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The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism (The Politically Incorrect Guides) Paperback – September 26, 2016

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 249 ratings

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Back by popular demand, the bestselling Politically Incorrect Guides provide an unvarnished, unapologetic overview of controversial topics every American should understand. The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism refutes misrepresentations and misconceptions about the Catholic Church and separates rumor from truth when it comes to Catholic traditions, faith, and controversial leaders.

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Editorial Reviews

Review


"The Politically Incorrect Guide(R) to Catholicism envelops its deep learning in a breezy Chestertonian style that entertains as it informs. It offers a wry combination of the hilarious and the profound: truth delivered with razor wit. As a result, it is compulsively readable. Peppered throughout the text are recommendations of books 'You're Not Supposed to Read.' This nervy book now joins that honor roll. Read it."
-- Robert Reilly, former director, Voice of America, and author of
The Closing of the Muslim Mind and Making Gay Okay

"John Zmirak is so brilliant, effervescent, and indefatigably entertaining that I'm much too embarrassed to mention it publicly."
-- Eric Metaxas,
New York Times bestselling author of Bonhoeffer and If You Can Keep It: The Forgotten Promise of American Liberty

"John Zmirak has a deeply informed and accurate understanding of the real political and economic implications of the Catholic Faith, conveyed in gracious and highly readable language with more than a dash of healing humor. This book is the antidote to the leftist distortions of the Church that are all too ubiquitous today."
-- The Honorable Faith Whittlesey, former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland

"John Zmirak has written an entertaining and enlightening book that will help you to think about Catholicism in ways you may not expect. His insights challenge conventional wisdom. Whether you come to agree or not with his at times provocative diagnoses of and remedies for the problems in the Church, reading this book will help you understand what is at stake."
-- The Reverend Gerald E. Murray, J.C.D., pastor, Holy Family Church, New York, New York

"John Zmirak is the most articulate and learned defender of real Catholic social teaching of his generation. For decades, he has courageously spoken out for the life of the unborn, for the freedom of faith and families, and for the integrity of the Faith. The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism should serve as a vital textbook in classrooms of Catholic colleges--though of course, it probably won't!"
-- Jason Scott Jones, producer, Crescendo, co-executive producer, Bella

"This book will help you learn a great deal about that greatly misunderstood subject: Catholicism. What's more, you'll laugh a great deal--something that is thoroughly Catholic!"
--Samuel Gregg, research director, Acton Institute

"John Zmirak is a joyful scandal, not scandal in the sense of leading anyone astray, but in the sense of telling the truth, which is always a scandal to modern ears. His new book is a wild and bumpy ride through Church teaching as it is--has been--will be, with immense dollops of orthodoxy's smoky incense and utterly bereft of heterodoxy's uncertain bells and whistles. Oh, and plenty of belly-laughs to boot."
-- Austin Ruse, author of
The Littlest Suffering Souls and president of The Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute at the United Nations

About the Author

John Zmirak is an editor, college teacher, screenwriter, and political columnist. He is the author of Wilhelm Röpke: Swiss Localist, Global Economist and the popular Bad Catholic’s Guides. He edited a number of popular guides to higher education and served as press secretary to Louisiana Governor Mike Foster. He hold a B.A. from Yale and a Ph.D. from Louisiana State University.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Regnery (September 26, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1621575861
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1621575863
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.3 x 0.8 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 249 ratings

About the author

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John Zmirak
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John Zmirak received his B.A. from Yale University in 1986, then his M.F.A. in screenwriting and fiction and his Ph.D. in English in 1996 from Louisiana State University. His focus was the English Renaissance, and the novels of Walker Percy. He taught composition at LSU and screenwriting at Tulane University, and written screenplays for and with director Ronald Maxwell (Gods & Generals and Gettysburg). He was elected alternate delegate to the 1996 Republican Convention, representing Pat Buchanan. He has been Press Secretary to pro-life Louisiana Governor Mike Foster, and a reporter and editor at "Success" magazine and "Investor's Business Daily," among other publications. His essays, poems, and other works have appeared in "First Things," "The Weekly Standard," "The Atlanta Journal-Constitution," "USA Today," "FrontPage Magazine," "The American Conservative," "The South Carolina Review," "The Atlantic," "Modern Age," "The Intercollegiate Review," "The New Republic," "Commonweal," and "The National Catholic Register," among other venues. He has contributed to "American Conservatism: An Encyclopedia" and "The Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought." From 2000-2004 he served as Senior Editor of "Faith & Family Magazine" and a reporter at "The National Catholic Register." He works now as an editor for several publishing companies.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
249 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book insightful, brilliant, and honest, with excellent treatment of Catholicism. They also describe it as a great book that explains Catholic doctrine in context. Readers praise the writing quality as witty, courageous, and hard-hitting. They recommend reading a chapter a day.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

