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The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism (The Politically Incorrect Guides) Paperback – September 26, 2016
Purchase options and add-ons
- Print length256 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherRegnery
- Publication dateSeptember 26, 2016
- Dimensions7.3 x 0.8 x 9 inches
- ISBN-101621575861
- ISBN-13978-1621575863
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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
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
- Best Sellers Rank: #420,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,036 in Political Conservatism & Liberalism
- #3,247 in Catholicism (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

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
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers 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
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
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
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
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A great study
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.
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!






