Confessions

If you're seeking a modern rendition of this classic text, this is the book for you. Elegantly written, easily accessible. No antiquated English here.

Author did a good job translating into the 21st century

Having never read Confessions in its entirety, probably because it always felt like a chore, I was excited by the prospect of a translation that would allow me access to an important text. I'm at the halfway point and find myself routinely amazed by how relevant Augustine's observations are to my own journey and to the world at large. I have decided to just read the book for pleasure the first time and use the second time through to take notes. Ruden's work is exceptional. The notes are helpful but not distracting, the prose enjoyable, and the importance of the work immediately obvious. Well done! I look forward to her next project.

I already feel bad for giving Augustine anything less than 5 stars...This was another one of my book club's selections – I think I might have been the one that nominated it– and I enjoyed it more than I expected. I tend to like stories and biographies where the writer it working out their religious angst, e.g., Paradise Lost, This Spoke Zarathustra, etc... I think most of us have at least some of that...or maybe it's just me.Confessions has some of that, but I would classify it more as a conversion story. I like those, too. The messier the better and this one certainly qualifies. This is the book from which the famous quote, "Lord, make me pure, but not yet" comes. Augustine took his time coming to faith.While others might note his sexual exploits, the angle I found most fascinating was the intellectual hurdles he had to overcome. I'm not saying that faith requires one to make their head subservient to their heart, but Augustine followed pretty much every intellectual red herring that crossed his path.What surprised me most was how easy the book was to read. I think the edition you choose makes a big difference and this one came highly recommended. Being one of the newer translations probably helps a great deal. If you're new to Augustine, I highly recommend reading some of the online assessments of Confessions before, during and after reading. It will help in your understanding.

This was a wonderful translation of, frankly a great and hugely important book. I especially appreciated the translators discussions of her word choices and the notes throughout the text were very helpful. I read the kindle version and the notes were very user friendly. I had previously read the Rex Warner translation and I found this one to be as good or better. This is an outstanding book and well worth the time to read and reread. I did like her dedication to her husband where she somewhat apologized for her last dedication to him of the Golden Ass.

I really enjoyed this translation. It brought fresh life and new insights to reading Confessions. My only critique is that that section numbering in each book does not align to any previous numbering. So trying to cross reference quotes I remember to this book became very difficult.

I really wanted to like everything about this translation, but it has some major irritants. The biggest one is its rendering of “dominus” as “Master,” which significantly diminishes the devotional aspect of the work, in my humble opinion. I find the contractions distracting.However, Ruden’s work will make this old chestnut come alive! Her turns of phrase are bracing. And I LOVE the layout—lots of white space and paragraph breaks to help take your mind off Augustine’s rambling prose.

Was supposed to read a different translation of this in college but never did. If I had had this translation then, I probably would have. A classic rendered accessible. I'm delighted.

Everyone knows that Augustine's "Confessions" is one of the foundational books of Western Civilization so I won't waste any time telling you why you should read it. What I do want to recommend is the translation here by Sarah Ruden. It makes the text so much more accessible and inviting; it's like reading a fresh new book. Buy it.

i haven't read the book and know it will take a while but for its sheer presentation and foreword, this is a collector's item. best read aloud

This edition of 'Confessions' is very readable indeed! The author (Sarah Ruden) takes some liberties in the translation of the original text, this is good and bad depending on the specific situation.I bought the Paperback but i highly recommend buying the hardcover variant due to the fragility of the cover on this one.

This is quite simply the best translation of this famous work. It breaks with the whole public school tradition of translating Latin, as well as the over-pious Christian tradition which emphasises the orthodoxy of Augustine’s faith. Here Sarah Ruden cuts through the accumulated cackle to find a passionate, searching, intelligence creating its own theology as it tells its story of conversion. The reader may not like Augustine after finishing his vivid story - his self-absorption is off-putting- but she will know him as a real person with a great gift of expression.

fresh and compelling new translation