"On the Road with Saint Augustine" by James Smith. A Review

 

Briefly, James K.A. Smith's "On the Road with Saint Augustine" takes the reader on a journey with Augustine, but also Camus, Heidegger, and a few others. In fact, the table of contents is graphed out like a map with waypoints, where each chapter is a waypoint. The trek takes us through the concept of being on the road, along with other topics such as sex, ambition, mothers, friendship, justice, fathers and more.

Through the book's travelogue, one learns more about the author. How he specialized in Augustine for his PhD studies, even attending an Augustinian academy, Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Other details surface, such as his physical travels through Europe, visiting shrines and important locations. And more intimate details come forth about his family of origin and family by marriage.

But one also learns more about Augustine, much of which will be familiar to readers of the Confessions. While nuances are brought out that add more color, shading, and detail. Having read the Confessions a number of times, I was happy with the routine rehearsals, and intrigued by Smith's additions that confirmed some suspicions, as well as those that added to my perception of Augustine the man and Bishop.

And, I think, a reader will appreciate the internal expedition Smith and Augustine will lead them on.  Not only as they examine the art work in the book the author references, but more, the self-reflection and contemplation that the book will evoke. For example, the chapter on "Friendship" is worth several rereads, as on think about their friends, and what it means for oneself to be a friend. Savory stuff cooking in those pages.

For me, beyond the chapter on friendship, the chapter on "Mothers" and the one on "Fathers" gave me quite the pause. Regarding mothers, Smith observes, "Fathers you can leave, but the reach of mothers transcends geography and chronology. Leaving home and growing up never seems enough. Independence is the affront mothers cannot countenance" (107). He then hikes on down the road taking turns I was not prepared for, but that gave me some important food for thought. Later, while describing fathers, Smith touched my heart in a unique way, as he shows "that most human of hungers: for a father who sees and knows me" (202). There were some personal considerations I had to engage in while shuffling through those pages.

"On the Road with Saint Augustine" was a volume I walked through slowly. It just didn't seem right to race through it. I thought of people, conversations, and experiences, as I ambled along the trail. It may well be that as you take up, and read, you will suddenly recognize the journey you have really been on, and that home is unreachable. That the only way to get there from here, is when God says, "I'll come get you" (154). I highly recommend the book.