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Interviewing a Regular Joe: January 2020

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Good evening. This is ‘Green Wave’ radio station. I’m Gabriella Bitton. For the first time, this station is broadcasting beyond 2 am. Today, we present the first programme in the series ‘Interviewing a regular Joe’, as we try to get to know someone who is unknown to listeners and even to the your host. I encountered the subject of our interview in the street. I dared him to join me here. He accepted.

I know nothing about him: who he is, what he does, what he thinks, how he lives… Welcome to our programme!

Thank you for your kind words, Gabriella. I am very pleased to be here.

What is your name? How old are you?

I am 50. I am anonymous, on the programme and in life. I do not feel honored with any name I may have or work I may produce. Call me what you like.

132 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 24, 2021

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5 people want to read

About the author

John Rose

177 books5 followers

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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Píaras Cíonnaoíth.
Author 140 books195 followers
April 27, 2022
A very interesting read...

John Rose's religious and spiritual novel Interviewing a Regular Joe: January 2020 is told through a fascinating conversation with an unnamed man. This work will fascinate readers of historical or religious fiction, as it is filled with religious and historical facts. The tone of this intriguing work is conversational. It's merely a discussion that flows smoothly and is straightforward to follow. The author does not provide extensive background material at the start of the book, yet this does not detract from the characters' appeal. In fact, as you read on, you learn more about them, which is thrilling since it offers the sensation of almost solving a riddle. A very interesting read that comes highly recommended.
Profile Image for Grady.
Author 51 books1,818 followers
April 29, 2022
‘There is a creative intelligence that generated everything the exists…’

Author John Rose offers an obfuscatory background – ‘unknown and unnamed individual, averse to vanities and gossip, Theist, European, Jurist, writer’ – and that further entices the reader to explore the content of this book. A website suggests he is a professional investigator and has written a YA book – WIKKER – and a SURVEILLANCE HANDBOOK. He has written three novels to date - THE RISE AND FALL OF A POOR MAN, WHAT A FOOTBALLER!, and INTERVIEWING A REGULAR JOE: JANUARY 2020.

The author elects of fuse words and phrases, a technique that at first appears an editing error until the book travels on, making this idiosyncrasy one of many that actually enhance the content/storyline. Example, when talk show host Gabriella apologizes to the ‘anonymous gust’ (David) about the late hour of the show, David responds, ‘The fact that it is a broadcast beyond twilight and before dawn on a regional radio station means that there will not be a vastaudience – indeed, I ask myself if anyone is listening in at this late hour. Nevertheless, it is an excellentidea, and one I welcome. I hope your programmeis a successand that you acquiremany listeners!’ (note the conjoined words).

The ‘interview’ is divided into five parts, separately discussing ‘Who are you in religious terms, Who are you in Ethical terms, Rights and duties, Who are you in political terms, and who are you in personal terms.’ Each of these areas of questioning allows an overview of philosophical issues that make the book interesting while posing trails for young adults and teens to follow and explore – a very fine opportunity for placing significant questions before developing minds.

Some excerpts of David’s thoughts – ‘Someone who is ignorant cannot be a true believer.’ ‘Slander and stupidity are unbearable.’ ‘The best way to confront an enemy is to convince him of the futility of his gestures.’ ‘War always begins in a conventional way. The danger lies in its evolution.’ ‘Only those who further the common good should rule.’ And the interview closes with ’A civilized conversation such as the one we’ve just had is hardly possible in the world we live in.’

Entertaining and thought provoking, this is a fine primer on philosophy for young and open minds! Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Book Reviewer.
4,456 reviews399 followers
April 4, 2022
Interviewing a Regular Joe is a conversation between two people; Gabrielle and a character named David. Gabrielle asks an array of questions while David gives his authentic responses. I enjoyed reading through the questions and answers as the interviewer posed questions on different subjects. The two talk about religion, politics, the environment, work, music, death, education, friendships, family, and many others. At first, readers have no idea where the interviewer is going with the questions, but we soon get in the flow after a couple pages. Gabrielle is a fantastic interviewer and it shows through the questions that are asked of David. The interviewer is able to then provide follow-up questions to ask to keep the conversation running smoothly.

Author John Rose wrote this book for readers who enjoy one-on-one conversations and meaningful discussions. David’s answers show readers that each of us has an individual preference and view on life. David’s mind is fascinating, to say the least. How he answered questions, the words he used, and how he thinks is admirable. You do not have to subscribe to some of his beliefs, but you can admire his logic when challenged with life’s situations.

