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Confessions (Penguin Classics) Paperback – November 30, 1961

by Saint Augustine (Author), R. S. Pine-Coffin (Translator)
4.7 out of 5 stars 1,120 ratings
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The son of a pagan father and a Christian mother, Saint Augustine spent his early years torn between conflicting faiths and world views. His Confessions, written when he was in his forties, recount how, slowly and painfully, he came to turn away from his youthful ideas and licentious lifestyle, to become instead a staunch advocate of Christianity and one of its most influential thinkers. A remarkably honest and revealing spiritual autobiography, the Confessions also address fundamental issues of Christian doctrine, and many of the prayers and meditations it includes are still an integral part of the practice of Christianity today.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Classics
  4. Publication date
    November 30, 1961
  5. Dimensions
    7.77 x 5.07 x 0.86 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780140441147
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0140441147
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"[Wills] renders Augustine’s famous and influential text in direct language with all the spirited wordplay and poetic strength intact." —Los Angeles Times

 

"[Wills’s] translations . . . are meant to bring Augustine straight into our own minds; and they succeed. Well-known passages, over which my eyes have often gazed, spring to life again from Wills’s pages." —Peter Brown, The New York Review of Books

"Augustine flourishes in Wills’s hand." —James Wood

"A masterful synthesis of classical philosophy and scriptural erudition." —Chicago Tribune

About the Author

St Augustine of Hippo, the great Doctor of the Latin Church, was born at Thagaste in North Africa, in A.D. 354. He was brought up as a Christian but he was soon converted to the Manichean religion. He also came under the influence of Neoplatonism. However, in 387 he renounced all his unorthodox beliefs and was baptised. His surviving works had a great influence on Christian theology and the psychology and political theology of the West.

R.S. Pine-Coffin is a Roman Catholic and was born in 1917.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 014044114X
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Classics
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 30, 1961
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprinted 1978
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780140441147
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140441147
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.77 x 5.07 x 0.86 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 1,120 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
1,120 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a classic that everyone should read, praising its eloquent writing and professional translation. Moreover, they appreciate its spiritual content, with one customer noting how Augustine pours out his heart on every page. Additionally, the book receives positive feedback for its insight, with one review highlighting how its lessons remain relevant today, and for its story quality, with one customer describing how it recounts important events throughout Augustine's life.

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ReadabilitySpiritual contentReadableInsightHeartfelt storytellingStory quality
56 customers mention "Readability"52 positive4 negative

Customers find the book highly readable and consider it a classic that everyone should read, with one customer noting it serves as an excellent reference book for students.

"...All roads led him back to Christianity. I thoroughly enjoyed this book...." Read more

"...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..." Read more

"Excellent condition, this book is a keeper. I love how St. Augustine describes his life. Such a partyier and true lover of women...." Read more

"...I would consider this one of the most important books to humankind, outside of the Bible." Read more

30 customers mention "Spiritual content"26 positive4 negative

Customers appreciate the spiritual content of the book, describing it as spiritually intense and inspirational, with one customer noting its immense influence on Christian thought.

"...time, as an early Church father, Augustine has had an immense influence on Christian thought for many centuries even to today...." Read more

"...But then he reveals a truer love, a deeper more meaningful love of Jesus...." Read more

"...1600 years ago, its lessons are just as relevant today, as its themes of faith and finding oneself are ever present in society...." Read more

"...God, recounting important events throughout Augustine's life, confessing very honestly and diving deeply into his sins and shortcomings, his thought..." Read more

29 customers mention "Readable"21 positive8 negative

Customers find the book readable and eloquently written, with a professional translation that is enjoyable to read.

"...This book is probably his most well known written work which primarily covers his long path to converting to Christianity...." Read more

"...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..." Read more

"Superb translation -- eminently readable and enjoyable. Not an esoteric long-winded moralistic sermon...." Read more

"...I didn’t expect to given I found City of God to be tedious, repetitive, and intense at times...." Read more

15 customers mention "Insight"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful, with one customer noting that its lessons remain relevant today, while another appreciates its philosophical approach and ability to challenge beliefs.

"...There is an intensity in Confessions, but it’s a more relatable intensity...." Read more

"...Despite Confessions being written 1600 years ago, its lessons are just as relevant today, as its themes of faith and finding oneself are ever..." Read more

"...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..." Read more

"...Not an esoteric long-winded moralistic sermon. Rather, an absorbing eloquent revelation of seeking truth and meaning. Highly recommend." Read more

10 customers mention "Heartfelt storytelling"8 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the heartfelt storytelling in the book, with one customer noting how the author pours out their heart on every single page, while another mentions its thought-provoking imagery.

