Bill Bryson
American-British author
When I had my catheter taken out, thanks for asking.
When were you happiest?
Question
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Identity & self
Question
What do you value most in your friends?
Relationships
Question
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Identity & self
Question
Which trait do you most dislike in yourself?
Identity & self
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.
It’s hard to pick one time. I feel like I’m quite a happy person. My ninth birthday was epic, though.
Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, April 2014 source ↗
Others on this question
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Helen George
English actress
As a child playing in my parents’ garden in Birmingham, which they still have, and where my daughters play, swinging on my swing that my dad made for me.
Gemma Whelan
English actress
When I was 15, I went to a rugby match at Twickenham with my dad and we went back to his friend Hugh’s house and Hugh made me a perfect cup of tea. I just remember feeling really happy because it was such a brilliant day and I loved being with my dad.
Well, I’m happiest on Martha’s Vineyard, between July 1 and Labor Day, riding my tricycle with Larry Bobo every afternoon and fishing with Buddy Vanderhoop. But I was happiest from my childhood through high school in Piedmont, West Virginia; it was magical. I was sorry when it was time to go off to college.
More from Daniel Radcliffe
View profile →I would talk slower. When I hear myself interviewed sometimes it sounds like I’m running an auction.
I like all my friends for different reasons, so it’s hard to pick one quality I value most highly overall.
Eating breakfast foods at a time of the day other than breakfast. Pancakes for dinner—I’m happy.
My ability to invariably say exactly the wrong thing in any given situation.
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