Part self-help, part comedic memoir, part inspirational and motivational how-to, Yvonne Orji’s Bamboozled by Jesus is heartfelt and relatable advice that is equally, personal, biblical, aspirational, and grounded.

Orji draws on her Nigerian heritage and personal experience in her stand-up comedy special Momma, I Made It! She is also an inspirational speaker with a popular TEDx Talk, and the actress Molly Carter from Insecure. Orji can now add author to her list of hyphens. In Bamboozled by Jesus, she draws on her experiences of being bamboozled by Jesus, using stories from her life and her relationship with God. These anecdotes are filled with wisdom and humor, and her stories about hope, relationships, family, love and faith (both in oneself and in a higher power) are relatable and inspiring.

Part of Orji’s message, is that anyone one can be a change maker, no matter who you are, your past, or even if you think you don’t matter; you can not only create change, but like her, you can live the life of your dreams. In the opening pages of the book Orji writes a short letter to her reader:

Hey Boo,

Throughout, Orji uses stories from her life, her family, her relationships, as well as biblical passages and motivating principles, to explain what being bamboozled by Jesus means. Her voice is warm, sisterly, and down-to-earth. Divided into five parts: The Burden, The Building, The Breakthrough, The Booked, Blessed, and Busy, and The Bonus, each part takes the reader through her journey from acceptance to success. Ultimately, her message is that there is a plan for us that is greater than we can see, or even conceive, which she defines, and exemplifies, as being bamboozled, albeit by Jesus. The book opens with a description of her first bamboozlement.

Orji describes how she’d had plans for her life only to be bamboozled by Jesus into something far greater. For instance: she’d imagined living it up as a college freshman, instead that turned into: “Attend a Bible study freshman year, commit my life to Jesus, and remain a virgin until I get married.” We then fast forward to her TEDx Talk entitled “The Wait is Sexy” inspired by that experience. After graduation she intended to go to medical school, “the pinnacle of success for every Nigerian child.” Instead Orji heard “Him” tell her to perform stand-up comedy. We fast forward to her comedy special Momma, I Made It! According to Orji her life is, “one big walking billboard of how God tricked me into living out my wildest dreams.”

Orji wants us to see this bamboozlement as a miracle in disguise and she uses biblical stories throughout to illustrate it. “Bamboozling people into a life they never could’ve imagined for themselves is kind of Jesus’ m.o. All throughout the bible he’s suckered several unsuspecting targets into a life full of prestige and promise.”

She recounts her journey from starting out in the business at 25 to becoming an Emmy-nominated actress. Bamboozled by Jesus alternates between wit and wisdom andis filled with inspirational messages and illuminating anecdotes, illustrated by biblical passages and principles. Orji wants us to embrace the twists and turns of life, choosing paths we may not have considered for ourselves, because they may come from a higher power, with a greater promise.

“You don’t have to be a Bible scholar or devout evangelical to benefit from the pages in this book. I didn’t go to anybody’s seminary, nor am I an ordained anything. I’m just a young Black chick who entered into a beautiful relationship with a God I’ve never met, but who chose to love me in unimaginable ways. So if you don’t subscribe to the whole ‘Christianity’ thing, that’s cool. Get in where you fit in. Personally, my faith impacts my success and my life in general, so it’s hard for me to separate the two. …”

Whether you are devout, agnostic, or an atheist, Orji’s message is as a reminder that when you walk in faith—whether in family, in yourself, in your loved ones, in the people who help to hold you up, or a higher power—you never walk alone. And if you believe, in yourself, while knowing there is something greater than yourself (whatever you chose to call it), you can achieve amazing things.