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Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved

Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved

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  • Create Date：2021-09-16 06:55:39
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
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  • Author：Kate Bowler
  • ISBN：0399592083
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Summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - "A meditation on sense-making when there's no sense to be made， on letting go when we can't hold on， and on being unafraid even when we're terrified。"--Lucy Kalanithi

"Belongs on the shelf alongside other terrific books about this difficult subject， like Paul Kalanithi's When Breath Becomes Air and Atul Gawande's Being Mortal。"--Bill Gates

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY REAL SIMPLE

Kate Bowler is a professor at Duke Divinity School with a modest Christian upbringing， but she specializes in the study of the prosperity gospel， a creed that sees fortune as a blessing from God and misfortune as a mark of God's disapproval。 At thirty-five， everything in her life seems to point toward "blessing。" She is thriving in her job， married to her high school sweetheart， and loves life with her newborn son。

Then she is diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer。

The prospect of her own mortality forces Kate to realize that she has been tacitly subscribing to the prosperity gospel， living with the conviction that she can control the shape of her life with "a surge of determination。" Even as this type of Christianity celebrates the American can-do spirit， it implies that if you "can't do" and succumb to illness or misfortune， you are a failure。 Kate is very sick， and no amount of positive thinking will shrink her tumors。 What does it mean to die， she wonders， in a society that insists everything happens for a reason？ Kate is stripped of this certainty only to discover that without it， life is hard but beautiful in a way it never has been before。

Frank and funny， dark and wise， Kate Bowler pulls the reader deeply into her life in an account she populates affectionately with a colorful， often hilarious retinue of friends， mega-church preachers， relatives， and doctors。 Everything Happens for a Reason tells her story， offering up her irreverent， hard-won observations on dying and the ways it has taught her to live。

Praise for Everything Happens for a Reason

"I fell hard and fast for Kate Bowler。 Her writing is naked， elegant， and gripping--she's like a Christian Joan Didion。 I left Kate's story feeling more present， more grateful， and a hell of a lot less alone。 And what else is art for？"--Glennon Doyle， #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love Warrior and president of Together Rising

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Reviews

Holly ，

I really liked this。 It was another good meditation on cancer and death- very thought-provoking。

Susan ，

I love this woman， I want to hug her。 Have read her stuff in NYT， will follow her podcast。

Ashleeeeee ，

I thought this book would round onto a deep thought or new way of talking about the hard stuff， but it's mostly the author discussing her mix of emotions about cancer and things people say， mixed in with lots of stuff about prosperity gospel。 Reads like a blog for christians。 I thought this book would round onto a deep thought or new way of talking about the hard stuff， but it's mostly the author discussing her mix of emotions about cancer and things people say， mixed in with lots of stuff about prosperity gospel。 Reads like a blog for christians。 。。。more

Natalie ，

I enjoyed reading Bowler's personal reflections on the intersection of suffering， grief， and faith。 Her writing reminds me of Anne Lamott in the sense of mixing humor with poignant and insightful observations from a Christian perspective。 This is definitely a memoir opposed to a book on grieving biblically or how to grieve。 I have found a lot of value in reading other people's experiences of suffering。 There is a universality in suffering that rings true no matter how different the specifics are I enjoyed reading Bowler's personal reflections on the intersection of suffering， grief， and faith。 Her writing reminds me of Anne Lamott in the sense of mixing humor with poignant and insightful observations from a Christian perspective。 This is definitely a memoir opposed to a book on grieving biblically or how to grieve。 I have found a lot of value in reading other people's experiences of suffering。 There is a universality in suffering that rings true no matter how different the specifics are。 A few passages， Bowler articulates insights about grief that I had felt experientially but had never put words to。 Other times， I laughed out loud at her wit and candor。 Would recommend to anyone experiencing or walking with someone who is experiencing catastrophic suffering as an intro to grief/supplemental reading。 。。。more

Grace ，

Ask me what I remember from this in a year and the answer will be: the wavering voice of Bowler as she tried to hold herself together in the really rough parts of this。 Man。 PT: short books， audiobooks read by the writer， rough readsWIL 1） Let me preface this with: I'm sure there are *some* good GP doctors out there。 It's lovely in a horrible sort of way to see that sort of awful-doctor solidarity with Bowler。 2） Meandering。 Some books are not meat to meander。 This one is。 A lot of the comments Ask me what I remember from this in a year and the answer will be: the wavering voice of Bowler as she tried to hold herself together in the really rough parts of this。 Man。 PT: short books， audiobooks read by the writer， rough readsWIL 1） Let me preface this with: I'm sure there are *some* good GP doctors out there。 It's lovely in a horrible sort of way to see that sort of awful-doctor solidarity with Bowler。 2） Meandering。 Some books are not meat to meander。 This one is。 A lot of the comments are coming after Bowler for not really driving at any central point in her chapters， and usually that bugs me too。 But in this case？ It kinda works。 The whole point of this is that things don't really make sense。 And the meandering style reflects that。 3） Audiobook reading。 I mean。 Oof。 You can hear her voice crack and waver and aoihosuhdof it's awesome and heartbreaking。 WIDL 1） not really my cuppa tea。 2） As a continuation of 2。。。 it reads a little like ，，， catharsis writing。 Like Bowler just needed to get the words out of her head and onto a page。 And that's fine。 But it makes for kind of a difficult read。 。。。more

Andy Ives ，

If I knew what this book was about， I probably would have requested it from the library。 However， my attempts at expanding my literary interests means I’m trying not to read the description of books before starting them。 Bold right？Who wants to read about cancer？ Who wants to learn about what dying is like through the eyes of a super Christian？ Not me。 However， I was pleasantly surprised。 Kate did a tremendous job of tying in her Christianity with out being preachy。 While morbid at times she was If I knew what this book was about， I probably would have requested it from the library。 However， my attempts at expanding my literary interests means I’m trying not to read the description of books before starting them。 Bold right？Who wants to read about cancer？ Who wants to learn about what dying is like through the eyes of a super Christian？ Not me。 However， I was pleasantly surprised。 Kate did a tremendous job of tying in her Christianity with out being preachy。 While morbid at times she was able to bring out some good humo it as well。 My best wishes to Kate and her family and thanks for the book。 （& teaching me how to support people going through sh*t） 。。。more

Cynthia ，

Kate Bowler is a professor of divinity who studies prosperity churches， those religious groups that believe life will just get better and better--and you will get richer and richer--if you do what God wants you to do。 She can be very funny about these churches， although she is also sympathetic to the human desire for simple solutions and happy lives 。 。 。 This book is partly about her body， though: her arms， which stop working; her difficulty having a child; and the fact that she was diagnosed w Kate Bowler is a professor of divinity who studies prosperity churches， those religious groups that believe life will just get better and better--and you will get richer and richer--if you do what God wants you to do。 She can be very funny about these churches， although she is also sympathetic to the human desire for simple solutions and happy lives 。 。 。 This book is partly about her body， though: her arms， which stop working; her difficulty having a child; and the fact that she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer when she was 35。 It's good。 She has a podcast and a new book coming out。 。。。more

Megan ，

Somehow I missed that this would be mostly an autobiography。 I thought there would be more practical philosophy and application。 Still a good book with solid advice， particularly in the appendices。

Amir ，

شرح حال جالبی بود。 اما به‌نظرم نه به اندازه توصیه‌ی بیل‌گیتس روی جلدش。 نکته خاصی نداشت برام。 روایت انسانی مذهبی از یک دوره گذار از سرطان。

Michele ，

This is a review of the audiobook。 I really enjoyed this book--Kate Bowler's actual voice reading it was a bonus。 She's tackling deeply painful and personal topics， but with enough insight， pace， and context to bring the reader along。 This is a review of the audiobook。 I really enjoyed this book--Kate Bowler's actual voice reading it was a bonus。 She's tackling deeply painful and personal topics， but with enough insight， pace， and context to bring the reader along。 。。。more

Erica Leigh ，

I've subscribed to Kate Bowler's podcast for a little over a year and greatly appreciate the hard discussions she shares with humor and heart。 I am so glad I finally sat down to read the book at the start of it。 I could hear Kate's voice more clearly through the prose on the page， and especially her contagious laugh when providing a dose of levity。 Once I cracked the cover I didn't stop until I finished; I knew the book would be heartbreaking and hopeful and I was not disappointed。 I've pre-orde I've subscribed to Kate Bowler's podcast for a little over a year and greatly appreciate the hard discussions she shares with humor and heart。 I am so glad I finally sat down to read the book at the start of it。 I could hear Kate's voice more clearly through the prose on the page， and especially her contagious laugh when providing a dose of levity。 Once I cracked the cover I didn't stop until I finished; I knew the book would be heartbreaking and hopeful and I was not disappointed。 I've pre-ordered her new book and look forward to continuing Kate's journey as she shares it with us。 。。。more

Emily ，

This is a slim book that was recommended to me through one of my Facebook groups in which people actually treat each other nicely。 I loved this book， especially the last three chapters。 If you are facing your future in a very serious way then it’s a good book to read。

C。 A。 ，

Beautifully written， poignant memoir。

Ellen ，

Thirty-five year old Kate Bowler， a professor of divinity at Duke， recounts her harrowing journey with Stage 4 colon cancer。

Glenda ，

As a divinity professor and scholar Kate Bowler studies what’s become known as the “prosperity gospel，” the belief that rich televangelists and megachurch ministers deserve their largess because God wills their wealth， and， in contrast， illness and hardship are byproducts of sin and what one deserves。 This belief manifests itself in platitudes， such as “Everything happens for a reason，” and “God won’t give you more than you can handle。” Through her own stage IV cancer diagnosis， Bowler examines As a divinity professor and scholar Kate Bowler studies what’s become known as the “prosperity gospel，” the belief that rich televangelists and megachurch ministers deserve their largess because God wills their wealth， and， in contrast， illness and hardship are byproducts of sin and what one deserves。 This belief manifests itself in platitudes， such as “Everything happens for a reason，” and “God won’t give you more than you can handle。” Through her own stage IV cancer diagnosis， Bowler examines and critiques the well-intention， yet cruel， teachings of prosperity gospel and challenges its premises and biblical misinterpretations。 I wish her critique were more direct， hence my rating， but the appendices at the end offer alternatives to prosperity gospel teachings and a way forward in love when we meet hardships and work to love others through their life challenges。 I recommend this short book to all who want to do better by family， friends， and strangers。 。。。more

Emily ，

This book is odd， though a memoir the author never goes into solidifying many opinions， but rather speaks generally。 After reading I still do not understand the plot/ point of this story。

Julea Bartch ，

I found this book after stumbling across Bowler's TED talk （the title is essentially the same）。 Another memoir from someone approaching death， this book shifted my perspective immensely。 After reading， I noticed how the prosperity gospel has been injected to ALL kinds of things beyond just money and success。 Bowler dissects these falsehoods in an electric and unapologetic way。 I appreciated her pervasive honesty: nothing escaped her scathing ability to tell the truth。 I found this book after stumbling across Bowler's TED talk （the title is essentially the same）。 Another memoir from someone approaching death， this book shifted my perspective immensely。 After reading， I noticed how the prosperity gospel has been injected to ALL kinds of things beyond just money and success。 Bowler dissects these falsehoods in an electric and unapologetic way。 I appreciated her pervasive honesty: nothing escaped her scathing ability to tell the truth。 。。。more

Shannon ，

As a cancer survivor， there was a lot I could relate to in this book。 My cancer was caught earlier than Bowler's and was less unique and less life threatening。 But cancer always brings you face to face with your own mortality and Bowler captures that perfectly。I found her chapters on the prosperity gospel particularly interesting and I continue to ponder the intersection and divergence of those concepts with the Ignatian teaching of God in All Things。Bowler's tone is not always what I would use As a cancer survivor， there was a lot I could relate to in this book。 My cancer was caught earlier than Bowler's and was less unique and less life threatening。 But cancer always brings you face to face with your own mortality and Bowler captures that perfectly。I found her chapters on the prosperity gospel particularly interesting and I continue to ponder the intersection and divergence of those concepts with the Ignatian teaching of God in All Things。Bowler's tone is not always what I would use - she's more sarcastic than I am - but I appreciated the appendices and realized I talk to myself in some of the ways she recommends you never should talk to a cancer patient。 If someone you love has cancer or another long term diagnosis， this book is worth reading to understand some of what your loved one may be thinking， feeling， experiencing。 I don't think I would have wanted to read it during treatment， but that could just be me。 。。。more

Anna ，

5 stars for the appendices， including a list of things not to say to someone with terminal cancer， including "How are the treatments going and how are you *really*？" 5 stars for the appendices， including a list of things not to say to someone with terminal cancer， including "How are the treatments going and how are you *really*？" 。。。more

Alisa ，

This was a beautiful little book that helped me to see a little more clearly （I hope）。 I have just “met” Kate Bowler but really like her and look forward to reading more by her。

Amy ，

I don't believe everything happens for a reason。 I do believe God can make good come from any situation， sometimes the person experiencing it just doesn't get to stay around to see it。 I'm not sure if it is a combination of my Catholic upbringing or my great Biblical instruction when I converted to be a Lutheran but I have never been sucked in by the prosperity gospel。 My fear of God keeps me from demanding that he gives me something。 We refer to this in my household as "Santa God" and he doesn' I don't believe everything happens for a reason。 I do believe God can make good come from any situation， sometimes the person experiencing it just doesn't get to stay around to see it。 I'm not sure if it is a combination of my Catholic upbringing or my great Biblical instruction when I converted to be a Lutheran but I have never been sucked in by the prosperity gospel。 My fear of God keeps me from demanding that he gives me something。 We refer to this in my household as "Santa God" and he doesn't exist。Bowler does a fantastic job of putting us right in her circumstances。 Her humor at this point in her journey is hard to comprehend but I hope if my life leads me into such difficult circumstances that I can keep my humor。Everyone should read this book if only for Appendix A in the least。 。。。more

Rebecca ，

Chapter 2: Object LessonThere is something so American about the “show-and-tell” of our daily lives。 A big house means you work hard。 A pretty wife means you must be rich。 A subscription to The New York Times shows you must be smart。 And when you’re not sure， there will always be bumper stickers to point out who has the honor roll student and who finished a marathon。 America likes its shopping malls big and its churches even bigger， and every Starbucks in every lobby proves that Jesus cares abou Chapter 2: Object LessonThere is something so American about the “show-and-tell” of our daily lives。 A big house means you work hard。 A pretty wife means you must be rich。 A subscription to The New York Times shows you must be smart。 And when you’re not sure， there will always be bumper stickers to point out who has the honor roll student and who finished a marathon。 America likes its shopping malls big and its churches even bigger， and every Starbucks in every lobby proves that Jesus cares about brewing the best。Chapter 5: Surrender“LIFE IS A SERIES OF LOSSES，” says my father-in-law one afternoon。 We are sitting outside on the patio， where I always sit now， wrapped to my eyeballs in blankets and looking up at the sky。 There is something about a ceilingless world， the slow drift of clouds， and the sound of birds that staves off the taste of fear。 “What， Dad？” I love calling him Dad。 He has earned it with his gentle fix-it nature and his willingness to braid my hair on camping trips。 “Oh， I was just thinking about how， with age， it is one loss after another，” he replies。 “Huh。” He is right。 With age we slowly lose our senses and even our pleasures， our parents and then our friends， preparing us for our own absence。 An interesting thought。 “First there was racquetball，” he says suddenly， jolting me back to the present。 “What？” “I had to give up racquetball in my fifties。” “That’s not exactly the kind of thing I’m worried about right now！” I yell with mock rage。 He laughs and then spends the next half hour trying to remake his point until I demand that he never repeat it again and that we get coffee and a biscuit because my habits are increasingly geriatric。 Lord， save me from old people。 It will become a constant refrain with my older friends that the moment one of them starts to complain about an aching hip， all the rest will slowly turn and look for my response。 And I will not disappoint them。 “I’m soooooorry，” I sympathize， my voice thick with sarcasm。 “Is your looooooong life becoming an encumbrance？” They are always full professors with endowed chairs and weighty accomplishments， so I suspect that they have not been properly made fun of before。 But they are becoming some of my closest friends。 We can sit on the same bench， quietly wondering what to do with this unwinding clock。Chapter 6: Christmas CheerA couple of Christmases ago， I saw Carol over one of the pews and reached out to give her a hug， remembering only at the last second that she had recently been diagnosed with cancer。 I couldn’t figure out what to say when we pulled away and I found I was just staring into her smiling face， stammering something about how sorry I was。 She looked back at me with such calm and said something I had never heard anyone say。 “I have known Christ in so many good times，” she said， sincerely and directly。 “And now I will know Him better in His sufferings。”Cancer clinics try to be places of encouragement， and for that we can offer them a slow hand clap。 But mostly they are encounters with death set to the tune of a young volunteer on the lobby’s baby grand piano and the muffled sounds of someone yelling， “Mr。 Smith！ It’s your turn for blood work！” When I heard a harp player in the foyer， I immediately turned to my dad and said: “Is it really that bad？” Pale and puffy， the patients lean their heads on the hard edges of the seats beside them or sink onto the bony shoulders of their companions。 Everyone looks up when a name is called， momentarily revived。 There are wheelchairs everywhere and bald， wrinkled women in bright kerchiefs and someone coughing blood beside a mural that reads: LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE！ Lord， I hope not。Chapter 7: Certainty“Oh， I’ve prayed that a hundred times。 ‘Please， God， why not just take me？’ ” he says a little wistfully。 I scoot over beside him and rest my head on his knee。 “Dad， that is about the kindest， saddest thing I’ve ever heard。” There is a gentle silence between us as I imagine that we are both thinking about how much we love each other before my dad begins to speak。 “But then I remember that God didn’t spare Mozart at your age… so…” He is making a gesture that suggests he is weighing a heavy object in each hand。 “So， you know。” I start to laugh。 “What did he die of？” “The plague， I think。” “Oh， geez。” “Yeah。 And God loves you at least as much as Mozart。”I CAN’T RECONCILE THE way that the world is jolted by events that are wonderful and terrible， the gorgeous and the tragic。 Except I am beginning to believe that these opposites do not cancel each other out。 I see a middle-aged woman in the waiting room of the cancer clinic， her arms wrapped around the frail frame of her son。 She squeezes him tightly， oblivious to the way he looks down at her sheepishly。 He laughs after a minute， a hostage to her impervious love。 Joy persists somehow and I soak it in。 The horror of cancer has made everything seem like it is painted in bright colors。 I think the same thoughts again and again: Life is so beautiful。 Life is so hard。Chapter 9: Ordinary Time“I’m not sure I want to know what happens if I stop chemotherapy， but at the same time I want to get it over with，” I confess。 “What would you do？” “I’d go to work，” he says， and I realize the weight of what he is saying。 His office is plain and sensible， which confirms something I already know about him five minutes into our conversation。 He has suffered and is there to work。 In what were the worst moments of his life， he put one foot in front of the other。 He tasked himself with a series of responsibilities that ultimately gave me back this year。 And maybe many more。 But what I loved more than anything was that he did it without knowing it would matter。 He marched forward because it was the best he could do。 “We’re all terminal，” he says simply， and it answers my unspoken question。 How do you stop？ You just stop。 You come to the end of yourself。 And then you take a deep breath。 And say a prayer。 And get back to work。“But it comes undone。 There are so many times in life when we think we have it locked down，” he says。 We are quiet again。 Plans are made。 Plans come apart。 New delights or tragedies pop up in their place。 And nothing human or divine will map out this life， this life that has been more painful than I could have imagined。 More beautiful than I could have imagined。 “Right。 That’s the secret—don’t skip to the end，”Appendix 1ABSOLUTELY NEVER SAY THIS TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING TERRIBLE TIMES: A SHORT LIST 1。 “Well， at least…” Whoa。 Hold up there。 Were you about to make a comparison？ At least it’s not… what？ Stage V cancer？ Don’t minimize。 2。 “In my long life， I’ve learned that…” Geez。 Do you want a medal？ I get it！ You lived forever。 Well， some people are worried that they won’t， or that things are so hard they won’t want to。 So ease up on the life lessons。 Life is a privilege， not a reward。 3。 “It’s going to get better。 I promise。” Well， fairy godmother， that’s going to be a tough row to hoe when things go badly。 4。 “God needed an angel。” This one takes the cake because （a） it makes God look sadistic and needy and （b） angels are， according to Christian tradition， created from scratch。 Not dead people looking for a cameo in Ghost。 You see how confusing it is when we just pretend that the deceased return to help you find your car keys or make pottery？ 5。 “Everything happens for a reason。” The only thing worse than saying this is pretending that you know the reason。 I’ve had hundreds of people tell me the reason for my cancer。 Because of my sin。 Because of my unfaithfulness。 Because God is fair。 Because God is unfair。 Because of my aversion to Brussels sprouts。 I mean， no one is short of reasons。 So if people tell you this， make sure you are there when they go through the cruelest moments of their lives， and start offering your own。 When someone is drowning， the only thing worse than failing to throw them a life preserver is handing them a reason。 6。 “I’ve done some research and…” I thought I should listen to my oncologist and my nutritionist and my team of specialists， but it turns out that I should be listening to you。 Yes， please， tell me more about the medical secrets that only one flaxseed provider in Orlando knows。 Wait， let me get a pen。 7。 “When my aunt had cancer…” My darling dear， I know you are trying to relate to me。 Now you see me and you are reminded that terrible things have happened in the world。 But guess what？ That is where I live， in the valley of the shadow of death。 But now I’m on vacation because I’m not in the hospital or dealing with my mess。 Do I have to take my sunglasses off and join you in the saddest journey down memory lane， or do you mind if I finish my mojito？ 8。 “So how are the treatments going？ How are you really？” This is the toughest one of all。 I can hear you trying to understand my world and be on my side。 But picture the worst thing that has ever happened to you。 Got it？ Now try to put it in a sentence。 Now say it aloud fifty times a day。 Does your head hurt？ Do you feel sad？ Me too。 So let’s just see if I want to talk about it today because sometimes I do and sometimes I want a hug and a recap of American Ninja Warrior。 。。。more

Jenni ，

Beautifully human。I follow Kate on Twitter。 I love her writing style。Thankful to hear more of her story。She includes what to say （or not to say） to people experiencing tough times。 It's helpful。 Beautifully human。I follow Kate on Twitter。 I love her writing style。Thankful to hear more of her story。She includes what to say （or not to say） to people experiencing tough times。 It's helpful。 。。。more

Michelle Woodman ，

In short， loved this book， and I love Kate Bowler。 I wish my mom could have read this book， too。 I think she would have also loved it。 And loved Kate。

Janet ，

Obviously this was a quick read as it only took me a day。 I have enjoyed Bowlers podcast （same name as book） and listened to her TED talk。 I appreciate her combination of deep faith and understanding that life is just tough， yet beautiful。 No explanation needed。 All the while there is still a loving God。 Her appendix of things to say and not to say to people in grief was illuminating。

Julie ，

“I need to learn how to live in ordinary time。”

ERIC JOHNSON ，

I'm Eric Johnson， I contacted Herpes （hsv-2） in 2009， my doctor said there's no cure for Herpes。 I saw a post about Dr。 Riaria， so many people was talking about him ， i decided to try， so i contacted him and he replied me and told me that he will cure me within 14days， then i purchased the herbal medicine and he sent it to me， and I took it for 14 days after then I went for check-up and I was totally cured。 The medicine has NO SIDE EFFECT， there's no special diet when taking the medicine。 He als I'm Eric Johnson， I contacted Herpes （hsv-2） in 2009， my doctor said there's no cure for Herpes。 I saw a post about Dr。 Riaria， so many people was talking about him ， i decided to try， so i contacted him and he replied me and told me that he will cure me within 14days， then i purchased the herbal medicine and he sent it to me， and I took it for 14 days after then I went for check-up and I was totally cured。 The medicine has NO SIDE EFFECT， there's no special diet when taking the medicine。 He also cures， HEPATITIS B， ALS， MND， EPILEPSY， LEUKEMIA， ASTHMA， CANCER， GONORRHEA， EMPHYSEMA， GENITAL WARTS and lots more。 Contact him via email: drriaria@gmail。com or WhatsApp him at +2349134987375 https://drriaria。wixsite。com/website 。。。more

Michelle Kuhn ，

I love Kate Bowler’s Podcast， but didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I might。 Maybe I have already heard too much of her personal story of being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer。 The details are just really sad even though I knew she would survive it。 The prosperity gospel research she intertwined was interesting。 I like how she humanizes the desire for good things to happen to good people。 Instead of mocking or belittling this belief， she gently disrupts it。 Bowler is wicked smart， deep， cleve I love Kate Bowler’s Podcast， but didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I might。 Maybe I have already heard too much of her personal story of being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer。 The details are just really sad even though I knew she would survive it。 The prosperity gospel research she intertwined was interesting。 I like how she humanizes the desire for good things to happen to good people。 Instead of mocking or belittling this belief， she gently disrupts it。 Bowler is wicked smart， deep， clever and full of compassion。 I want to be her friend。 。。。more

GingerReads ，

This book had such a great premise and seemed so promising， but never got anywhere。 It's one person's experience; which is fine。 But it does nothing for the larger debate of， or search for， theological truths。 Disappointing。 This book had such a great premise and seemed so promising， but never got anywhere。 It's one person's experience; which is fine。 But it does nothing for the larger debate of， or search for， theological truths。 Disappointing。 。。。more

Brianna McNall ，

Found this book compelling and comforting。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0