Official Review: WHY ARE THERE MONKEYS? (and other questi...

Maria Esposito · Post by **Maria Esposito** » 03 Apr 2021, 08:05

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "WHY ARE THERE MONKEYS? (and other questions for God)" by Brooke Jones.]

4 out of 4 stars

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If you had the chance to meet God, what questions would you ask Him?

A child of the Sixties, Brooke Jones experimented with a wide array of exciting things, such as sex, drugs, and New Age beliefs. God did not cross her mind very often – at least not until the night she overdosed on drugs and had a near-death experience. That night, which she describes as “a Twilight Zone moment on steroids,” she found herself in front of none other than God. For eight minutes, Brooke was clinically dead and standing at God’s front door. She had the opportunity to ask Him the questions that all of us are secretly wondering about: Should we believe in the Theory of Evolution? Why does God allow so much evil? What religion is right? Do miracles still happen? Are ghosts real? Does the Devil exist? What about predestination and free will? God actually answers, and if you’re curious about what He has to say, you should pick up WHY ARE THERE MONKEYS? (and other questions for God).

This book will make you laugh, chuckle, and wonder why on earth you’re taking yourself, the world, and God so seriously when you could just have a good time while you’re alive. God laughs with and at Brooke, making her wonder if, after all, one of the main reasons for our existence is to entertain God. While this book is humorous, Brooke Jones emphasizes that this is a story that truly happened to her, and I choose to believe her. I loved reading about Brooke’s very personal relationship with God. Her experience is proof that God still speaks to us and that he does so in different ways, meeting us on our individual levels. The author has been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, and she mentioned that having God in her life helped her face her diagnosis with the certainty that she did not have to go through it alone.

While the book is lighthearted and comical, it is also extremely thought-provoking. The author approaches complex topics, such as evil and predestination, with disarming simplicity and candor. More specifically, her conversations with God about evolution were quite eye-opening. They made me think about creation and evolution as not mutually exclusive: “In the story of your own life, you can see a microcosm of both creation and evolution.” As a Christian who loves and appreciates science, I found this point of view was quite refreshing and inspirational.

Brooke Jones is a terrific writer. WHY ARE THERE MONKEYS? (and other questions for God) has been a delightful read, perfect to lighten up the stress of these dark times. I only came across two minor errors that did not affect my reading experience. Hence, the book appears to be professionally edited. I found nothing to dislike about the book, and I rate it 4 out of 4 stars.

The author approaches God and religion in quite an unorthodox way that can demystify some religious dogmas. As a practicing Christian, this book gave me the opportunity to explore and deepen my own relationship with God as well as to reflect on complex and controversial issues. I recommend this book to people of all religious beliefs who are okay with reading a lighthearted story about God. However, if you have an orthodox approach to God and religion, this book will probably irritate and offend you.

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WHY ARE THERE MONKEYS? (and other questions for God)
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MarcellaM · Post by **MarcellaM** » 10 Apr 2021, 15:31

I would like to read this book and get familiar with the answers.

Francis Aderogbin · Post by **Francis Aderogbin** » 10 Apr 2021, 18:30

I love knowledge. And I believe this book will open me up to another world of possibilities.

Raluca_Mihaila · Post by **Raluca_Mihaila** » 15 Apr 2021, 05:32

It seems like a funny yet deep book, that makes you ask yourself a lot of questions. I am vary curious to find out the answer about the reason for the monkeys' existence. I enjoyed reading your entertaining and touching review!