Interviewing a Regular Joe would be a good reference book for young readers that have ambitions in the mass communication career path. Gabrielle’s approach as an interviewer is fascinating. He shows how to ask questions that are hard while not crossing boundaries, and how to guide the discussions even with viewpoints that the interviewer may not agree with. This is an important skill to have in communications.

This interesting book’s style is conversational. It is just an easy-flowing and easy-to-follow conversation. The author does not give in-depth background information at the start of the book, but that does not make the characters less interesting. On the contrary, you learn more about them as you read on, which is exciting as it gives one the impression of solving a mystery.

Interviewing a Regular Joe is a religious and spiritual novel told through an intriguing interview with an anonymous man. Filled with religious and historical facts, this novel will entertain readers of historical or religious fiction.
Profile Image for Kat.
120 reviews
May 17, 2022
Written in a radio host interview style, this short book offers insight into the thoughts and opinions of one random man, and as such is heavily biased towards that one person's point of view (POV) and heavily religious/Christian. That said, some of his ideas and opinions were interesting and well stated, allowing the reader to see things from his unique POV. I found the unique format and questions themselves interesting, but I really felt like what it was lacking was diversity of thought and perspective. I also thought that the "regular Joe" idea would have been better if David wasn't quoting Plato, Maimonides, Schopenhauer, and the Bible in a very scholarly fashion, which plucked him out of the "average" category of people who are not well-versed in philosophy.

At first, it was interesting to hear about some random guy's perspectives, but because they were statements rather than discussions, it lost its luster for me and started feeling flat and uninspiring. I really felt like it would have benefited more from discourse, where a handful of individuals have a verbal interchange of ideas that impact and influence each other's outlooks (even if it's just in small ways) instead of focusing on the uncontested ramblings of one person. I didn't feel like with the interviewer or the interviewee had grown at all as people by the end of the book, which would have given it a more meaningful purpose for me. It felt like it was sometimes condescending to Gabriella, the interviewer, and (thus) the reader. This is also because the language is not accessible to a "regular" audience. To say something is "impregnated with an axiology that is far from perfect" requires an assumed knowledge of the philosophical concept of values. The text rarely bothers to define these concepts/studies/schools of thought to the reader, though it would be easy for the interviewer to ask clarification as a way to allow readers to better understand everything. As a result, the book comes across as vainglorious and self-adulatory.
Profile Image for Jessica Crooks.
21 reviews5 followers
May 16, 2022
Who are we as human beings? What drives us, informs our ideals or forms a foundation for our beliefs? No one has concrete answers for these questions, but we can learn much about ourselves by understanding someone else’s perspective. John Rose’s Interviewing a Regular Joe utilizes a simple format; a radio host conducting an interview. Two aspects of the book are noteworthy here. One is that the interviewer only recently encountered the subject on the street, so there is no prior relationship. The second is that the interview takes place in the early hours of the morning, a time not known for a large radio audience.

The interviewer explores a range of philosophical and spiritual issues. As the reader, you may find some similarities to your own viewpoints. It is just as likely that you will have numerous differences of opinion. Rose makes no attempt to preach to his readers here. Rather, he seems to encourage a deep exploration of our own beliefs.

This is not typically the type of book you would reach for, but it is worth approaching with an open mind. It becomes more engrossing throughout the course of the interview, and you may end up with a slightly different view of the world and your place in it.
Profile Image for Karyn H.
568 reviews10 followers
June 5, 2022
Beyond your regular interview, a deep conversation to get you wondering at 2 am
Interviewing a Regular Joe is author John Rose’s third entry into the literary world of storytelling and an interesting read too. The book provides answers to many spiritual, personal, and philosophical questions and opens up the reader’s mind to the inner self.
While fiction, the book explores an interview style that makes it seem hard to put down once you begin to read. There is no need to go in-depth about the characters and the conversation in this story. The book deals with everything from personal life to ethics, faith, economics, politics, spirituality, future, etc.
If you are insincere in search of knowledge without the regular sentiments of your socio-religious background, this book has the power to enlighten you. To the interviewer, it was one of the best experiences she ever had, likewise myself. The deep conversation in this book made me rethink many things I know. What makes this book even more interesting is the randomness of the choice of the interviewee.
Interviewing a Regular Joe is a great book I recommend for everyone in search of a deeper understanding of the self, spirituality, and other relevant topics regarding our lives.

