The Seven Deadly Virtues

An all-star team of eighteen conservative writers offers a hilarious, insightful, sanctimony-free remix of William Bennett's The Book of Virtues—without parental controls. The Seven Deadly Virtues sits down next to readers at the bar, buys them a drink, and an hour or three later, ushers them into the revival tent without them even realizing it.

The book's contributors include Sonny Bunch, Christopher Buckley, David "Iowahawk" Burge, Christopher Caldwell, Andrew Ferguson, Jonah Goldberg, Michael Graham, Mollie Hemingway, Rita Koganzon, Matt Labash, James Lileks, Rob Long, Larry Miller, P. J. O'Rourke, Joe Queenan, Christine Rosen, and Andrew Stiles. Jonathan V. Last, senior writer at the Weekly Standard, editor of the collection, is also a contributor. All eighteen essays in this book are appearing for the first time anywhere.

In the book's opening essay, P. J. O'Rourke observes: "Virtue has by no means disappeared. It's as much in public view as ever. But it's been strung up by the heels. Virtue is upside down. Virtue is uncomfortable. Virtue looks ridiculous. All the change and the house keys are falling out of Virtue's pants pockets."

Here are the virtues everyone (including the book's contributors) was taught in Sunday school but have totally forgotten about until this very moment. In this sanctimony-free zone: