Sunday of the Living Dead: A Collection of Mormon Humor

by Robert Kirby, Pat Bagley (Illustrator)

The book that started it all! Ever wonder who is going to eat all that wheat down in the basement? Ever wonder if bearing one another's burdens really includes lugging a new move-in's piano up three flights of stairs? Ever think it might be fun to be the Angel of Death? Ever wonder how to tell if your fishing buddy has been called as your new bishop? Ever think there isn't much "church" about Church basketball? Ever wonder if enduring to the end really means sitting through another talk by a stake high counselor? Ever think that the Super Bowl might be more reverent than the average sacrament meeting? Brother Kirby does! A great collection of Mormon humor. Robert Kirby, the most original and funny Mormon writer to come to pass since Dave Barry started pretending he wasn't home when the missionaries dropped by, explains these and many other secret but not necessarily sacred mysteries. Whether liberal, conservative, traditional, or unorthodox, Mormons of all faiths will enjoy this piquant look at a peculiar people -- US! With over 25 illustrations by the Salt Lake Tribune's Pat Bagley.

Genres: Humor, Religion, Lds, Lds Non Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Librarian Note: There are more than two authors in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Nathalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's so much truth in this book that it's embarrassing, hahaha! However, Robert Kirby dishes out the truest truth yet by the following closing statement: "God will probably handle the resurrection the way He handles everything else--meaning we'll get what's best for us." Mmm.

[David Hibberd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was copyrighted in 1995. It is a collection of humorous and sometimes irreverent essays about "Mormonism". His first chapter talks about different types of Mormons and I enjoyed the following from his discussion of Orthodox Mormons: "OM women stop having children at thirty-five because thirty-six is too many, even for them." This was very enjoyable.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many hilarious stories that I related to. I enjoyed reading this several times.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely humor from 'the inside' of Mormon culture.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

A voice in the spiritual wilderness.

[Liaken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robert Kirby, while giving good insight, satire, and humor, still tries to go for mild shock value that is often in poor taste (ex. if he makes one more generalization about how men just want to look at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, I think I'll have to punch him). However, that said, sometimes he reveals the underside of a very constricted culture so precisely that it's almost inspiring.

Pat Bagley's comic art of Mormon culture is sometimes so painfully accurate that I can't stop laughing. At other times it falls flat (whose doesn't?). Bagley and Kirby make a great team.

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is still my favorite of all the Kirby books. Robert Kirby is a columnist and humorist for the Salt Lake Tribune, and loves nothing more than finding the funny, and absurd things about his own culture--the LDS culture--and having a laugh with it. He takes on such weighty issues as callings in the ward nursery, the five kinds of Mormons and five kinds of non-Mormons, helping the neighbor move, just to name a few.

[Jared · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat irreverent look at many of the idiosyncrasies that are Mormon life. I read this book primarily during church, and I think that might have been a little inappropriate but a few of the very short chapters were terribly funny. The Author is supposedly the funniest Mormon author since some other guy I never heard of.

[Becca]

I browsed parts of this but didn't read enough to really give it a rating. He has some funny points, but I've never really cared for his sarcastic style of presenting things. I don't really care for sarcasm in general. My mom read this book while visiting us and she laughed out loud many times, so I'm sure if I'd given it more of my time I would have enjoyed it.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've owned this one for years and recently giggled over it again. Whether it's an essay on "Mormon Nones" (like nuns, but not) or the classic, venerated essays "5 Kinds of Mormons" and "5 Kinds of Non-Mormons," Kirby (and Bagley) are at their irreverent best in this collection. Which proves conclusively that at least some Mormons can laugh at themselves! Always a hit.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only the most robotic LDS will not find something to laugh at in this book. I could find no mocking of LDS dogma, but got a lot of fun from his pokes at Utah LDS culture. If you don't think there's anything funny about Cheerios at church you should definitely read this book!

[John E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kirby, who still writes a column in the Salt Lake Tribune, is one very funny man in a relion known for having little humor. If you know about the Mormon Church you will see Mormons and their church in a new, refreshing light by reading Kirby's short observations. I never pass up reading him.

[Emilou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hilarious. Some of it is so true, but others is a very exaggerated point of view. Read this book with a pinch of salt or you won't enjoy it. Don't take it too seriously, its just a fun read.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok with chapter titles like Teenagers: A Plauge Upon the Land and Perfect is as Perfect Does... I can see your laughing already!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kirby does it again! SO funny!

[Tamara Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

hilarious truths about LDS culture. also some serious thoughts to give pause. loved it. Thanks, Lisa !!

[Zippy · Rating 1 out of 5]

A little funny, a lot obnoxious and over the edge of what is appropriate humor for me personally.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun collection of humor columns.