Profile Image for Phil Bolos.
127 reviews3 followers
April 30, 2022
Interviewing a Regular Joe: January 2020 by John Rose is a great short read about an interview that goes in some very strange directions. Gabrielle Bitton is hosting a radio show and has randomly selected a man to come in for the interview. What she gets is a far most interesting and intense late-night conversation than she ever thought she would get.
I gave this book 5 stars because if its uniqueness and the way that it hooked me from the beginning. The idea of grabbing a random person off the street at 2 am is intriguing and horrifying. You never know who you find in a random selection process, but when you conduct it at 2 am I would imagine that the people up wandering the streets are going to be an interesting crowd. David, the interviewee, is fascinating because he is nothing like what we would expect. He is intelligent and opinionated in ways that are both attractive and repelling. I think fans of philosophy will find this short read interesting because of the way the characters navigate so many different topics.
Profile Image for Julius Blitzy.
476 reviews15 followers
May 4, 2022
What at first seems to be like a regular choice out of the blue, turned out to be a life-changing decision, and something that can potentially change your life forever…
Picking up some random person very early in the morning it’s a very bold choice, to say the least, but as it turns out it was one of the best decisions Gabrielle has made, as this was going to be one unforgettable interview and one that would stay with her for a long time.
This book is quite unique; it’s structure is something completely unusual but very engaging, and the way it touches and deal with some of the most philosophical questions one can ask through a very deep and compelling dialogue it’s just a bliss to read. I myself ask some of those very questions and it’s nice to know that there is always a method to every type of madness, give this book a chance.
Profile Image for Ghulam Mustafa.
60 reviews3 followers
May 2, 2022
This is the author's (John Rose) third published book and he has done an amazing job with it.
"Interviewing A Regular Joe" is a thought provoking book that answers several spiritual, philosophical, and personal questions about life and inner self.

This fictional novel is written in a unique and engaging interview style that keeps the readers engaged and excited about the conversation. Revealing more about the interview or characters can ruin the experience, so I won't writer much about it.

In terms of the conversation, the book covers pretty much everything from ethics to religion, politics, economics, personal views, faith, future, and much more.

Read it, and you'll know a lot more about your personality and thinking than you do now. 100% recommended.
Profile Image for Frederica.
3 reviews2 followers
May 11, 2022
An astonishing and exciting book, from a philosophical point of view.
What at first, seems to be like a regular choice, turned out to be a life-changing decision, and something that can potentially change our perspective on life forever…

This book is quite different; its structure is completely unusual but very engaging, and the way it touches and deals with some of the most philosophical questions one can ask through a very deep, simple and compelling dialogue it’s just a bliss to read.

The "storyline": Gabrielle decided to pick up some random person very early in the morning, for a radio interview, in a very bold choice, but as it turns out it was one of the best decisions she has made, as this was going to be one unforgettable interview.
Profile Image for Marco Cardoso.
1 review
May 11, 2022
This is the first book I read from John Rose, a recommendation from a friend.

Interviewing A Regular Joe is a thought-provoking book that gives answers to several philosophical, spiritual and personal questions about life and ourselves.
It is written as an interview of a strange random man off the street in the middle of the night radio show. It turns out to be an engaging interview that keeps us attached and excited about this conversation.
It goes over several topics like ethics, religion, politics, economics, personal views, faith, future, and several more.

As we read the questions, we too think of our answers and how we view these topics and especially who we are in life.

