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

by Yvonne Orji

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781546012672
Publisher:	Worthy
Publication date:	05/25/2021
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	380,033
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.70(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Yvonne Orji is an Emmy-nominated Nigerian-American actress, writer and comedian. A failed doctor (blame organic chemistry), Yvonne took to comedy after needing a talent for a beauty pageant. Now, she entertains international audiences, as can be seen in her one-hour HBO comedy special, Momma, I Made It! A sought after speaker, she’s given the opening keynote at the Forbes’ Under 30 Summit, and her TEDx talk, “The Wait Is Sexy,” has garnered over a million views. Her breakout TV role was playing Molly on HBO’s hit show Insecure. She currently resides in Los Angeles. Connect with Yvonne on Twitter and Instagram: @YvonneOrji.

Table of Contents

In the Beginning xi

Introduction: The Do's and Don'ts of Getting Bamboozled 1

Part I The Burden

1 I Am What I Am 19

2 Play Yo' Position 29

3 Get'chya Mind Right 39

4 I Said It, I Meant It, I'm Here to Represent It! 49

5 Faith It 'Til You Make It 58

6 Pressure Bursts Pipes, but Also Makes Diamonds 67

Part II The Building

7 Miracles Don't Make Reservations 77

8 If You Stay Ready, You Ain't Gotta Get Ready 91

9 Let God, God 104

10 I Swear to God 110

11 Fear Is Food Poisoning, but Regret Is Herpes 118

Part III The Breakthrough

12 I May Not Win, but I Always Win 131

13 The Way Up Is Down 140

14 Your Working of It Doesn't Make You More Worthy of It 149

15 Put Me In, Coach 160

16 Focus on Your Focus 167

Part IV The Booked, Blessed, and Busy

17 Don't Let Your Talent Write a Check Your Character Can't Cash 181

18 Bentleys Don't Go on Sale 191

19 Give God a Big Bag to Fill 198

20 Don't Put a Period Where God Put a Comma 209

Part V The Bonus

21 Can't Wear a Crown with Your Head Down 217

22 Your Haters Gon' Be Your Elevators 223

23 Here We Grow Again 229

24 Beyond the Bamboozlement 238

Bamboozled Beliefs 245

Acknowledgments 248

Editorial Reviews

02/01/2021

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)

Publishers Weekly

Inspiration practically leaps off the pages and into the hearts of readers—the writing is engaging and the comedic timing is absolute gold. Orji is a cheerleader and best friend for every dreamer.”—LaParis Hawkins, Booklist

“Not only is Yvonne really funny and smart, she brings a fresh new perspective to every story she tells. She is an absolute master, and an original voice that needs to be heard now more than ever. Once you let her in your mind, you’ll never want her to leave.”

—Chris Rock, actor & comedian

"Yvonne somehow found a way to brilliantly weave her humor, insight, courage, and faith into pages that feel like a weekend retreat hanging with your best, boldest, brightest and most blessed girlfriend. Bamboozled by Jesus is real talk about deep faith put in practice from a woman committed to living a life of vision, purpose, service and success."
 —Kerry Washington, actress, producer, & director

“Whether it’s as an actress, comedian or thought-leader, Yvonne has always given a fresh perspective and authentic storytelling. Bamboozled is a culmination of the characteristics that make her so special: sharp wit, fierce intelligence and an unapologetic sense of self.”

—Rachel Hollis, author & speaker

"A delightful debut... Orji's boundless enthusiasm will appeal to her fans and newcomers alike."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

11/05/2021

"Joyful" is the best word to describe this lovely challenge to spread goodness, by Nigerian American comedian and Emmy nominee (for Insecure) Orji, who wants to be the "springboard that propels you into being your best self." Orji details her journey, starting with an account of her birth (she was born clutching her mother's IUD). She describes failing organic chemistry and ditching medical school to become a comedian; at one point, she found herself just praying she could make it through a year without an overdraft fee from her bank. She shares her favorite Bible passages from what she calls "Da Good Book" and brings a fresh, humorous perspective to Christianity. Orji believes that much of her success came directly from God, such as a chance meeting with Chris Rock's girlfriend, which led to Orji not only getting to meet her idol but to actually go on tour with him. Orji doles out advice ("you can acknowledge someone else's brilliance without diminishing your shine) and emphasizes that one doesn't need to be a Bible scholar or even a Christian to learn from her experiences and from the Scripture she paraphrases. VERDICT Not just for fans of Orji, this will inspire general readers and fans of uplifting memoirs with a Christian bent.—Lisa Henry, Kirkwood P.L., MO

Library Journal