"...is moving and powerful, as St. Augustine does a great job of conveying his true feelings and changing beliefs throughout his life, inspiring others...." Read more

"...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..." Read more

"...There are many touching experiences found in this book... Without question, I received more from this paperback than originally anticipated...." Read more

"...to given I found City of God to be tedious, repetitive, and intense at times...." Read more

10 customers mention "Story quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the story quality of the book, with one review highlighting how it recounts important events throughout Augustine's life, while another notes how it details specific events throughout his life.

"...Scattered throughout are tidbits from his life with an emphasis on his mother, St. Monica’s, role as she fervently prayed for his soul and conversion..." Read more

"...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..." Read more

"...It details the specific events throughout his life that helped him change his state of mind about religion and his place in the world...." Read more

"...is a long, heartfelt prayer to God, recounting important events throughout Augustine's life, confessing very honestly and diving deeply into his..." Read more

A classic for a reason
5 out of 5 stars
A classic for a reason
As a Catholic, I’ve heard Confessions quoted throughout my life. It was one of those books that I’ve heard so much about that I felt like I had already read it. I’m glad I didn’t let that feeling deter me from picking it up and reading it for myself. St. Augustine writes about his impious past leading up to his conversion. Scattered throughout are tidbits from his life with an emphasis on his mother, St. Monica’s, role as she fervently prayed for his soul and conversion. He discusses his struggle with sin and vices as well as his search for God and his meaning through different philosophies. All roads led him back to Christianity. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I didn’t expect to given I found City of God to be tedious, repetitive, and intense at times. There is an intensity in Confessions, but it’s a more relatable intensity. The end of the book gets more philosophical, however, the beginning stays in the area of memoir and theology.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Audrey
    5.0 out of 5 stars A classic for a reason
    Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    As a Catholic, I’ve heard Confessions quoted throughout my life. It was one of those books that I’ve heard so much about that I felt like I had already read it. I’m glad I didn’t let that feeling deter me from picking it up and reading it for myself.

    St. Augustine writes about his impious past leading up to his conversion. Scattered throughout are tidbits from his life with an emphasis on his mother, St. Monica’s, role as she fervently prayed for his soul and conversion. He discusses his struggle with sin and vices as well as his search for God and his meaning through different philosophies. All roads led him back to Christianity.

    I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I didn’t expect to given I found City of God to be tedious, repetitive, and intense at times. There is an intensity in Confessions, but it’s a more relatable intensity. The end of the book gets more philosophical, however, the beginning stays in the area of memoir and theology.
    Customer image
    Audrey
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    A classic for a reason

    Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2025
    As a Catholic, I’ve heard Confessions quoted throughout my life. It was one of those books that I’ve heard so much about that I felt like I had already read it. I’m glad I didn’t let that feeling deter me from picking it up and reading it for myself.

    St. Augustine writes about his impious past leading up to his conversion. Scattered throughout are tidbits from his life with an emphasis on his mother, St. Monica’s, role as she fervently prayed for his soul and conversion. He discusses his struggle with sin and vices as well as his search for God and his meaning through different philosophies. All roads led him back to Christianity.

    I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I didn’t expect to given I found City of God to be tedious, repetitive, and intense at times. There is an intensity in Confessions, but it’s a more relatable intensity. The end of the book gets more philosophical, however, the beginning stays in the area of memoir and theology.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Not Bob
    5.0 out of 5 stars Coming to God
    Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    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.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • T. Caldararo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading
    Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Excellent condition, this book is a keeper. I love how St. Augustine describes his life. Such a partyier and true lover of women. But then he reveals a truer love, a deeper more meaningful love of Jesus. And he still struggles with his weakness which makes it feel like my life and that Jesus can love me despite myself. And of course, He does. Harden not my heart.
    One person found this helpful
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  • PATRICK
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Story of Faith
    Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    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
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Craig
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best
    Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This book deserves more than five stars! I would consider this one of the most important books to humankind, outside of the Bible.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Sanjeewaka
    5.0 out of 5 stars Confessions (Penguin Classics)
    Reviewed in Japan on January 26, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    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.
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  • Tortoise
    5.0 out of 5 stars Full of surprises and theological gems that enlarge and improve our minds
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 15, 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    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.
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  • Daniel tan
    3.0 out of 5 stars Damaged copy
    Reviewed in Singapore on May 21, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I was given a defective copy that was so badly folded…
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    Daniel tan
    3.0 out of 5 stars
    Damaged copy

    Reviewed in Singapore on May 21, 2025
    I was given a defective copy that was so badly folded…
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  • Klaus Lukas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Weihnachtsgeschenk
    Reviewed in Germany on April 10, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Meine Tochter hat das Buch begeistert gelesen.
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  • Leonardo Albuquerque
    1.0 out of 5 stars Livro em condições ruins.
    Reviewed in Brazil on April 21, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Meu livro chegou todo amassado. Um pouco sujo.
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    Leonardo Albuquerque
    1.0 out of 5 stars
    Livro em condições ruins.

    Reviewed in Brazil on April 21, 2025
    Meu livro chegou todo amassado. Um pouco sujo.
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