I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley.com in exchange for a fair review. As a Catholic myself, I looked forward to reading this 'handbook' on how to be a saint, thinking it would give me a laugh. I admit there were some funny, laugh-out-loud moments, but overall, I didn't really enjoy the read. The book itself seemed silly and disjointed as the author rambled on and on, jumping from one topic to the next. Some of the history was interesting such as backgrounds on certain saints, as well as church shenanigans, but not everything is funny and it appeared that the author tried a little too hard to find humor where there was none. A little respect here and there would have been nice. I am not a 'stuffy' Catholic even though I went to Catholic school for twelve years, but I just don't find the suffering of others something to laugh about, whether they are saints or not. This book was definitely not for me.

Bruce Springsteen once said "It's hard to be a saint in the city". Kate Sedley's new book, published by Sourcebooks and available August 19, 2025, demonstrates how hard it is to be a saint anywhere else. I was immediately laughing out loud at this book, which was specifically written for me-- alongside my years of religious studies training and specialty in Christianity (including my bachelor's thesis on medieval heresy), I love humorous nonfiction. This book is both a delight to read (it calls 2 Maccabees "Attack of the Clones" and spends a whole chapter on good ways to die to achieve sainthood, as just two examples) and a solid introduction to the doctrines of canonization and Christian hagiography. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone interested in the topic. However, it doesn't mention that St. Christopher had the head of a dog, so unfortunately it's worthless. Just kidding.

Has some information, but mainly trying to be funny. Don't know who will want to buy it. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

How to Be a Saint is irreverent in the best ways. It's smart and humorous and definitely worth a read if you can deal with sacrilege. Growing up Catholic, I went into this book with some base knowledge. However, I still learned a whole bunch! I will say that not all of the jokes were to my taste/landed with me, but for the most part, it was a really fun read. As an English major that is now a librarian, I noticed that a lot of the elements that were used when talking about the devil actually come from the poem Paradise Lost by John Milton and it makes me want to reread that. I also had no idea that some Saints have been removed from the canon (not surprisingly because they weren't real people), e.g. St. Christopher - he's still so popular! Anyway, this book provides a wealth of knowledge about how to go about becoming a Saint, even if it'll most likely be farfetched.

Sacrilegiously hilarious. A fun blend between Catholic history lesson and humor, which the author managed to achieve a balance just right that I was hooked and read through the night, but also felt like I was learning something that I can bring for my next conversation with my catholic grandmother.

I am irreverent when it comes to religion and I love how funny history can be; but this still made me go like okay, what’s the point then.

There is good in the book; it walks us through how people historically became saints, and how the process has changed over the years. It pokes fun at the history of this tradition while also being well researched. The book has great illustrations of is own and it also references some fantastic art.

The issue is that the book tries too hard and at the wrong times. Even a younger reader might cringe at some of the jokes and how they just wouldn’t stop. The book is great, but some restraint would
have helped.

And that’s what puts this book in my slightly unmemorable category. Sidley misses out on the chance to build a real connection between the reader and the figures she’s writing about. There are saints from all around the world, yes a lot of them Italian, but we have others and we have some women thrown into the mix as well. Why not elaborate on those and make it a bit more meaningful.

It turns this book into something you’ll read once and enjoy; but never again.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for an unbiased review.

As a former Catholic and Catholic school survivor who loves Stephen Colbert, I was excited to read this humorous book written by one of his show's writers (Colbert wrote the foreword!).

My overall verdict: Funny and amusing...but not enough so. The straightforward history of Catholic saints and sainthood is a bit nuts, and often hilarious, in its own right- no additional snark is needed if one just leans into the bizarre trivia and minutae. Unfortunately, Sidley uses far too much of the former, with not quite enough of the latter.

Still funny, but not LOL-worthy.

Loved this book. It was so informative. I am Catholic born and raised. I learned more facts than I thought possible! I will be telling everyone about this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the e-ARC. This review is my own opinion.

Amusing and educational. I would recommend this to patrons looking for information about Catholicism or sainthood.

Rounded up from a 4.5
The humor won’t be for everyone, and if you aren’t on board for what is yes technically blasphemy, don’t bother. But it’s hilarious in my opinion, actually teaches you something, and has sources. What’s not to like?

This is a fun, humorous book about the process of canonization in the Roman Catholic Church. An enjoyable read for both Catholics and those with an un-vested interest, you’re sure to learn SOMETHING along the way. It’s beautifully laid out, too!

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions written are completely honest and my own.


Humourous and informative is the best ways to describe this book. I greatly enjoyed reading it and think most humans who don't take life seriously will too.

Whether you're a lifelong Catholic or a weird-history enthusiast, How to Be a Saint is your ultimate guide to understanding the hilarious, fascinating, and shockingly true history of sainthood. This is very very good.

Whether you're a lifelong Catholic or a weird-history enthusiast, How to Be a Saint is your ultimate guide to understanding the hilarious, fascinating, and shockingly true history of sainthood.
A fabulous story about saints.

My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an advance copy of this book that takes a humorous to some, libelous to others look at the history of the Catholic Church and the role of Saints in the lives of those who believe, history and much more.

