A lot of even Augustine’s shorter treatises were originally written to be distributed and read as tracts. This one was apparently written to be delivered as a sermon and I think that probably explains why it’s both shorter and simpler than a lot of Augustine’s writings. It’s interesting that Augustine had the kind of mind that could take a dispute as simple as, “So, should monks have jobs?” and spin it out into an existential treatise on everything from discipline to self-awareness, but than take a concept as heady as “patience” and deliver a fairly short and simple devotional. Maybe those things, which seem kind of opposed, are actually sides of the same coin. Regardless, the simplicity and brevity here make this one less compelling and less enjoyable to me than some of his other work, but I suppose there’s virtue in teaching on patience without trying that of your audience. 3 stars.
tl;dr – relatively short & simple devotional isn’t as compelling as a lot of Augustine’s writing; certainly nothing wrong with brevity and simplicity though. 3 stars.