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Augustine had a purpose in his confessional. He wanted people to understand his religious resolve and be drawn toward Christianity. On the other hand, Rousseau was very obsessive in his memoir, modeling himself and laying himself out for all to see. It was like a bad Jerry Springer episode. Rousseau seems to be embarrassing people he writes about on purpose, exposing facts that could have been left untouched. ~Tina Bash

excerpt: Contrasting memoirs of Augustine and Rousseau by Tina Bash