Garrison Keillor: What do you fear most?

To be wildly, desperately, carelessly, nakedly in love, of course. Crazy, obsessive love: brooding, baying at the moon, writing daily missives to the adored. Who wouldn’t want this? Even though the crash is painful.

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

Question Which trait in yourself do you like least? Identity & self

Self-denigration, an old strategy for extorting praise from people. (“I am a terrible person.” “No, you’re a wonderful person and we all love you.”)

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2009 source ↗

Question Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them? Values & belief

My president, a heroic figure—also good- humored, pretty smart, elegant; and if the rest of the world thinks he typifies America, I don’t mind at all.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2009 source ↗

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

The night my daughter was born, New York, December 29, 1997. After she emerged and I held her in the palm of my hand, I walked around Manhattan in a stupor of happiness.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2009 source ↗

Also answered this

Nikki Amuka-Bird, Dustin Hoffman, Katie Melua, Carrie Brownstein, Roger McGough, Keir Starmer

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

All identity & self questions
The The Proust Questionnaire questionnaire — 5 questions from the same format
Explore the archive — by field, age, era, and subject

Report this answer

Others on this question

More from Garrison Keillor

More on identity & self

Also answered this

Explore further