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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Herman Wouk

Monogamy, with the right lady. (Sheer luck.)

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 October 2012 source ↗

Christine Baranski

At sunset or under the stars on the dock of our lake house just being with my family and pals.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 June 2013 source ↗

George Takei

I don’t know about perfect, but a creamy scoop of green-tea ice cream comes fairly close.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 30 October 2015 source ↗

Toni Collette

Floating on my back in the ocean.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 5 March 2025 source ↗

More from Colson Whitehead

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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 ↗

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 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 ↗

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