My parents were born as Bronx Irish Catholics, attended school in Catholic institutions, even college and nursing school. This sort of faded out when we moved to the wilds of Connecticut. My dad worked nights on the weekend, going to Church was a bit of a ride, 5 minutes, and we drifted away. My brother and I attended CCD or Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, which is a religious education program for Catholic children in non-Catholic schools according to the definition as I had to look it up. I've done all the steps I guess except marriage and well death, and cashed the checks to prove it. However that is it. I've never gone to confession except once, for again pay from the family, nor do I take the host when I go to a wedding or a funeral, which is my only time to attend. This book brought up a lot of feelings for me. Most of them laughter, a few snickers and even one or two, oh that's mean. Which meant I enjoyed it quite a bit. How to Be a Saint: An Extremely Weird and Mildly Sacrilegious History of The Catholic Church's Biggest Names by comedian and writer Kate Sidley is a sort of pagan view of the Saints, ranging in wonder, awe, puzzlement, outright ickiness and much more.

The book starts with an interesting way of baptism, and an explanation about much of the ceremonies that bring people into the church. From there Sideley touches on some history, some theology, and bit of humor, trying to compress thousands of years of history into a few chapters. One learns about Limbo, a place that my Grandmother always had a particular fear of, and a place I really didn't understand, as my parents wanted me to sleep at night, so Limbo was never really discussed. Readers are than introduced to the Saints. How the became saints, what process is called on, and much about the miracles. And the ways that they died, which all sound horrible.

The book is funny, sometimes a little gross, but is laid out well and tells an interesting story. I can see where people could be upset, but being a fan of so many things that have become toxic I really have little sympathy. Some of the humor is a little forced, and odd, but the readability of the book makes up for this, and as I said I learned things, or relearned things in some cases. Also the book made me an my mother talk about her growing up and going to Catholic school, and and what that was like.

A book not for everyone, but one that is funny, and in a way sort of inspirational. There are some stories in here that make one think about the strength of humans to persist and hold on to what they believe. My world view hasn't changed, but I laughed a lot, and in this world of acceptable cruelty from people claiming a moral stance, well that's all we can ask for.

I will say this was not my cup of tea.
For those who want to mock Catholics and Catholicism I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

I'm not saying this out of any hypersensitivity, just that it's lazy.

I'd dare you to take the same approach to other religions, say Some Religion of Peace that celebrates Ramadan.

But...that would be taking a risk.

This book has a lot of accurate information about how people are declared saints by the Catholic Church, and introduces the reader to a variety of saints with humor. But Sidley presents all the fun parts of a saint’s life as before their conversion, and implies most of the miracles ascribed to them are a lack of scientific knowledge. (She says Catholics using science is ironic! This is a serious misunderstanding of history and Catholic teaching.)

She answers the question of how one is canonized a saint, but not WHY a person would even want that! Saints are presented as dull, she has a letter signed “God” that says there is no one true religion, and the love and presence of Christ in the world and the church are ignored or gently mocked.

Catholicism is full of weird stuff - 2000 years of unusual beliefs, interesting people, wild traditions. But it all points to Christ, crucified and risen, and has meaning. The jokey sacrilege in How to Be a Saint is because Sidley missed the point.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc

Since I am not Catholic, I was a little worried I wouldn't get the jokes in this book. I'm so glad I picked it up anyway because it was hilarious and very accessible for anyone, regardless of their background. Sidley highlights some strange and obscure stories from the Catholic church. The especially devout might want to skip this, but I think readers who enjoy history and are looking for something snort-out-loud funny will enjoy this.

a love letter to the weirdness of faith traditions and the powerful, often untold stories of those deemed "holy."

this book was SUCH a fun read. as a former catholic now finding my way back to the Church I found it so informative and honestly laugh out loud funny. Does this mean I get time added to my purgatory clock? Saint Gianna, pray for me.

Kate Sidley breaks down the absolute chaos of the canonization process with footnotes that had me wheezing and chapter titles that feel ripped straight from a divine group chat. Where else can you read about “Saints Who Were Sort of Like Zombies” and DIY baptism kits that involve Tupperware and artisanal olive oil?

It’s smart, irreverent in the best way, and deeply affectionate toward the strangeness of belief. Think religious history meets stand-up comedy with a dash of divine sass. Will I be quoting this book at Bible study? Probably not. Will I be thinking about “saints who walked six miles after being beheaded”? Absolutely yes.

Highly recommend for recovering Catholics, curious heathens, and anyone who’s ever wondered how many miracles it takes to get your own holy card.

This book FRied me. I loved it so much! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the digital arc.
Totally irreverent, seriously funny, and absolutely factual, which in these times is exactly what I need, the author takes you through the steps to become a Catholic, and then the roadmap to sainthood. As a Catholic who attended 8 years of Catholic elementary school, and 4 years of Catholic college, this is the perfect book to just laugh while actually reviewing your religion and you'll add new saints to your "Name That Saint" trivia toolbox. A fun read which I've already recommended to friends.