[5][6][7] Judge's previous books, including Wasted: Tales of a GenX Drunk and God and Man at Georgetown Prep chronicled his time at Catholic school.

[8][5] In A Tremor of Bliss Judge argues that the sexual revolution in 1960s United States resulted in a decline in American values which previously had been rooted in Christian theology.

[3] Writing for The Washington Times, Jeremy Lott observed that A Tremor of Bliss served as a form of confessional about the author's personal life.

[2] Judge writes that his sex education teacher, Bernie Ward, went on to move to San Francisco and lead a talk show focusing on left-wing politics.

"[2] Judge recalls that in the initial lecture about sex education Ward gave an assignment to read about feminism and sexual activity written by Betty Friedan.

[3] Judge examines why, in his view, the sexual revolution in 1960s United States led to a decline in American values and an exodus from religious conservatism.

[3] He discusses the leadership roles in the birth control movement of Margaret Sanger, and sexual attitude changes in American society as furthered by the research of Alfred Kinsey.

[3] The author discusses the encyclical Humanae vitae written by Pope Paul VI and its attempts to argue a return to traditional Catholic values regarding sexuality.

[3] Judge recounts Theology of the Body by John Paul II, and argues that it is a model for how Catholic teachings can be incorporated into American societal views on sex.

[2] A Tremor of Bliss argues for a counterrevolution rooted in Catholic beliefs to serve as a counter to the original sexual revolution in the United States.

[2][3] Judge criticizes what he views as a liberal attitude towards sexuality in the United States, and believes Catholic education can serve as a counter-balance to these.