Rating: 
Summary: Good but not the greatest Christian text
Review: The Confessions is one of the most popular texts from the Christian fathers. It is the famous story of how a pagan and sex addict went on to become one of the highest ranking clergymen and most influential thinkers in the early Catholic church. The translation is quite thick and dense to get through but I'd imagine that the original is 10 times more so. If you don't trust your attention span, look for a more "accessible" version, if you want a challenge this edition's good. A Christian, especially a Catholic will find the story inspiring, as it is often very appealing to the average person. His autobiography centers on the emotion and struggle that was related to his faith. The other main topic of the book is Augustine's theology. At this point, again a Catholic reader would probably be inspired, especially because it's possible to see the root of many modern doctrines laid out in the book. More liberal Christian readers may find the book a little dry. The theology may seem a little heartless at times - after all, Augustine can be seen as the theologian who forever deprived unbaptised dead babies of heaven. However, his supplications to God and the like may still find a connection in a liberal reader. The non-Christian reader (like me) looking for inspirational material, info about early church history and the basics of theology may be a tad disappointed. Personally, I didn't find the book that inspirational because it seems that each story is told in a fairly homiletical manner to reveal a fire-and-brimstone dogma. The philosophy in the book is quite good but not absolutely groundbreaking, from a non-Christian point of view. If you're looking for a more emotional and inspirational work from a Church father, Imitation of Christ would be a better choice. Overall, a good book for everyone, although some readers will get much more out of it than others.
Rating: 
Summary: For the patient reader with plenty of time
Review: This book is a Roman Empire era classic, but not for the reader in a hurry. The translation appears to attempt to faithfully follow the original Latin long sentences and has therefore had to deploy advanced literary English to deal with the frequent multiple midsentence clauses. This is one of the reasons I found it slow going from a time perspective, but worth persisting with. One really good addition to the book is the notes section with all the Bible references; this is where having a cleric as the translator is clearly a bonus.
As other reviewers have pointed out, the book is a combination of St Augustine's personal life and his discussion of theology and philosophy. His personal life details include petty theft of fruit from an orchard, sitting around unemployed, youthful indiscretions, living a few years with his girlfriend until they split up, and his personal spiritual realignment from a heretical sect to the Catholic tradition. The Biblical references are mainly letters from the Apostle Paul, the Genesis story of the creation, and the Psalms, and there is nothing much from the Gospels or the Prophets. The philosophy component includes a review of his personal experiences with sense of time and memory which was no doubt drawn from his experience as a professional teacher of rhetoric and philosophy.
What one gains from all this is a great snapshot of what someone of religious conviction in the fading days of the Roman Empire saw and thought, including the experience of just scraping by to make a living. Overall, recommended for the patient reader!
Rating: 
Summary: A Spiritual Autobiography - written by a Saint.
Review: This is a beautiful book even if you aren't familiar with the Saints. It opens like a flower as you read. It is completely about this wonderful man's own thoughtful analysis of his own emotional experiences. He reflects on his early life when he was actually a pagan worshipper, and then focuses on his conversion to the Christian faith. Once he converted Saint Augustine returned to Africa and set up a monastic community. What makes this book so special is that is told with the utmost candor and he holds nothing back. It is also a beautiful book in praise of God and how he changed Saint Augustine's life. Although religious in tenure, this is not a totally religious work. So many observations and thoughts that this man had in his lifetime (354 AD is when he was born). It is a book about friendships (both true and false), faith, celibacy and love.
Rating:
Summary: Spiritual autobiography
Review: To talk directly to God , my guess is Augustine learned from the Psalms. To tell his life story to God including the story of his own inner life and struggles in such a prolonged and detailed way he apparently learned only from himself. In any case in inner intensity, in moving description of human relationships, to his mother and friends, in reflection on Time and its meaning, and in his relation to God Augustine writes the work that will set the standard for all spiritual autobiography before and after.
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