As we carry on with our lives in a rather fast-paced fashion we often forget the small details that make up our reality. In St. Augustine’s Confessions, we see that this is the main element that is missing throughout his autobiography. Although he does a great job at depicting his life and the lessons he learned throughout, he fails to include the smaller elements of history that anchor the readers into the context of the books. As a reader we are introduced to the time period which is late 300 AD in Thagaste (North Africa). However, as we continue to read the details become less apparent and vaguer. In several instances, Augustine mentions traveling to Carthage, Rome, and Milan. Nonetheless, from a reader’s perspective we are never exposed to the ornate details such as how long each of these journey’s would have taken or what mode of transportation was available and used during that time frame. Additionally, it would have been great to include even finer details such as the currency regarding how much a journey one of these destinations would have cost and the overall experience.

If I were to write an autobiography similar to Augustine’s I personally would find it quite challenging. I wouldn’t want it to be overly detailed because I feel as though this would distract any potential reader from my overall story and could lose their attention easily. However, I would want to include the right amount of context and foundation so that they could also imagine themselves as though they were walking right alongside me through my life journey. I think I would begin with what allowed me to be here. I would attribute my autobiography to my ancestors from both of my parent’s side of the family who were immigrants from Mexico and Ireland. I would share my feeling of gratitude and admiration towards these brave individuals who unknowingly carved a path so that my grandparents, my parents, myself and siblings would have the potential to live out our dreams and aspire to accomplish whatever goals we set our minds to. Perhaps in the sections about my childhood I would discuss the attacks on 9/11, my upbringing in Texas, and my move/ transition to California. During my teen years I would elaborate on my various challenges that I struggled with and overcame, similar to how Augustine does. Additionally, I would write about the age of technology and how when I was a child, the only relatively modern thing I had was a gaming console and a TV, but now there exists smart phones that have completely revolutionized the camera, telephone, music, and internet industry. I would also touch up on how the age of social media has deeply impacted my life as well as the lives of other people in my generation. Social media being in and of itself a form of an electronic/ virtual autobiography. Lastly, I would also mention my university experience which has been very influential in my growth process as an individual as well as the COVID-19 pandemic which is something that has vastly changed the world. I feel that the lessons I learned from these experiences are not only valuable and universal but also worth mentioning.

Ultimately, I would be hesitant to state that Augustine intentionally wrote his autobiography without significant details that could provide a clearer picture of his time. Rather, I believe that because this genre of writing was so new, there were no standards or guidelines he could use as a comparison. Perhaps he never pondered the idea that people several decades or even centuries later would be reading his story but were left with several unanswered questions. Perhaps similar to our mind that tends to weed through every single memory that we have stored or lesson we have learned and chooses to dispose of the less important ones without us being conscientious of this because we have simply ‘forgotten’, Augustine could have been victim to this process which would have deeply influenced his autobiography. Nonetheless, this autobiography has been incredible influential for its religious attributes as well as it being the first of its kind. Although Augustine could have done a better job at being more inclusive of historical details, he does an exquisite job at contemplating and pondering his religious perspectives. I definitely can see the huge role that religion plays throughout his life and his journey to grow as an individual which is key to anyone’s autobiography.