A Restless Age: How Saint Augustine Helps You Make Sense of Your Twenties

by Austin Gohn, Wesley Hill (Foreword)

Do your twenties feel restless? You’re not the first young adult to feel this way.

Saint Augustine describes the same struggle in his Confessions, the most-read spiritual memoir in history. He experimented with different religious options, tried to break destructive habits, struggled to find the right friends, experienced a devastating breakup, and nearly burned out in his career—all before his thirty-second birthday. He spent his twenties looking for rest in all the wrong places.

In A Restless Age, Austin Gohn wades through Augustine’s Confessions to show us how the five searches of young adulthood—answers, habits, belonging, love, and work—are actually searches for rest. “Our heart is restless,” Augustine writes, “until it finds rest in you.” Most of us spend our twenties looking for rest, but God is inviting you to spend your twenties living from rest.Endorsements

“Austin Gohn shares my passionate hope that the Confessions will become as useful to Protestants as it has been to Catholics over the centuries. . . . he comes straight to the point in every discussion, and shows a virtuoso sympathy with young people in confusing, trying times.”Sarah Ruden, Translator of Augustine’s Confessions

“Young adults need old, time-tested wisdom, especially in today’s world of social media ephemera and soul-crushing digital delirium. Augustine is a good place to start, and A Restless Age tells us why.”Brett McCracken, a senior editor at The Gospel Coalition and author of Uncomfortable

“Austin Gohn’s A Restless Age is an important read not only for people in their twenties but also those who live with, work with, and mentor them.”Vince Burens, President/CEO, CCO

“This is a wonderful book. Austin Gohn ‘gets’ Augustine and then gives Augustine to the twenty-something wondering why life hasn’t turned out as expected. A Restless Age is rich in biblical insight, perceptive in cultural analysis, and grounded in truth that goes much deeper than today’s headlines.”Trevin Wax, Director for Bibles and Reference at LifeWay Christian Resources, author of This Is Our Everyday Myths in Light of the GospelAbout the Author

Austin Gohn is a pastor at Bellevue Christian Church, where he has worked primarily with young adults over the past seven years. He and his wife Julie, along with their son Levi, reside in Pittsburgh, PA.

Genres: Nonfiction

180 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 19, 2019

Reviews

[Eliza Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gohn unpacks Augustine’s Confessions and shows how Augustine’s experience mimicks that of a young adult now.

Helpful book on dealing with the feelings of restlessness that can be felt in early twenties. Looking everywhere for satisfaction except God.

Quote from Augustine ‘our hearts are restless until they find our rest in you (God)’

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read The Confessions of St. Augustine, but this book makes me want to read them. Austin Gohn brilliantly bridges the gap between the zeitgeists of the New Testament, Augustine’s life, and the modern era. I had no idea how similar they all were. It’s fascinating. He uses these bridges, and parallels between Augustine’s story and a modern twenty-somethings experience, to make usually complex and vague concepts like loneliness, belonging, and restlessness understandable, while continuously pointing to the only One who can provide true rest, belonging, and community. I learned a lot about myself reading this book. I highly recommend it to anyone feeling restless or knows someone who feels restless, no matter what your age is.

[Meredith Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant. I fear that some of Gohn's wording may not age well a few years down the road (i.e. he begins with, "Saint Augustine's Instagram would have been crushing it"). Nevertheless, he geniusly overlays Augustine's crises in Confessions onto the familiar crises common to twenty-somethings in the 21st century and explains how rest found in God is the answer for us now just as it was for Augustine then.

Not only does this reinforce my conviction that Confessions is the best book to hand someone with whom you want to winsomely share the gospel (especially if that someone is in their 20s), but this book offers a helpful set of themes to consider next time I pick up Augustine.

