Colson Whitehead: What does happiness look like for you when life is going well?

The question

What does happiness look like for you when life is going well?

Originally asked

Vanity Fair, to its interview subject, The Proust Questionnaire

Verbatim recurring item in Vanity Fair's Proust Questionnaire; two publisher-hosted respondent pages establish institutional recurrence.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Colson Whitehead

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

I’m walking down the street angrily muttering to myself and then I run into a neighbor or former coworker and they catch me in this moment of private-public expression. It’s nice to be seen sometimes.

The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 18 July 2023 source ↗

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Cecile Richards

A taco truck on every corner.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 29 March 2018 source ↗

George Saunders Short-story writer and novelist

Being aware and accepting of whatever the state of my mind happens to be at the moment (even if that state is unhappy).

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 25 January 2023 source ↗

Carrie Brownstein

Reading a book with a dog asleep on either side of me.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 21 August 2018 source ↗

Jodie Foster

Watching a great movie in the afternoon and then taking a long nap.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 23 February 2024 source ↗

More from Colson Whitehead

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Question What trait do you most dislike in other people? Values & belief

Enough with the constant smiling.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, July 2023 source ↗

Question Which quality in your friends matters most to you? Relationships

They’ll help me dump a body off the turnpike.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 18 July 2023 source ↗

Question What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy? Time & hindsight

Opening day of The Empire Strikes Back, 86th Street Loews.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, July 2023 source ↗

Question If you could alter one thing about yourself, what would it be? Identity & self

Best to leave things alone. Pull things out, it all comes down. I’m Jenga like that.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 18 July 2023 source ↗

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