This is the earliest known authentic autobiography according to Norton's Anthology. St. Augustine writes his story of conversion to Christianity and confesses his misdeeds prior to his conversions. He recounts his journey through intellectual pursuits, mysticism, and finally finds his way home to his mother's religious teachings. Throughout his confessions, he relates to God as a very personal God who is concerned for Augustine's well-being and ever forgiving.

I found Augustine's account of his education extremely interesting. He admitted to hating studying Greek and owing to this "hate of learning" he never really mastered Greek, which is significant because it was the official language of the Eastern Roman Empire. He blamed the fact he had to study what he hated on making him "Dead to ... God" stating:

"Nothing could be more pitiful than a pitiable creature who does not see to pity himself, and weeps for the death that Dido [in the Aeneid:] suffered through love of Aeneas and not for the death he suffers himself through not loving You, O God."

This is a powerful example of why one should teach through "love of learning" rather than through force.

I liked this quote from Book IX:

"But because You do not enquire too fiercely into our sins, we have hope and confidence of a place with You. Yet if a man reckons up before You the merits he truly has, what is he reckoning except Your own gifts?"

There are several good nuggets throughout the Confessions, but there is also quite a bit of repition which can be a bit tedious to plow through.