[Adam Terrell · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I have not read Augustine, this book has piqued my interest. That being said, this book feels very of-the-moment with a lot of cultural references bound to the 2010s. I suspect that a lot of the ideas presented here do not seem "novel" because of how much Augustine has permeated modern Christianity, which is good. Ultimately the thesis of the book comes down to Augustine's core idea of rest in God. And really, nothing else will satisfy. An enjoyable read, but not an earth-shattering one

[Seth Locke]

“Your story, like ‘Confessions,’ is not primarily about your search for God. It’s about God’s search for you….

Look no further. The search is over. You can rest now.”

[Brooke Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believe it or not, in A Restless Age, Austin Gohn takes Augustine’s confessions and compares them to modern-day struggles that 20-somethings experience. Gohn is vulnerable in sharing his own struggles throughout his 20s and the book ties it all back to the fact that we can only experience true rest in Jesus.

The book is broken into an introduction, 5 main chapters, and a conclusion.

1. Searching for Answers
2. Searching for Habits
3. Searching for Belonging
4. Searching for Love
5. Searching for Work

While this book is geared towards 20-somethings, I feel like all that is discussed can apply to all areas of life. As we continue to search for something to bring us true rest, peace, and joy, this book is a sweet reminder that we will never “make it.” There is always going to be something more out there that you are longing or striving for. But the sweetest reminder that throughout life if we turn to Jesus he will provide true rest. He will provide our true purpose. And through experiencing him, we have hope in all the highs and lows of our 20s and life to come.

[Audrey Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness! This book entered my life at such a profound time. Reading “A Restless Age” alongside of Ruth Haley Barton’s “Sacred Rhythms” provided me with some additional reminders that we are not alone on this journey and that we really can only find rest in one place, one Person— the things we experience now as young adults are not anything new, yet also not to be ignored! I love how Austin didn’t try to reinvent the wheel here, rather he took the time to examine trends from those Greats that we read so closely, such as Saint Augustine! Twenty-something’s (and really everyone else) are searching for answers, searching for habits and rhythms, and belonging, and love, and purpose in our work, and it’s so refreshing that he directs us back to God, who is seeking us and pursuing our hearts in every area of our lives without discounting our deepest desires and longings. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who desires to enter, remain, or exit their twenties with some confidence in a God that loves us!

[Laura Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Austin Gohn understands the common and perennial desires of people in this transitional decade: a quest for love and belonging, for meaningful work, for answers to life's persistent questions, for habits that will order and sustain a life. And neuroscience tells us what we didn't know when I was in my twenties: that habits set in this decade will, intentionally or otherwise, entrench a path.

There's nothing new under the sun. Thanks to Sarah Rudin's new and refreshing translation of Augustine's Confessions, Gohn uses the words and the life of that long-ago restless wanderer to engage people in this pivotal stage of life. His cultural references show a nimble mind easily able to distill an ancient generality into a modern particularity. (They also, several times, made me laugh out loud, really hard.)

I am far beyond the target demographic for this book. But it has something to say to post-twentysomethings too. We also know now that the brain's neuroplasticity means habits of thought and action can still be changed; we older folk who are again wrestling with questions of work, belonging and habits can still identify our restlessnesses and reorient our compasses to the true north and purposeful rest of life in God.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Austin is a former student of mine. His grasp of Augustine's writings and the relevance they still have today is impressive. I have used "Instructing Beginners in the Faith" in the catechesis and spiritual formation courses that I teach. Austin's eloquent, yet very accessible writing captures the depth and substance of Augustine in such a way that I plan on making "A Restless Age" a required text in my future classes. His book is a delightful read--you can readily read it cover-to-cover in about three hours. But, it's also the kind of book that you want to go back and revisit certain sections and savor them for the insights in a "read, mark, and inwardly digest" kind of way. I highly recommend this book to any and all. It's not just for twenty-somethings. For my part, the student has become the master and mentor. Austin is wise beyond his years. His wisdom and humor shine brilliantly throughout. This book is truly a GOOD READ.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I ran into Austin at a local coffee shop in our small borough this past year, it came up in conversation that he was writing a book influenced by St. Augustine. When I mentioned that I had really appreciated studying some of Augustine's work in college, Austin encouraged me to read the book as any reasonable writer would. In a moment of pride, I felt offended that he would suggest that. (Afterall, I had just celebrated my 30th birthday and the book was specifically targeted to twentysomethings, even explicitly in the title. That one birthday apparently had made a huge difference... at least in the realm of my defensiveness.) Sometime between now and then, however, I decided to come down off my high horse, buy a copy, and give it a read. I'm pretty grateful that I did.

