“Death is life on another frequency,” Deepak Chopra tells us in his comical yet moving Why is God Laughing? “The music doesn’t end just because someone can’t hear it.”

Chopra, known for his intensely spiritual and mind-blowing—if not at times confusing—books, tells the fictional story of Mickey Fellows, a comedian whose dead father delivers him a message about taking life a little more seriously and losing his fear in order to fully live his own life.

“Either you’re a person wondering if you have a soul, or you’re a soul who knows that being a person isn’t real.” And so go the teachings of Francisco, a mysterious stranger who starts to be a part of Mickey’s life. Leaving notes on his person and nudging Mickey into dangerous situations to change his perception, Francisco presents the persona of a real-life guardian angel, here to show Mickey how to really lose his fear and embrace living as a soul who knows his life is only an illusion.

Mickey gets into some pretty sticky situations, but in the end it all proves worth it when he realizes that his existence is not a mere person living in a spiritual realm, but a spiritual being living in a perceived world.

Though this reaching of enlightenment sounds very awe inspiring and wonderful, as a mother I had to keep it at arm’s length. Mickey’s agent, his ex-wife, even his own sister cease to remember who he even is as he becomes enlightened. I’m sure that this is metaphorical—at least in some ways—but I would much rather my children and spouse know me and be an illusion than be a fearless apparition of some sort!

That said, there is much to take away from the book. It’s true that when you overcome fear, you acquire freedom (just look at V for Vendetta!). It’s also true that we shouldn’t live our lives fearing death, but embracing the joys and challenges that come at us with open arms as a part of living.

There are ten spiritual principles that Chopra shares throughout the book that Mickey learns; these are also presented at the end of the book for reference. One fantastic quote reads, “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.”

A very quick and enjoyable read, Why is God Laughing? allows us to stop making ourselves wrong and to start embracing our lives as they are, knowing we are enough, we have enough, and we can do anything as the people we were born—not as other people we might compare ourselves to.