The early chapters focus specifically on the Catholic ethical tradition. In the later chapters students become familiar with the Franciscan tradition and learn how it grew out of, and contributes back to, Catholic ethics.

The book includes diagrams, end-of-chapter summaries of key concepts, review and discussion questions, and ""call outs"", all of which energize the text and support comprehension and retention. The appendices include a glossary, additional concept summaries, and recommendations for additional reading.

Catholic and Franciscan Ethics: The Essentials is intended to serve as a supplemental text in courses on ethics at Catholic colleges and universities. It is also suitable for classes in moral theology and upper division applied ethics courses.

John Mizzoni earned his Ph.D. in philosophy at Temple University and is now professor of philosophy and Department Head of Arts and Humanities at Neumann University in Aston, Pennsylvania. He has published in numerous journals including Philo: A Journal of Philosophy, the Journal of Value Inquiry, and Social Science Information. Dr. Mizzoni is also the author of the book Ethics: The Basics, from Wiley-Blackwell and co-editor of G.E.M. Anscombe and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, from Neumann University Press. He has presented at regional, national, and international conferences.