Bamboozled by Jesus: How God Tricked Me into the Life of My Dreams

A stand-up comedian and actor, Orji combines humor and faith in her delightful debut. “God has custom-designed your life to be magnificent,” she writes, “and by default, the magnificent is uncertain and daring.” Using motivating principles (“God isn’t out to ‘get you,’ but He is out to get something for you”) and reflecting on biblical stories, Orji warns readers that achieving the best life requires sacrifices that take time to pay off. Interpreting the rain God sent to drown the earth and float Noah’s ark as “whatever God is gonna send in your life, whether it’s a job opportunity, a spouse, or property,” she advises readers on “becoming your best self” to be ready for any situation: “Building your ark is your way of being prepared and staying ready to receive His abundance.” Orji recounts her career trajectory from aspiring to be a doctor to focusing on comedy—much to her family’s chagrin—and her own doubts when starting out. She also opens up about her depression after lost chances and other professional challenges, and how she uses her faith as a bulwark against fear: “you gotta make those defeatist thoughts think twice about messing with you. That’s how scared your fear should be of your faith.” Stressing the importance of service and filled with empowering affirmations (“God doesn’t choose the perfect, He perfects the chosen”), Orji’s spirited biblical interpretations and boundless enthusiasm will appeal to her fans and newcomers alike. (May)