Jonathan Safran Foer
American novelist
Leaving the hospital.
When were you happiest?
Question
Aside from a property, what is the most expensive thing you have bought?
Money & investment
Question
What keeps you awake at night?
Daily life
Question
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Craft & work
Question
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Failure & regret
Question
How close have you come to death?
Death & what remains
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Genuinely – and my wife, Lee, knows this – dancing with Kevin Clifton on Strictly.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 November 2018 source ↗
Others on this question
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Trevor McDonald
British newsreader and journalist
As a young child in the West Indies and having fun with my friends, playing sport and hanging about.
Ian Wright
English footballer and pundit
1990 FA Cup final, playing for Crystal Palace.
Sheena Easton
Scottish singer
When my kids were young enough for me to carry them both, one on each hip. I miss walking in the door and them flinging themselves at me.
More from Susan Calman
View profile →A Tiffany watch for my wife. The security guard was following us, so I deliberately bought a really expensive watch to prove we had money. I don’t think I’ve seen her wear it.
Looking at conspiracy theories about JFK on the internet.
Not giving up comedy, because it took six or seven years before I started earning a living.
That I’m still having the same discussions about women in comedy as I was having 12 years ago. Are we funny? Will anyone watch us? Can I have my own sitcom?
On the back of an angry Icelandic pony when I was filming a show called Spending Dave’s Money with Phil Tufnell.
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