A great recommendation for everyone. Enjoy!!
Profile Image for Amy Koller.
87 reviews1 follower
April 29, 2022
The main character, David, is doing a man-on-the-street interview on the imaginary "Green Wave" station around 2 a.m. The 50-year-old married father is no ordinary man. His representation suggests that humanity is capable of realizing his potential. He reacts to a wide range of themes with conviction and assurance. Faiths, futures, dinosaurs, nutrition, and even universal basic income are all discussed. He reacts with a strength rooted in the power of its otherworldly tone in passages on religion, ethics, law, politics, and the personal. Every syllable is measured to the nearest inch by Rose.
Profile Image for Jessica.
2,332 reviews23 followers
May 6, 2022
Gabrielle Bitton is hosting a radio show and has randomly selected a listener to come into the station to get interviewed. What she doesn't count on is that this seemingly routine interview will go off tracks in a unique and interesting way as her guest will lead her to help others explore their own lives and spirituality.
This book will turn out to be something completely different than what you think at the beginning and as such it might be a bit odd for some readers, however, the uniqueness of the characters and the author's underlying message is well worth the time you will spend reading this book.
Profile Image for Celeste.
36 reviews
May 12, 2022
Interviewing a Regular Joe by John Rose is claimed to be a “must read for persons on their journey to self-discovery.” Well, in my opinion, I believe every person, at every stage of life, is on a journey to self-discovery. We are constantly changing and evolving as we live through various experiences. I was very curious, however, how applicable this book would be. I will start by saying that it is not what I expected from the title. But I was pleasantly surprised. It touches on a variety of topics that are relevant to life. My only complaint is that it was almost too short for me. I was left feeling like everything was cut short and like I needed additional information.
Profile Image for Charles Hanna.
49 reviews
May 18, 2022
I enjoyed the format of this book, which was constructed into a type of dialogue between an interviewer and a random person, but ultimately becomes a sort of Socratic dialogue between teacher and student. In a way it is very reminiscent of a Medieval Jewish texts like The Knowing Heart by Rabbi Moses Chaim Luzatto and the Kuzari by Rabbi Judah Halevi, the former being a conversation between body and soul and the latter a conversation between a King and a Rabbi. These types of presentations, at least in their recasting by contemporary writers, run the risk of seeming contrived, but I found this to be very natural, informative, and digestible for people of all intersts and initiations.
217 reviews3 followers
June 3, 2022
This is a novel with very interesting idea and a great execution; it's rare to see both in one book.
The idea is that a radio host got some random person in the middle of the night for an interview. The author chose to write in the form of an interview, which makes the book very easy to read and the pace is great. You can easily finish it in one sitting.
It helps that the interview is great. It touches on many different subjects and covers a vast array of topics - from spirituality and religion to politics, and everything in between.
If you're up for a literary experiment, give this book a go; it might pleasantly surprise you.
Profile Image for Valery.
1,482 reviews57 followers
Read
May 1, 2022
Interviewing a Regular Joe: by John Rose is a great book with a unique theme. A radio interview that is reminiscent of many of the middle-of-the-night radio shows takes on an even eerier vibe. The guest is unknown and prefers to remain that way. Yet he offers incredible, intuitive, and puzzling answers that tweak your psyche and make you think. The questions themselves run the gamut of topics. Each answer given is more mysterious yet enlightening than the last. A formidable and quirky book, and one that is certain to entertain. Recommend.
Profile Image for rann_ssy.
28 reviews
May 1, 2022
I think this is the first book that I've read that is written in this kind of interview style. And I must say, the conversation between the journalist and the mysterious 'Regular Joe' is quite unique as well. Heck, if this is a normal conversation for a Regular Joe then I must have been such a boring person to talk with. The questions are all unique and diverse but it was more than amazing to see this mysterious person intelligently answer all the questions and even had arguments to support his answers as well.
Profile Image for Jo Bass.
75 reviews6 followers
May 12, 2022
Written in a conversational style, “Interviewing a Regular Joe” purports to be a regularly occurring radio show that that takes place after regular listening hours. Interestingly, the interviewee is referred to as “David.”

As the Interview goes on, experienced readers will recognize much of the philosophy as originating from the Old Testament or the Torah, although there is a smattering of folklore thrown in. The writing style is similar to that of Ayn Rand. The ideas are far from new, although in today’s world, they might be worth reiterating.
Profile Image for Pegboard.
1,812 reviews9 followers
May 2, 2022
Interviewing a Regular Joe by John Rose is a thought-provoking book. The "Regular Joe" that is being interviewed has deep thoughts. He appears educated or at least well informed of the things going on in the world. For some reason, my book was not formatted correctly, and some of the words were smashed together, making it difficult to read. Ordering a Kindle book and reading it on a Kindle Fire makes me wonder if the issue is mine. But I did enjoy reading Joe's thoughts and the views.
Profile Image for Happy Booker.
1,628 reviews126 followers
May 5, 2022
Interviewing a regular joe is a philosophical book answering questions about life in a fictional way. It is a unique read since it is written in the form of an interview-style and flows with conversation. This is an engaging book, and if you are into reading matters of the mind, then you will enjoy this book. Finding the purpose of life or self-discovery has always been a human wonder. This interview enables you to approach
Profile Image for Ashley.
150 reviews
May 9, 2022
This book is set up like an interview and covers a multitude of topics. If you are interested in learning more about religion, politics, history, or other cultures, this book has a bit of each of these things. As you keep reading, you may learn something, or change your opinion about something as well. It is a quick read and offers a different format and story than others in the philosophical genre.
Profile Image for A Cannady.
83 reviews
May 23, 2022
"Interviewing a Regular Joe: January 2020" by John Rose is actually rather intriguing to me because it's something I've considered doing myself. Gabrielle is our protagonist, and she hosts a radio show. One day she decides to gain audience attention by interviewing a "regular Joe." This man's life history changes her perspective, but in reality, isn't that what should always happen when we talk to someone and truly listen to what they have to say? I'd love to read more "regular Joe" interviews.
Profile Image for Payal Sinha.
Author 7 books23 followers
April 30, 2022
Written in the form of question and answer, the book revolves around several topics concerning diverse aspects of life. The answers are deep and meaningful and provide hope for the future. The book is short and engaging.
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