By 

L. Erickson “Mommy Mystic” (Los Angeles, CA) –

  

  

I picked up this book with high hopes. I generally like Chopra’s work, although I am not a hard-core fan, and I like to laugh. I also believe humour is a key companion to spiritual growth – when you can laugh at yourself, you probably have hit on some self-truth. And Mike Myer’s Foreword seemed to be heading in the right direction, quoting Lenny Bruce’s equation for comedy as “laughter = pain + time”, and noting that Chopra would call the ‘plus time’ detachment. Enlightenment and comedy share that in common.

Sorry to say Why is God Laughing? doesn’t quite follow-through on its promise, although it has some nice moments. The main problem for me is that the book seems more like an outline, and a derivative one at that. It doesn’t evoke any powerful emotions, because we don’t have enough time with the main character, Mickey, to feel invested in him. The entire book feels rushed, more like a premise for hitting certain spiritual points, stage by stage. These points, or lessons, drive the book’s progression more than the character’s inner growth. This is often a problem when non-fiction writers cross over to fiction, but I thought Chopra had solved it after his last fiction effort, Buddha: A Tale of Enlightenment (recently released in paperback, and which I highly recommend.)

Chopra’s epilogue is fascinating, as he lays out his own thoughts on how to embrace joy and optimism while living in a scary, dread-based culture. If the tale doesn’t grab you, you can always jump straight to the epilogue for a excellent Chopra fix. The bottom line is, the themes of this book are right to his usual message, and clearly presented – it just doesn’t work as a novel. So you probably won’t be deeply disappointed, but you won’t be deeply went either. If you don’t want to risk it, just buy Buddha: A Tale of Enlightenment instead.

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By 

Janet Boyer “Author of Back in Time Tarot + T… (Pennsylvania) –

  

  

  

“Either you’re a person wondering if you have a soul, or you’re a soul who knows that life a person isn’t real.” – From the book

For comedian Mickey Fellows, life is about to get very fascinating.

On the heels of his father’s death, Mickey meets a mysterious weirder named Francisco on the beach. Tucking riddles in his clothing, posing profound questions and inviting Mickey to engage in some potentially embarrassing–even perilous–situations will perpetually modify the jaded comedian.

Who is Francisco? Out of all the public in L.A., why did he pick Mickey for an enigmatic “process”? Will Mickey have to trade his sense of humor–his very livelihood–in order to be converted into fearless? Or is it like Mickey’s dead father says: God is laughing…always?

So what is it that God’s laughing about? What does Mickey’s dead father know now that he’s on the additional side–and wants desperately to communicate to his son? And what does religion have to do with off-color jokes and humor in general?

In the novel Why Is God Laughing, prolific author, spiritual teacher and medical doctor Deepak Chopra offers readers an entertaining parable about one man confronting his deepest fears during his unusual interactions with a man named Francisco. As he starts to question questions about life and his reason for life, Mickey echoes the musings of millions in these hectic times.

Originally, I had bought Why Is God Laughing? as a Father’s Day present for my husband, especially since he enjoys Chopra’s storytelling in both his fiction and non-fiction books. Turns out, though, that *I* finished up devouring it before my husband could even start conception!

And a thoroughly enjoyable read it was–especially as it’s filled with hilarious jokes!

Here are a few of the fascinating passages I highlighted throughout the book as I was conception:

* “Death is life on another frequency. The music doesn’t end just because someone can’t hear it.”

* “Dread cannot be trusted.”

* “You will right the mistake that lies at the very root of victimization: a belief that the movie controls you, instead of the additional way nearly.”

* “Once you have authorship of your self, you come out of silence into activity to write your own tale.”

* “Whatever captivates you is also tiresome to wake you up.”

* “So how does God want us to grow, in what direction, according to what guidelines? None. You get to grow the way you want to, by following your own desires…The things that deeply interest you play the role of God.”

* “…take your house inside the drama with confidence. Everything is as it should be. The role assigned to you is right and proper. It is tailor-made for you, for your complete self.”

In the tradition of Father Joseph Girzone’s Joshua series, Why Is God Laughing? presents gentle challenges from a humble weirder. Timeless and universal truths are shared in a non-threatening way throughout the tale, and Chopra shares invaluable spiritual insight at the end with ten transformational principles that–if understood and applied–can be a powerful vehicle for real change.

Do you wonder what happens when public die? Do you dread death? Does dread paralyze you from doing what you like–or from taking risks to find out? Do you wonder if life on Earth is “all there is”? Have you bought into the thought that there is sacred and profane, that there is a literal hell and a literal heaven? Does God even care what you do here on Earth?

And why, oh why, is God laughing?

Join comedian Mickey Fellows on an journey that illuminates some possible answers to those questions–and to learn how to fearlessly be the best “you” possible!–through the engaging book Why Is God Laughing?

Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Know the Present

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By 

Lissa Coffey, Host of coffeytalk.com “DoshaDiva” (Los Angeles, CA) –

  

We’re each on a journey in this life, and our passions help us to get there. The lead character in this tale, Mickey, is a comedian, and so he gets to where he needs to go through humor. Eventually, we’re all headed in the same direction, to re-learn who we are. We learn from each additional, and we can certainly learn from Mickey. Deepak is a gifted writer. The tale unfolds with a series of riddles, and jokes sprinkled throughout. And then nearly as a bonus, we get the lessons, the messages, so that we are guided along in our own journey. Sweet, and profound. Another terrific book from Deepak Chopra.

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