Catholic Review of: Confessions of St. Augustine

The Confessions of St. Augustine is one of the greatest literary works in Christian history.  St. Augustine lived from 354 to 430.  He is a Doctor of the Church, and as such, his writing is often used as reference for the position of the Church overall on many issues (sometimes poorly).

I didn't give this book a rating of 5 for one simple reason; there are better translations out there.  But this is the first copy that I read, and so this is the copy I decided to review.  The material, regardless of the quality of the translation, is still timeless, and nothing negative can possibly be said of St. Augustine's writings (post conversion). 

If you don't already have a copy of Confessions, you need one.  This version is probably one of the easier to read out there, so if you're looking to just read it, or if you're looking for a low-cost option, this is probably the copy you want to get.  It was translated by John K. Ryan, whom I know nothing about.  As often happens, however, it was translated more to be easily read than to keep strictly to Augustine's own words.

If you're looking for an addition to your library, you might choose this one instead, which is hardcover, has a ribbon bookmarker, and a more strict and accurate translation. 

The content itself, as I said before, is timeless.  It will remain a great and informative read regardless of what age it's read in.  It's a must-have for every Christian's library, and anyone who has any desire to understand Christians.  Some think of it as an autobiography, and to a point it is, but it is also much more.  It captures extremely well man's struggle to find God and to worship Him properly.