27 customers mention "Content"27 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful, explains a lot about Catholic theology, and provides empirical evidence to dispel misconceptions. They also say the many references to natural law are refreshing, helpful, and informative. Customers also say it's fun to read and helpful for understanding the economy, military, and the infallibility of popes.

"...How did that happen? This detailed, highly readable and ruthlessly persuasive book explains: For forty years, leading Catholics..." Read more

"What a VERY interesting and insightful book. Brilliant and honest.A great study" Read more

"...His many references to natural law are refreshing...." Read more

"This is an amusing book. I am Catholic and find it very funny in places and quite accurate in its theological analysis of Catholic belief...." Read more

22 customers mention "Reading experience"22 positive0 negative

Customers find the book great and appreciate it for putting Catholic doctrine in context.

"What a VERY interesting and insightful book. Brilliant and honest.A great study" Read more

"Dr. Zmirak's book is excellent...." Read more

"...Zmirak’s discussion of the upheavals in the modern Church is excellent and fair-minded..." Read more

"Spectacular book. Every thinking Christian of every denomination needs to read this book...." Read more

18 customers mention "Writing quality"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing quality witty, engaging, funny, and erudite. They also say the book is highly readable and persuasive. Readers also mention that the author is extremely skilled at getting complicated ideas across.

"...How did that happen? This detailed, highly readable and ruthlessly persuasive book explains: For forty years, leading Catholics..." Read more

"This is an amusing book. I am Catholic and find it very funny in places and quite accurate in its theological analysis of Catholic belief...." Read more

"...The author, John Zmirak, is a very capable writer, a skill that befits someone with a doctorate in English and extensive journalistic creds...." Read more

"Really enjoy this author. Respectful and witty." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2016
I was shocked to read that in some polls a majority of Catholics are supporting the Hillary Clinton—the most pro-abortion candidate in U.S. history. She opposes religious freedom, traditional marriage, 2nd Amendment rights, reasonable control over America's borders… and favors the influx of millions more devotees of sharia whose religion teaches them that our Constitution is evil. Yet Catholics by the millions are backing her. How did that happen? This detailed, highly readable and ruthlessly persuasive book explains: For forty years, leading Catholics (including bishops, priests, nuns, and politicians like Tim Kaine) who have lost their faith in the Church's supernatural claims have replaced its Faith with a left-wing “social justice” agenda that is on most issues contrary to the Gospel itself. This funny, erudite book unpacks that revolution inside the Church, and exposes its agenda. Zmirak explains the REAL Catholic teaching on economics, immigration, self-defense, war and peace, science and the environment, sexuality and marriage. No one who reads this book could even consider supporting leftist candidates again. Buy multiple copies and give them to your mixed-up friends from church—maybe even your pastor. Or use it to vaccinate your teenagers from the nonsense they're (probably) learning in school—even Catholic school.
120 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2023
What a VERY interesting and insightful book. Brilliant and honest.
A great study
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2024
Fine job all around Thx !
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2023
Dr. Zmirak's book is excellent. It may not be a perfect explanation of the Catholic Faith, there are a few minor items that might have been stated incorrectly, but they are not significant. Overall, 99% of the book seems to be accurate.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2016
Every Catholic should read this book. There has been so much confusion sown since Vatican II and Mr. Zmirak does a splendid job of separating the chaff from the wheat.

As a convert it has been distressing to see Church leadership buy into liberal and in some cases cultic beliefs like global warming, open borders, pacifism, abolition of the death penalty, etc. The focus has shifted to an obsession with this life and being ‘relevant’ instead of care for the next. One must regrettably conclude that underneath there is a loss of faith and belief in the supernatural. It’s no wonder that vocations and Church attendance have been dwindling.

