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Donald Jans

Goodreads Author

Born

in Salt Lake City, The United States

Website

http://www.donaldjans.com

Twitter

donaldjans

Genre

Humor and Comedy, Fiction

Influences

Spalding Gray, John Irving, David Sedaris, Stephen King

Member Since

January 2015

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/goodreascomdonald_jans

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Chartered Financial Analyst and Gonzaga University alumnus, survived more than twenty years in the institutional bond market and encounters with all kinds of freaks. The author of several screenplays, he is currently working on his second novel and a memoir. He lives in Tiburon, California.

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What compelled you to write this story, "Freaks I've Met"?

Donald Jans Hi Brucie, thanks for your question. Sounds like your 5 year old is quite brilliant! "Freaks I've Met" was born from my 20 years working in the bond m…moreHi Brucie, thanks for your question. Sounds like your 5 year old is quite brilliant! "Freaks I've Met" was born from my 20 years working in the bond market. And while many occupations get their share of "Freaks", sub first tier investment houses, far away from Wall Street provided amazing fodder for this novel. Initially, 13 years ago when I began, it was going to be a tell-all memoir, but 10 pages into it, I realized how truly depressing that route was going to be, and thus, the fictional character "Jack" was born. Jack, through his 23-year-old eyes, and his smallish town roots, is able to view the world with a naivety an older person wouldn't dare, for fear of being labeled an "unfocused moron." Through his eyes, and his first disillusioning foray into the working world, he is able to blast stereotypes, racial and otherwise, that an older person, politically correct person wouldn't dare. It's too bad you didn't finish it to see Jack's character arc, but alas, this book, and its coarse language isn't for everyone. But Jack is true to how many a young American man thinks. Think of it as a self help book for the unemployed college grad kid on the couch, afraid of failure, who has an open bag of Cheetos lying next to him, who is wondering why his genitals are orange. And in the words of Phil the trader from the book, "love me, or hate me, but have an opinion about me." Thanks for your question! (less)

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Your book was awesome! When does your second come out? I just posted a five star review here and will do the same on Amazon.

Donald Jans Thank you Shannon! So glad you liked it! That makes me smile! And thanks for leaving reviews! :) I am currently working on my second novel, the workin…moreThank you Shannon! So glad you liked it! That makes me smile! And thanks for leaving reviews! :) I am currently working on my second novel, the working title is "Treasure Island", about a white trash couple from Missouri who head to Los Angeles and land on a reality game show, where they are the only couple on "treasure island" to find the 1.5 million dollar prize. (It has to one-up Survivor of course) Things will not go as planned for the couple. :) (less)

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Donald Jans’s books

Average rating: 3.58 · 1,033 ratings · 235 reviews · 5 distinct works • Similar authors

	Freaks I've Met 3.56 avg rating — 1,053 ratings — published 2015 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Triple R it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sellout 4.75 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Gonzagini 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2015	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Gonzagini: An Original Screenplay 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Donald is Currently Reading

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White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy

by Tom Schaller

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Kasher in the Rye: The True Tale of a White Boy from Oakland Who Became a Drug Addict, Criminal, Mental Patient, and Then Turned 16

by Moshe Kasher

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Inner Work: Using Dreams and Active Imagination for Personal Growth

by Robert A. Johnson

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Apr 11, 2022 04:42PM

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Donald Jans liked Larry Johansen's review of Freaks I've Met: "Irreverant and refreshing, reads like a memoir, but its fiction, and oh so funny. ! "
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Donald Jans and 1 other person liked Carmen Gordon's review of Freaks I've Met: "I won this book in a giveaway. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's rolicking, ribald, and real. Due to some risque scenes, I recommend this book to the adult reader only. I look forward to reading more from this author!"
Jan 15, 2026 07:25AM · see review
Donald Jans and 2 other people liked Edmund Roughpuppy's review of Freaks I've Met: "Get ready to romp This is a book of humorous stories. Our protagonist is a classic, early twenties manboy, young, dumb and full of . . . He leaves his small town for the Big City, scrapes his bare bottom financially, screws up at his jobs and copulat" Read more of this review »
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“Sorry, Jack. I really needed to hit rock bottom before I could dust myself off.”
― Donald Jans, Freaks I've Met

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“Those rich guys were right. Money can't buy happiness, because happiness is everywhere. It's free, like air.”
― Donald Jans, Freaks I've Met

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“I was convinced that the proverb about money not buying happiness was written by a rich guy who didn't want you to feel bad because you didn't have any.”
― Donald Jans, Freaks I've Met

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topics	posts	views	last activity
WACKY READING CHA...: HELLO SUMMER, 2021	66	65	Dec 31, 2021 02:19PM
The Lost Challenges: One Hit Wonders of 1973	77	65	May 26, 2022 07:07AM

Donald’s Quotes

“I was convinced that the proverb about money not buying happiness was written by a rich guy who didn't want you to feel bad because you didn't have any.”
― Donald Jans, Freaks I've Met

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“I didn't want fine. I wanted to be somebody. Somebody with plenty of money.”
― Donald Jans, Freaks I've Met

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“Sorry, Jack. I really needed to hit rock bottom before I could dust myself off.”
― Donald Jans, Freaks I've Met

5 likes

“Those rich guys were right. Money can't buy happiness, because happiness is everywhere. It's free, like air.”
― Donald Jans, Freaks I've Met

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“He looked so boring I didn't dare get too close to him for fear he'd snatch part of my brain”
― Donald Jans, Freaks I've Met

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