Augustine: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) [Paperback]

Henry Chadwick (Author)

Book Description

Series: Very Short Introductions | Publication Date: June 7, 2001

Augustine was arguably the greatest early Christian philosopher. His teachings had a profound effect on Medieval scholarship, Renaissance humanism, and the religious controversies of both the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation. Here, Henry Chadwick places Augustine in his philosophical and religious context and traces the history of his influence on Western thought, both within and beyond the Christian tradition. A handy account to one of the greatest religious thinkers, this Very Short Introduction is both a useful guide for the one who seeks to know Augustine and a fine companion for the one who wishes to know him better.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The ten chapters of this volume discuss Augustine's views of free choice, vocation, creation, and other societal questions, while it also reveals biographical facts of the sage's life."--Worship and Arts

"The book is a marvel of comprehension achieved without a loss of clarity. As a connected account of Augustine, the thinker, it will doubtless stand as among the most popular which now exist."--International Philosophical Quarterly

"I do not know of any other summary of the mind of Augustine which serves the reader so well."--History: Reviews of New Books

"The best brief introduction to Augustine's context and thought for the beginning undergraduate. Excellent for history, philosophy, and religion courses--clear, elegant, thorough."--Robert I. Burns, University of California, Los Angeles

"All the main thought elements of Augustine set in the attracively told narrative of a fascinating life."--John J. Glanville, San Francisco State University

About the Author

Henry Chadwick is Regius Professor Emeritus of Divinity at the University of Cambridge. Among his other books are Early Christian Thought and the Classical Tradition, Priscillian of Avila, and Boethius: The Consolations of Music, Logic, Theology, and Philosophy (all published by OUP). He has also published an annotated translation of Augustine's Confessions (Oxford World's Classics), and, with his brother Owen, is General Editor of the Oxford History of the Christian Church.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; New edition edition (June 7, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192854526
• ISBN-13: 978-0192854520
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #500,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #48 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( A ) > Augustine, Saint

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great for an understanding of St. Augustine, September 28, 2003

By 

I X Key "burningfield" (tomorrow) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Augustine: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

This compact book is perfect.

It provides just the right background information, from influences of people who lived before St. Augustine to influences of his modern world, as well as lots of other information about the early Christian era & pagan dissidents, numerous similar & conflicting spiritual beliefs -- without getting boring by losing focus on the topic, Augustine, or by focusing on him too much which would mean omitting information about the strata he found his place in.

It offers a great framework of biographical information which sheds much light on Augustine's works.

It also, significantly, contains brilliant scholarly summaries & explanations & assessments of many of Augustine's beliefs without becoming subjective or dry ever.

I recommend this as compulsory background reading for anyone interested in mysticism, medieval history, philosophy, saints, or especially Augustine himself.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Fine Introduction, March 20, 2003

By 

benjamin (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Augustine: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

Firstly, it should be noted that this book is not 895 pages! It is, in actuality, 144 pages - and it is a detailed 144 pages, too. This is actually the first book I ever read that got me interested in the thought of the early Church Fathers and it is a great introduction to St. Augustine. (The entire series is great, actually.)

Although this book is only a sketch, it provides some really helpful information when it comes to issues such as the Pelagian controversy and Augustine's views on Original Sin. It is interesting to note that although Augustine is held in such high regard by many today, his own ideas were sometimes reviled and considered heretical in his own time. Of course, it is also worth noting that Augustine's ideas are oftentimes completely misunderstood today; people sometimes force later developments onto Augustine.

Due to his continuing controversy - and the man is one of the more controversial orthodox thinkers in the history of the Christian Church - this book is worth reading. For those interested in further reading, the suggested readings in the back are a great place to start (I myself just picked up Peter Brown's autobiography on Augustine). For those who have no desire to become scholars on Augustine, however, this "very short introduction" is a very fine introduction as well. It is a great place to start.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great intro..., February 20, 2003

By 

David C. Johnson (Spencer, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Augustine: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

Man, I wish I had these books when I was in school. Its not an indepth review of all of Augustine's thought & writings, but its amazing how much is packed into this little book (it will literally fit into your shirt pocket). The book will give you a great laymans introduction to Augustine, and you can be sure to impress anyone should your conversation turn towards the topic.

Recommended for the layman, just don't use it to prepare for debates with religious scholars :-)