Mr. Zmirak is fighting back for the Church that I fell in love with and embraced. He reviews recent trends and offers corrective insights typically using the Church’s own documents and history. His many references to natural law are refreshing. In an age of moral relativism how can we effectively counter confusion on key issues without a solid grounding in natural law? (He recommends two of my favorite cases for natural law, Edward Feser’s The Last Superstition and J. Budziszewski’s What We Can’t Not Know.)

Please invest in his book and then pass it on, especially to Catholic friends and family. If they are conservative leaning they will appreciate the wit and warmth and reinforcement of what they believe. If they are not they will hopefully reconsider and rethink what they believe.
25 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2019
Had this book been written about 30 years ago, my dad would have enjoyed this book tremendously. Had the scandals and problems in the Catholic Church come to light back then, the book would have probably would have been called "The Common Sense Guide to What's Wrong With the Catholic Church and Solutions to Correct It" or something like that. When I was growing up, my father get frustrated andvwould yell at me and my brothers when we did something completely stupid and didn't understand why he was so angry, like: "It's just plain common sense! I'm explaining it to you in plain English!" He would have read this book - again, had these scandals surfaced back then - and understood at least some of the reasons why the Church's teachings had changed so much (and not necessarily for the better) in his lifetime.

John Zmirak pulls no punches here. He chides Pope Francis when the pontiff goes off the deep end and does the same for a few members of EWTN or the G.K. Chesterton Society when a couple of them "slide off the rails." Zmirak has a gift somewhat like Chesterton's where he can use satire and common sense as a weapon to challenge the completely insane and dangerous directions the Catholic Church and society at large are heading. I don't agree with all of Zmirak's views, but just about all of them are explained in a logical, sensible way that anyone raised Catholic should be aware of. Well done!
7 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2017
This is an amusing book. I am Catholic and find it very funny in places and quite accurate in its theological analysis of Catholic belief. It would be instructive for non-Catholics who do not understand the Church or the way Catholics think. It also corrects some historical smear campaigns that have been perpetrated against the Church, such as that against Pope Pius XII, in a brief summary form. What I don't like is the tendency of American writers to impose their political views on the reader. I do not find the author's views on climate change interesting and I certainly find the American obsession with guns weird. However, this is a small criticism and I found the book a pretty focussed summary of the Catholic position and a consequent quite damning commentary on modern ideolical propaganda. While it is light reading, there is actually some hard-hitting substance to the book.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Azur
5.0 out of 5 stars Todos los católicos deberían leerlo
Reviewed in Mexico on March 5, 2021
Hoy en día muchos católicos se dejan llevar con muchas ideologías o movientos que en la superficie se ven como algo bueno su núcleo es pura maldad. Aunque no seas católico americano es un gran libro para leer.
Cliente Kindle
5.0 out of 5 stars Clarifying book.
Reviewed in Brazil on November 4, 2018
This book helps Clarifying many of the teachings of the Catholic Church, but mainly denounces how it can be misused to support bad politicians that defend atrocities as abortion.
Kenneth G. Wolfe
5.0 out of 5 stars A Catholic Literary Gem
Reviewed in Canada on January 21, 2017
A very well researched and written eye opener on what is right and wrong with today's Catholic church. It should be read by all Catholics who are interested in the contentious topics of today, from contraception and abortion to gay "marriage", social justice, just war, and everything in between. Mr. Zmirak extensively documents what the Church has historically taught, and continues to teach, as opposed to the often liberal and perhaps even heretical interpretations that some priests, bishops, and even popes espouse to unsuspecting Catholics. He offers an extensive list of books for further reading. Not to be missed!
2 people found this helpful
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Kel Kininmont
1.0 out of 5 stars Not what I thought it would be
Reviewed in Australia on June 10, 2020
Recommended through purchase of an Idiot's guide to Christianity, not what I thought it would be.
Richard Ashton
5.0 out of 5 stars Sad but true
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2017
This is the one to read if you want to know what is really going on in the Catholic Church. Not a pretty story.
One person found this helpful
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