Confessions (Penguin Classics)

Augustine was an early Christian writer and theologian who lived in the fourth and fifth centuries. This book is probably his most well known written work which primarily covers his long path to converting to Christianity. Augustine was the son of a Christian mother and a pagan father. While a young man, he was not particularly interested in religion, especially Christianity, but would eventually come to follow a movement known as Manichaeism. He lived a degenerate lifestyle as a young man, but would eventually come to accept the truth of the Scriptures and convert. The book tells this long story of his life from his young age until his conversion and the twists along the way. It is an interesting story of a man's long path to God and the many distractions along the way. It contains some famous stories such as Augustine's experience, as a teenager, of stealing fruit for essentially the thrill of it, an act that as an adult he realizes was sinful. I also found his stories of essentially debunking alternate ideas, like astrology, to be well crafted. The final few chapters are less autobiographical but rather more musings on various theological issues as Augustine attempts to interpret excerpts from Scripture to find some meaning or answer that he wants to derive from them. What is fascinating about this book is that it is the story of a well-educated man who lived more than 1,600 years ago but often struggled with some of the same questions that a person might struggle with today such as the nature of God and how to follow his law. At the same time, as an early Church father, Augustine has had an immense influence on Christian thought for many centuries even to today. Thus, it is worth examining this work to better understand his often tortured path to Jesus and the lessons he learned and questions he considered along the way. I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to those interested in a Christian biography or even those interested in early Christianity in general.

I was very reluctant to read anything from Augustine for quite a while, because for whatever reason I found his good reputation to be off-putting. I confess that I was rather foolish. This book has been one of the most encouraging, edifying, relatable, and moving things I have ever read, and Augustine has very quickly become one of my favorite writers and theologians. The vast majority of Confessions is a long, heartfelt prayer to God, recounting important events throughout Augustine's life, confessing very honestly and diving deeply into his sins and shortcomings, his thought process and desires, as well as the impact and significance of the people in his life who loved him. Augustine takes a very honest yet philosophical approach to examining his past and asking God to teach him and show him how He worked throughout his life in these deeply contemplative prayers. So often I could perfectly empathize with the things Augustine spoke of, and if not myself then I knew of someone else who I felt would be moved by his passionate confessions. The book finishes off with an extremely deep philosophical dive into a number of different topics, which isn't nearly as emotionally moving as the rest of the book, but is deeply enriching and thought provoking in its own way. I've found it to be a very inspiring look into just how deeply we can explore theology, as well as an edifying example of how beneficial prayer is in deep study. I could go on for days about how wonderful this book is, and how much it has helped me to develop and mature just over the course of reading it, but ultimately I'd recommend just reading it for yourself. The translation is very enjoyable, the footnotes are helpful without being distracting (though the insistence on using two numbering systems for the Psalms gets a bit old), and I enjoy Penguin books for being good enough quality to feel nice to read without feeling too nice to mark up (and I've gone through quite a few highlighters on this book!). Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone, and I already have recommended it to quite a few people.

Just exactly what you're looking for if you want to know about St. Augustine.

great product, great seller

Confessions is the story of how one man found himself in Christianity after years of going his own way. Beginning in his childhood, St. Augustine's life is chronicled in this book through his mid-thirties, when he converted to Christianity. It details the specific events throughout his life that helped him change his state of mind about religion and his place in the world. St. Augustine was born in northern Africa well over a thousand years ago, going through his early years without a care for religion or serious responsibility. Over time though, he began transforming himself into a follower of Christ, eventually rising to become the bishop of Hippo, a city in modern-day Algeria. Despite Confessions being written 1600 years ago, its lessons are just as relevant today, as its themes of faith and finding oneself are ever present in society. The book itself is moving and powerful, as St. Augustine does a great job of conveying his true feelings and changing beliefs throughout his life, inspiring others. The only thing about its readability I would warn about is that some chapters can get repetitive with the same themes being repeated over and over again by St. Augustine. This isn't always a bad thing when he's trying to get a point across, but may be frustrating for some readers. PC

Outstanding. I would go as far as to say, life changing accompaniment to the Bible when dealing with your Christian growth. A remarkable book. It has helped me navigate some of the things I’ve needed to deal with in life. Given how Augustine is so transparent, there must be something in here for ever human soul.

Simple, humble soul searching yet so profound. Paper quality could be better.

St. Augustine's Confessions is a timeless masterpiece that transcends eras, offering profound insights into the human condition, spirituality, and the transformative power of faith. This Penguin Classics edition is particularly commendable for its clear and eloquent translation, which preserves the depth and nuance of Augustine's original Latin text. The book is structured as a deeply personal and philosophical journey, blending Augustine's autobiographical reflections with theological meditations. His introspective exploration of sin, grace, and redemption feels as relevant today as it was in the 4th century. Readers are drawn into Augustine's struggles with temptation, his search for truth, and his ultimate surrender to divine love, making the work both relatable and inspiring. Penguin's thoughtful introduction and notes provide valuable context for understanding Augustine's life, historical background, and the significance of his ideas. This makes the book accessible to both first-time readers and those familiar with Christian philosophy. Confessions is more than a spiritual autobiography—it is a profound literary and philosophical work that invites readers to reflect on their own lives and beliefs. Whether you're a seeker, a scholar, or simply a lover of great literature, this edition is a must-have for your collection.

It goes on and ooooonnnnnn, too much soul searching for me!

I looked forward to reading the book as some of my favourite quotes are from this! The book arrived in good condition, with the exception that there was a small scratch and folds on the cover. However, it was delivered within a day.