Austin is an incredibly succinct writer and manages to make Augustine's insights accessible to a modern-day young adult through personal anecdotes and a guide on how to read Augustine in the appendices. It is an incredibly enjoyable read: I literally laughed out loud several times while becoming a fly on the wall of Austin's memory. And, of course, it is not JUST a succinct, enjoyable read: God used this book to challenge me by exposing areas of my life in which I had misplaced my assumed source of rest. Young adulthood is ripe with restlessness: Whether you find yourself dissatisfied with religious answers, desperate for fulfilling community, struggling with unforeseen unemployment, unsuccessful at improving your character, or disenchanted from trying to find the perfect life partner, I am certain that you will find exceptional resonance and applicable wisdom within the pages of this book. The only thing I might change is the title, but, then again sometimes 30-year-olds need to be humbled.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Restless Age" was an incredibly unique book for this genre. Working in student affairs and volunteering with college ministry, I've read quite a few books written for Christian college students. Austin Gohn has done at least two things with his book that separate his from being just another of this genre.

First, this book is not just for college students. Often "young adult" and "college student" are used interchangeably. While (traditional) college students are all young adults, not all young adults are college students. Many never went to college, but the age range extends through the twenties. In fact, "Restless Age" may speak with more intensity to the twentysomething than a college student.

Second, walking through Augustine's life and comparing it to what young adults face today is just a really clever idea. It's easy to write about the challenges young adults face, but doing so in this way demonstrates that many of these challenges are timeless. Additionally, Augustine turned out pretty okay after everything he went through. This is an encouraging example to young adults who are restless, lost, confused, or stuck in sin.

As I said, I've read many books for Christian college students/young adults. This is now one of my favorites, and probably at the top of my list to recommend to the students I work with.

[Aaron Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't emphasize enough how influential this book has been for me, and how influential it will be for anyone who reads it. As a "young-adult," and more specifically a sophomore in college, I am constantly searching for rest and peace. Everyday, I try to balance finances, faith, school, friendships, a long-distance relationship, and many other things, and it never ceases to leave me exhausted. Because of this, I am so blessed to have received this book. Austin highlights not one, but all of these typical young-adult struggles, and also discusses areas of my life that I didn't even realize needed assistance. He is completely vulnerable about all of his experiences in this phase of life, and instead of letting the reader contemplate vague thoughts, he offers practical advice for situations that most people in their twenties have encountered, or will encounter at some point. I have had so much peace since I finished reading this book, and I hope that this review will help others, especially overburdened college students, make the decision to read it, and experience that same peace.

[Parker Asplin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a twenty-something or are ministering to twenty-somethings, read this book. Austin presents the pressing anxieties and cries of this generation in the most raw, yet concise, way, bridging the historical gap between Augustine’s wisdom and our own cultural setting. Having read Augustine before, I was astonished at the friend and mentor I found in him now, reintroduced by Austin’s wonderful contextualization. If you are trying to make sense of your twenties or are trying to make sense of those in their twenties, this book is a no-brainer.

[David Hundley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third decade of your life we call the 20's can undoubtedly be one of the most trying times you’ll ever experience. Fortunately, you don’t have to go through this journey alone. In A Restless Age, Austin Gohn connects readers to Saint Augustine and shows that the trials of today aren’t too different from Augustine’s experiences in the fourth century. And while aimed at twenty-somethings, I’m confident you’ll walk away from this read with insight to apply to your life, whether you’re 22 or 52.

