1054 and All That: A Lighthearted History of the Catholic Church

by Karl Keating, Karl Keating

REAL CATHOLIC HISTORY, PRESENTED WITH WIT AND AN "ATTITUDE" From the first to the twenty-first century, here's all the Catholic history anyone can (or needs to) remember, with loads of laughs along the way.

Saints and sinners, popes and princes, councils and it's all here, in a way to lighten your heart, broaden your smile, and expand your knowledge. It's real history, served up with unexpected extrapolations, curious confusions, and illustrious illustrations. (And look out for the footnotes!)

Your host is Karl Keating, author of more than twenty books, including top works of Catholic apologetics. He takes you on a whirlwind tour of the history of the Catholic Church, from its founding by its Founder up to our own era. He delights you with short accounts of long events, with explanations of the inexplicable, and with snapshots of the famous and the infamous.

It's all presented so winningly that this book is suitable for readers of all ages and all persuasions. You don't have to be Catholic to enjoy it, though (fair warning!) you might end up Catholic by the time you finish it.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

140 pages, Paperback

Published November 29, 2022

About the author

Karl Keating (b. 1950), a prominent Catholic apologist and author, is the founder and president of Catholic Answers, a lay apostolate of Catholic apologetics and evangelization.

He received his undergraduate degree in Applied Math at UCSD in 1972 and went on to get a J.D. at the University of San Diego. He worked as an attorney practicing civil law in the early 1980s.

Leaving Mass one Sunday, he found anti-Catholic tracts on the windshields of the cars in the church parking lot. He wrote his own tract in reply and distributed copies of it at the Fundamentalist church responsible for the anti-Catholic tract. That was the start of what has become the country’s largest lay-run apologetics and evangelization organization.

Catholic Answers was incorporated in 1982, and in 1988 Karl left the practice of law and went into apostolic work full time. That year marked the publication of his Catholicism and Fundamentalism, the first book to deal extensively with challenges posed by “Bible Christians.” Other books followed: What Catholics Really Believe, Nothing But the Truth, The Usual Suspects, and Controversies. He is at work on several more titles.

For nine years Karl served as the editor of This Rock. He has been a columnist for the National Catholic Register and the Canadian Catholic Review and has written for many other publications. Each Tuesday he answers questions on “Catholic Answers Live.” His avocations include backpacking (his favorite locales are the High Sierra and the Grand Canyon) and flying.

Reviews

[Justine Olawsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little vapor of a volume is a fun read - especially if you already have a passing understanding of some of the major epochs in Church history. My husband, who has not spent nearly as much time in his life as I have exploring and pondering the magnificent Catholic Church—her great saints, her great spiritual movements, her best, mediocre, and not-so-great popes, the various councils, the influential works, the threats from within and without, the whole messy, glorious, hell-invading, gate-crashing march of the inbreaking Kingdom of God—read a few pages and put it down in disgust. "How do I even know what's real history and what are this guy's jokes," he complained.

"Well, look for the puns," I replied. But he was already done with Mr. Keating's folderol. He even scolded me not to claim this as a "read" book for my 2026 Goodreads Challenge. I am typically a very meek, obedient wife, but, of course, I disregarded that silliness. Into the 2026 mix it goes!

I love a good joke, and I love a loyal servant of the Church who can make 'em about all sides. I enjoyed the book well-enough. I wouldn't quote it in an academic paper, I think, but I will leave you with a quote right now that actually has caused me to ponder a bit (about the reforms that came out of the Council of Trent, 1545-1563):

"In retrospect, it came to be seen that the Council of Trent was so broad in its considerations and so precise in its formulations that, had it been held a century earlier, the Protestant Reformation likely would not have occurred. Martin Luther would have ended his days as an over-scrupulous but otherwise forgotten monk—but that is something we never will know for sure, alternative history being even more confusing than actual history, as every historian will attest." (p.91).

[Laurie Wilhelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comical writing for a boring subject, and it held me interest.

[Heidi Gass]

DNF after part one. You actually have to know the Catholic Church history to follow this. While I could tell it was humorous, too much of it went over my head because I didn't understand the actual historical events. Would definitely recommend to someone who knows more about the history of the Catholic Church.

[Michael Thomas Cibenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was asked to be the beta reader for this book, of course I was honored to do so. L laughed as much as I learned, and it doesn't get much better than that. I was also grateful to the publisher for including me in the testimonial page of the book, along with mention of my own book, Masaru. Thanks again, Karl. I hope to meet you on a hiking trail one day!

[Michael Peeples · Rating 1 out of 5]

Flat

The lightheartedness just didn’t work and many times the author conveyed no information about a given person or point - just a name, a flat joke or two and nothing else.

Little history and little humor.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed out loud through this whole book. Absolutely hilarious. Even if you don’t know much of the history of the church this book will pique your interest in lesser known subjects and people. And we all need a good laugh!!!!🤣