Confessions

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

Great book but I would suggest it for beginners.

Another classic of spiritual literature.

Life changing book

The book did not have any packaging. It came all damaged. Would not recommend buying from seller Cocoblu. The quality too looks cheap. Highly doubt whether it is from penguin classics.

Book is in Bad condition. Damaged spine , folded pages. Pretty bad

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!

Saint Augustine is hailed as the most important theologian after Apostle Paul. More than a millennium after him, Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk and John Calvin cited Augustine most in his work. In other words, there may be greater theologians after him, but they enjoyed the advantage of having Augustine before them, an advantage that clearly Augustine could not have had. He was born in 354 and died in 430. Therefore this book was written about 1600 years ago! This is a translation for Augustine did not write in English. There are many versions of translation of this work - I do not know why or the general shortcomings of the translations, but this version reads nicely and, I believe, authentically. Saint Augustine was a professor in Rhetoric before he was a monk. He was a highly learned person. That is to say, when you pick up this book, be mindful that you are reading one of the greatest minds of his time and writing was his strength. What I would say about this translation is that it does not pose a barrier between us and the great mind. Furthermore, its prose is sophisticated and poetic. I believe therefore this is a faithful reflection of the original work. It is a great piece of literature in its own right. This is my first point. As a subject matter, how many of us would be as candid as he in writing up our deepest confessions for posterity? In today's narcissistic culture greatly enhanced and enabled by the social media, we see human nature is to show off our best to the public. Confessions are something we do behind closed doors and in our private prayer to God. And yet Augustine is demonstrating the right approach to God. No one can come to God like a saint in our own merits. Heart wrenching confessions that cry out to God and His mercy are the only path that all genuine believers must tread. In other words, every genuine believer must have made the journey through like Augustine and have his own personal confessions to make to God. We are put down in order that we can be lifted up. We can't be lifted up if we are not down on our knees first. Melodrama they are not. Augustine's confessions are the results of deep soul-searching. If we think we don't have confessions of our own to make, Augustine shows us how as he lays out the kind of questions to ask ourselves and how God's Word search and examine our souls. Augustine tells us how he argues at each turn, the critical moments he knew it was the Truth, and the struggle to break away from the bondage of his carnality. His is what every Christian should have experienced, although the details differ in each individual case. If we never know the work of the Holy Spirit in using God's Word to examine our heart and soul with power and conviction, Augustine's Confessions is a fine example. As such his autobiography is not just his spiritual journey but also a spiritual journey that he takes us to go on ourselves. The book starts with a narrative of his life, showcasing his sense of humour and playfulness as well as the brilliance of his mind and his command of words. That part of the book stops at the death of his pious and prayerful mother, Monica, who played a significant role in Augustine’s spiritual life from young. Thereafter Augustine takes us to soar high and lofty probing into the things of God. He covers concepts that when you first read, you will be puzzled. But then you realise they are far from trivial but pivotal in our understanding of God. For example, he talks about memory. I believe the whole discourse is hinting at the peculiar feeling of homecoming when we come to God even though we do not seem to know Him beforehand in our life. Where does this sense of homecoming come from if we have no memory of “home” in God at all? This reminds me of C. S. Lewis’s concept of JOY. Augustine also takes time to define what eternity is. The discourse does seem a little trivial at first. Not so. When I was reading Confessions, I was reading Dolezal’s All that is in God concurrently. I realise Augustine’s exploration of eternity has helped me understand the latter! It is an essential concept about God that implies many of His other attributes in His essence. Moving on, he describes what God’s Word is. God’s Word is not speech! Wow! How wrong I have been in understanding “In the Beginning was the Word!” The Word, God’s only begotten Son, is catapulted on to a completely different plane for our understanding. What is strange is that I have never come across this view relayed in more contemporary works or sermons. I have read a reviewer on his other work who mocks Augustine’s scientific knowledge. Far from it, Augustine knew and even critiqued the latest scientific developments of his time. From what I see, there is timelessness in his writing. The questions he asked, the query he framed and the method he used to probe are masterclass. His writing is transcendent because he is bringing us a knowledge of God who is transcendent. I hope people would see the relevance even to this day. One may ask how the latter part of the book relates to Confessions. I would answer that genuine confessions are brought about by our high view of God. The more we see God, the more we see our sins. Put it differently, we can only see our sins when they are set against God.

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.

Meine Tochter hat das Buch begeistert gelesen.