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Bamboozled By Jesus: How God Tricked Me into the Life of My Dreams by Yvonne Orji 
Published by Worthy Books on 5/25/2021
Pages: 272
Thriving stand-up comic and actress Yvonne Orji—best known as Issa Rae's BFF on the HBO series, Insecure—shares the secrets to living the life of your dreams.
Yvonne Orji has never shied away from being unapologetically herself, and that includes being outspoken about her faith. Known for interpreting Biblical stories and metaphors to fit current times, her humorous and accessible approach to faith leaves even non-believers inspired and wanting more.
The way Yvonne sees it, God is a Sovereign Prankster, punking folks long before Ashton Kutcher made it cool. When she meditates on her own life—complete with unforeseen blessings and unanticipated roadblocks—she realizes it’s one big testimony to how God tricked her into living out her wildest dreams. And she wants us to join in on getting bamboozled. This is not a Self-Help book—it’s a Get Yours book!
In Bamboozled by Jesus, a frank and fresh advice book, Orji takes readers on a journey through twenty-five life lessons, gleaned from her own experiences and her favorite source of inspiration: the Bible. But this ain’t your mama’s Bible study. Yvonne infuses wit and heart in sharing pointers like why the way up is sometimes down, and how fear is synonymous to food poisoning. Her joyful, confident approach to God will inspire everyone to catapult themselves out of the mundane and into the magnificent.
With bold authenticity and practical relatability, Orji is exactly the kind of cultural leader we need in these chaotic times. And her journey through being Bamboozled by Jesus paints a powerful picture of what it means to say “yes” to a life you never could’ve imagined—if it wasn’t your own.
Yvonne Orji is known to many of us as Molly Carter from the hit HBO show, Insecure. Even though I have a love/dislike relationship with the character of Molly – I love the authenticity that Yvonne Orji brings to the surface.
The moment I fell in love with Yvonne Orji and became her sister in my head was after watching her HBO Special, Momma, I Made It. I grew up in a Liberian household, so I could relate to EVERY SINGLE WORD that Yvonne Orji spoke on stage. My husband looked over to me a few times while I laughed with tears in my eyes, and my response to him was the same… “You didn’t grow up in an African household – so you won’t get it.”
Let me tell you how God works; I listened to Yvonne Orji on my Calm App, then the next day, I find myself reading her book, Bamboozled.
The title Bamboozled by Jesus may take some people by surprise, but before opening the book – I knew what it meant to be Bamboozled by Jesus. I had my son, Dylan, at 42 while on birth control pills. Even the doctor told me I had nothing to worry about at my age because my ovaries were done producing, bamboozled by Jesus! At 47, My husband & I are running around the house trying to catch up with a 5-year-old.
Bamboozled is the book I needed to read, and I’m sure God knew it too. This book had me laughing, embracing some hard truths about myself, grabbing my bible, and highlighting a few passages. This book serves as a reminder to keep pushing through this journey we call life to embrace the beauty waiting for us.
I felt as though I was having a conversation with Yvonne Orji as I read the book. I could hear her voice while I read the book. Memo to self: Buy the Audiobook.
One of my favorite books of the year!
Reviewed by: Orsayor