[Ryder Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book addresses five areas of life every young adult works through in their twenties: answers, habits, belonging, love, and work. Austin Gohn uses Augustine as a prototypical young adult with wit, insight, and clarity. If you've never read any Augustine, this book would be a helpful starting point to help you understand the context of his world and the central internal conflicts of "Confessions" in his search for meaning. If you're interested in the spirituality of young adults, this book is definitely for you!

[Nick Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does a fantastic job using Augustine's Confessions to map the nebulous terrain of young adulthood. Gohn discovers Augustine passion and prayers running like a current beneath the surface of modern life, showing that the furniture may have changed but the human heart remains restless until it rests in God.

[Antonio LaMarca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Austin Gohn is an incredibly talented writer. It was my mentor who recommended this book to me as a resource for ministry with young adults. While my twenties have come and gone, I found A Restless Age to be insightful regarding my own life and circumstances.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait to dig into Confessions after reading this intro, which provided relevance of an ancient classic to everyday life. Multifarious quotes from CS Lewis, James KA Smith, and Timothy Keller are, of course, appreciated insights scattered throughout.

[Evan Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“To rest in God is to resist the urge to look for rest somewhere else.”

[Elisha Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Gohn shows how 20-somethings can learn from Augustine's tumultuous journey to Christ. He makes an ancient work accessible and incredibly applicable for young people. Gohn takes apart secular forces influencing young people concisely and cleverly in just 5 chapters and around 150 pages. I'm a big fan of this book and will use it with the young people I minister to.

[Cristian Moscoso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good little primer on Augustine's Confessions for young adults.

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a twenty-something in a season of transitions, I found this book encouraging and well-directed. Gohn looks at the areas young people often search for rest (habits, belonging, love, work), and parallels them with Augustine’s own journey pursuing peace. And Gohn shows that not only is God the one place true rest is found—He is also the one pursuing us to enter into that rest.

This book also serves as a great primer to Augustine’s Confessions, providing context on the saint’s life experiences that makes me excited to take on the classic.

[Sophia Lichen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every twenty-something should read this book!! Gohn, through Augustine’s Confessions, has shown that the restless we feel in our twenties is something that is not new of this century or generation- it is something Augustine experienced. Gohn covers chapter about searching for answers, forming habits, desiring a sense of belonging, longing for love, and finding our purpose in our work. He asks questions that reminded and convicted me of how “prone to wander” I am. This book brought me a sense of being seen by Augustine, Austin, and ultimately our God, who has been seeking us long before we realized our need to seek him.

[Andrew C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Austin Gohn has an exemplary perceptiveness regarding the struggles young adults face in today's world - in A Restless Age, he does an excellent job conveying the relevance of fourth century Bishop St. Augustine's journey to the questions and challenges modern young adults grapple with. This book drew out rich dimensions of St. Augustine's thought and insight that I didn't notice when I read his Confessions nearly seven years ago. Highly recommended for young adults and all who care about young adults.

[Trevor Atwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent book for college students thinking about the next phase of life. Deals with a variety of subjects.

The Augustine packaging seems unnecessary, more like a schtick than a helpful framework. There are MUCH better and more thorough books on each of these subjects, but this book is a fine survey of them that puts some high thoughts on a low shelf.

[Kiersten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Austin has written a great book for young adults. But this book is not just for young adults; it's for those of us who have recently or even long ago left our 20s. It's for those who do ministry with 20 somethings, interact with 20 somethings on a regular basis or have children who are in their 20s. He writes through some of the key things that Augustine struggled with way back in the 4th century and translates those things into what 20 somethings struggle with today in the 21st. Things like love, work, belonging, restlessness, and faith. He then uses Augustine's story to help his reader understand today how there are some things that just don't change in the human experience no matter how much time has passed.

As a former classmate of Austin's, it was an honor to read his book "A Restless Age." And as someone who was required to read "The Confessions of St. Augustine" in college, but didn't, I am challenged to make time to read it soon. I encourage you to do the same with Austin's book sitting close by.