What is the value of reading Saint Augustine's Confessions?

The Confessions of St. Augustine ranks as one of the more
important books in the history of religion and literature for both its content and its
formal innovations.

In terms of form, it is the earliest
example of spiritual autobiography in the western traditions, and was in many ways the
seminal book in the genre. Many subsequenbt books, such as Rousseau's Confessions or
Hogg's Confessions of a Justified Sinner follow an Augustinian
pattern.

For historical information, Augustine provides us
with unique insights into the daily life and culture of Roman Africa, as well as the
social and economic contexts of Christianity and
Manicheanism.

Augustine's work was also central to the
formation of Roman Catholic theology. His approach to original sin is still accepted as
Roman doctrine, as is his notion that the state of graced or lack thereof of the priest
does not effect the efficacy of the sacraments (Donatist controversy). He also wrote
among the more insightful works on predestination and free will.