian Philosophy" by Alvin Plantinga). In the Confessions, there are really three general themes that underly each of his discussions:
1. Turning away from God
2. Confessing the greatness of God
3. Confessing turning back to God. The third point is very Neoplatonic; in fact, many of the chapters are dripping of Neoplatonism. However, Augustine's recognition of similar ideas in Scripture is (partly) what lead him to Scripture. The first point has to do with Augustine growing up, rebelling, and eventually his converting to the Catholic church (3rd point). There are several famous stories that people have critized Augustine about. For instance, Augustine mentions how he stole some pears with his friends. As a result, Augustine writes for pages and pages about how aweful and wicked his act was. Some might think, "it was only a few pears, get a grip." Another famous story regards Augustine's praises for God being eternal and how time itself is intrinsically painful. Is time itself intrinsically painful? That's another hot topic that has stemmed from Augustine's work. In any case, this book is edifying both on spiritual and intellectual grounds. His confessions mention how he struggled for years with lust. However, he also has deep intellectual writings (e.g., book XI), such as about the nature of time. Those discussions are difficult, but not too difficult. To this day, people still discuss academically about the coherence and meaningfullness of his views. That being said, Augustine demonstrates in this work that he is a brilliant man, but also one that loved the Lord. I think that reading this book will be good food for your soul, as it was for mine.
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