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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Jim Broadbent

Weeping with laughter.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 26 January 2018 source ↗

Dustin Hoffman

When the coffee kicks in early in the morning and I’m on the couch with my dogs, reading the paper.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 February 2009 source ↗

Elmore Leonard Novelist and screenwriter

Being with my best friend, who’s a girl.

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

Patrick Stewart Actor

Walking in my garden in England with my wife.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 12 April 2016 source ↗

More from Colson Whitehead

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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 ↗

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 ↗

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